Araceli Benavides, MS, CNS, RD, IFMCP | Integrative and Functional Nutrition
Heartwing photography
My personal health journey was my motivation for entering the field of nutrition and integrative medicine. With help of an integrative medicine doctor in Peru, I was able to reverse a cardiovascular condition that I had since the age of 6 using food as medicine, supplements, and integrative approaches while avoiding pharmaceuticals and surgery.
In Peru, I had the chance to work in a hospital to practice clinical nutrition, as well as in private practice and on public health projects to get different perspectives of the nutrition field. From my experience, I believe it’s not about a short-term diet or a life-long pharmacological treatment, but about a personalized lifestyle intervention to achieve health.
My principal goal is to team-up with patients and work with them using evidence-based functional medicine treatment plans, not only to alleviate symptoms but to address the fundamental cause of their health condition to achieve optimal well-being.
Location: CIH Potomac Office
Education and Certification
Board certification: Certified Nutritionist Specialist
Institute of Functional Medicine Certification Program, 2019-present
Master of Science in Human physiology and Integrative Medicine, Georgetown University 2018
Licensed Dietitian and Nutritionist
Experience:
CNS Supervised Practice Experience, Capital Integrative Health, 2020
Clinical Assistant, Capital Integrative Health, 2019-2020
Nutritionist, “Antonella Bustamante Nutrición” (Peru), 2017-2018
Developed and published research article on Helicobacter pylori and gut microbiome, Nutritional Research Institute (Peru), 2018
Clinical Nutrition Internship, Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati (Peru), 2017
Public Health Internship, NGO “Asociación Mensajeros de la Paz”, 2017
Araceli’s episode on the Capital Integrative Health Podcast
Ep #3 on the Gut-Brain Connection