Q&A with Dr. Pooja Mahtani

Dr. Pooja Mahtani is the founder of Pooja Mahtani Wellness, a virtual functional nutrition practice that specializes in gut, immune, and hormonal health.

Dr. Mahtani is a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist® and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. She also hold a Doctorate in Pharmacy and Master’s in Human Nutrition along with extensive training in functional nutrition from the Institute for Functional Medicine.

If Pooja’s style resonates with you and you’d like to learn more about working with her, you can book an appointment with her here. And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram for helpful functional nutrition content!

In a few sentences, explain to us what your practice focuses on.

My practice specializes in gut, immune, and hormonal health. I use a functional medicine approach to support women that are presenting with conditions such as IBS, SIBO, autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, PCOS, infertility, irregular or painful menses, hormonal acne, hirsutism, thyroid imbalances, and hypothalamic amenorrhea (this is when you have been without a period for at least 3 months).

What drew you to women’s health?

In 2011, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. I was struggling with significant weight gain, hair loss, digestive issues, acne, cycle irregularities, and incredible fatigue. I had seen a myriad of practitioners and was prescribed several medications to help manage these symptoms. Although I experienced some relief, I still did not feel optimal.

Determined to get to the root cause of my health issues, I set out on an eight-year long journey to study the latest scientific research, learn the importance of nutrition, and find my way back to health through extensive trial and error. It was at this very point that I stumbled across the science of functional nutrition. This type of practice instantly resonated with me.

Following the principles of functional nutrition, I began to notice a dramatic difference in my body. The weight almost instantly fell off, my acne and digestive issues cleared, my hair loss reduced, my cycles normalized, and my energy levels drastically improved. I now have the privilege of supporting women from all over the world who are struggling with their own gut, immune, and hormonal related symptoms.

When did you decide you wanted to become a functional nutritionist?

Functional nutrition is my second career! I practiced as a pharmacist for six years before taking the leap to become a functional nutritionist. My own health journey was powerful, and inspired me to make this career change.

What are your credentials, and what scope of work falls within each of these?

I'm a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist® and Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist. I hold a Doctorate in Pharmacy and Master’s in Human Nutrition along with extensive training in Functional Nutrition from the Institute for Functional Medicine. My credentials allow me to recommend specific dietary plans, nutritional supplement protocols, and lifestyle modifications to help women achieve optimal health. In my practice, I also utilize functional lab testing to help get to the root cause of my client’s health issue. The tests I use most often include the DUTCH Test, a comprehensive hormone panel, and the GI MAP, a robust microbiome panel.

What can one of your clients expect in their first few visits? How long do you generally see a client for?

The first visit is generally 60-75 minutes in length. During this appointment, we would discuss your health history in depth, including your birth and childhood history, your current diet, stress levels, exercise routine, your sleeping habits, and how often you poop! Believe it or not, all of these factors can affect your hormones. During this initial visit, I typically also recommend some initial dietary and lifestyle strategies, and get you started on a few key nutritional supplements based on your health history. I may also suggest lab testing such as the DUTCH Hormone Test and the GI MAP Stool Test.

Subsequent visits are 45-minutes in length. During these follow-up visits, we usually review lab test results, assess how you are doing with the dietary, supplement, and lifestyle program, and adjust based on your progress. After the initial visit, I recommend meeting every 4-6 weeks. Depending on the client’s goals, I continue to work with them for an average of 4-6 months. Clients typically begin to notice improvements within the first month of working together.

How do you like to communicate with your clients?

My functional nutrition practice is 100% virtual. I use HIPAA compliant Zoom video conference to connect with my clients. I am fortunate enough to work with women from all over the world! Additionally, I offer unlimited text support between appointment sessions, so my clients have ongoing support throughout their entire wellness journey.

What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for managing a hormonal imbalance?

Diet is foundational to hormone health. While everyone’s biochemistry varies, and therefore nutritional needs may differ, there are some dietary fundamentals that apply to everyone. My recommendation is to consume a diet that is primarily whole foods and plant-based. Ideally, you are consuming 6-9 different veggies per day (and yes, blended veggies in smoothies count!), at least one serving of beans and legumes (as long as you can tolerate them), healthy fats such as olive oil and grass-fed ghee, and high quality animal protein (pastured, wild-caught, and grass-fed). I would also emphasize a diet that eliminates any potential inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, sugar, and in some cases, soy and corn. Gluten-free grains are acceptable. Some examples include quinoa, rice, and millet. From my personal experience and that of my clients, adopting these dietary changes are critical to improving hormone health, regardless of the underlying condition, i.e., PCOS, thyroid imbalances, or infertility.

In what instances should a client consider seeing a practitioner trained in functional medicine?

If you are currently experiencing hormonal imbalances, and are frustrated with the conventional standard of care that is oral contraceptives and surgery, I would encourage you to speak with a practitioner that is trained in functional medicine. Instead of using a band-aid approach such as the pill, a functional approach is designed to enhance your body’s own innate healing capabilities. A functional practitioner is trained to view your symptoms from a whole body systems perspective, as well as interpret functional labs. All of this information can give insight into the root cause of your health symptoms. So instead of guessing and taking a generalized approach, this specialist can use this data to create a comprehensive diet, supplement, and lifestyle program that is specific to you. Time and time again, I have seen this personalized approach work much more effectively than the generalized conventional approach.

I also believe there is more awareness now than ever before about the impact of diet and lifestyle on hormone health. Many women that come to me have already tried multiple dietary changes such as Whole30 as well as several nutritional supplements. I would certainly encourage women to seek the advice of a functional nutritionist if they do not see improvements in their health symptoms after implementing these initial changes.

Are there any “hacks” in the system clients should be aware of to maximize their access to quality hormonal health experts?

I would encourage you to find a medical doctor that is open and supports your desire to work with other allied health professionals such as a functional practitioner or an acupuncturist. A medical doctor is critical in assessing your condition and offering you a medical diagnosis, while a functional nutritionist can help you implement diet, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies to get you thriving! If a woman is struggling with infertility, acupuncture therapy can also work wonders in improving fertility. The key here is that all of these modalities complement one another. I encourage you to build a team of medical doctors and allied health professionals that understand this concept, and are open to one another’s recommendations.

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