Araceli Benavides, MS, CNS, RD, IFMCP

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.

Locations: CIH Bethesda and 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