Listen to episode 42:
"As a dietitian, I realized that my advice was hurting people": Michelle
October 31, 2021
Michelle Hurn is the author of the book "The Dietitian's Dilemma".
As a health professional, the oath she took was to "do no harm". And yet, after several years in the profession, and after several challenges with her own health, she realized that as a dietitian, she was actually hurting people more than helping them.
That was her dilemma: Do I continue to repeat the official guidelines that include having diabetic patients consume up to 75g of carbs per meal, or do I step out of that well-paid profession because it goes against my own values?
She decided to quit her job as a dietitian, and in this episode and in her book, Michelle explains why. She also tells her touching journey as a teen with an eating disorder.
In her book (which I loved!), she speaks about 5 main issues that can be improved with a change in diet (especially cutting out refined carbohydrates like sugar):
- diabetes
- mental disorders
- eating disorders
- sarcopenia (muscle loss)
- heart disease
Michelle agrees that as patients and consumers, our power comes from being our own advocates and doing our own research.
I think she's so inspiring because she was brave enough to step out of her professional and personal paradigm.
Find Michelle's book here: https://thedietitiansdilemma.net/
