Karen Lindsay

My life’s mission is to support women’s health across the reproductive lifespan. I work with clients on a range of health concerns including hormonal imbalances, infertility, pre-conception health optimization, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal concerns. With a unique skillset and over 15 years years of interdisciplinary training, my approach with clients varies according to individual needs. This may include medical nutrition therapy, health coaching, mindfulness, and fostering culinary skills to build healthy nutrition behaviors that serve individuals and their families alike. 

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I completed my undergraduate training in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in my home country of Ireland and then pursued a PhD in maternal nutrition and metabolism from University College Dublin. During my graduate training, I worked part-time as a dietitian in Ireland’s largest maternity hospital, providing nutritional counseling and group education for the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes. After earning my PhD, I moved to Southern California where I completed a 5-year research postdoc at University of California, Irvine (UCI), investigating the effects of the interplay of nutrition and stress during pregnancy. In 2020, I became faculty at UCI and also returned to clinical practice as an RD in a busy integrative health clinic. Working alongside top-class integrative health providers has allowed me to deepen my clinical knowledge and skills and apply a whole-person care lens to my practice. I co-founded the Pre-pregnancy Whole Person Care program in 2024 at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, which provides integrative care services to couples planning a pregnancy, with a focus on applying food as medicine principles alongside mindful self-compassion and stress management. Working with couples on their pre-pregnancy journeys has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career to date. 

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My additional training include a Specialist in Prenatal Nutrition (graduate of Lily Nichols' Institute for Prenatal Nutrition mentorship program), National Board Certification in Health and Wellness Coaching, a certificate in Mindful Eating, and have served as a culinary medicine educator to UCI medical students for the past 6 years. This complementary skillset combined with my personal health journey allows me to support my clients through a compassionate lens. 

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I am here to support women in making lasting behavior change, understanding how to nourish their bodies from the inside out, and establishing a healthy relationship with food that can be passed on across generations. I can’t wait to work with you!