I’m happy to have Amy Shah on my blog today! Amy is a physician who is deeply committed to helping others become healthier, happier people. She received her undergraduate degree in nutrition from Cornell University, and then went on to medical school in New York City, where she focused on internal medicine. Her goal is to help people explore the realm of health, diet, and hormones in a unique and authentic way.
At her medical practice in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Shah addresses inflammation, optimal health and hormone balance through blending Eastern, Western, and nutritional practices. She is an allergy and immunology specialist, and works with children and adults to help them with outdoor allergies, food allergies, asthma, and immune system problems. Dr. Shah runs her website at www.amyshahmd.com, where she talks about allergies, hormones, diets and detoxes, healthy living and creating a healthy life.
As a doctor, what makes you interested in nutrition?
I was a nutrition major at Cornell and, during my undergraduate studies, I realized the medical aspect of nutrition and physiology were really my true passions. When I went to medical school, I was honestly disappointed in the lack of nutrition training, so, after I started my fellowship in allergy and immunology, I took it upon myself to read and learn more. I read popular nutrition books as well as medical research studies on the impact of diet and environment on the immune system. I was surprised to know there is so much ongoing medical research trying to delineate which parts of our modern environment and nutrition are causing the epidemic food allergies, asthma, sinusitis, autoimmune disorders etc. I use that as a basis for my recommendations.
What do you do specifically with nutrition that helps others become healthier?
I want to push the boundaries of modern medicine and give people knowledge and power to improve their own health. For example, I am trying to “fill the holes” that modern medicine leaves. We, as doctors, rarely discuss nutrition or lifestyle measures that people can take to dramatically improve their immune system, GI function, balance hormones, or help them get to their ideal weight. I want to help people empower themselves. When I talk to people about nutrition, I always tell them to make a healthy lifestyle their first priority. Hygiene, such as brushing your teeth or taking a shower, is definitely important, but I focus on letting people know that movement and healthy eating should be incorporated into their lives on a daily basis. Being healthy is something that you should love and look forward to doing, so I would advise to find things to do or eat that keep you motivated to stay on track! For example, if you don’t like eating broccoli it’s going to be difficult to want to eat that every day. Rather, find a vegetable, or even a physical activity, that you do enjoy—it’s going to make maintaining a healthy lifestyle that much more enjoyable!
What do you like to do during your free time?
I am an exercise junkie. I prefer the outdoors- I love the feeling of freedom that comes with the outdoors. I will do anything from yoga and running, to spinning and hiking. You name it, I’ll do it!
Do you have any favorite foods from your home country in India?
Yes! Spicy foods such as Daal (spicy lentil soup), spiced nuts, and chole (chick pea curry) are some of my favorite things to eat.
What are your top three tips for eating healthy?
The first tip I live by is the 80/20 rule, where you eat high nutrient food 80% of the time, and eat whatever else for the other 20%. The second thing I always follow is getting enough sleep. If you sleep well, everything related to health, including your hormones, gets easier and you feel better overall. The last tip I follow is to eat fruits and vegetables at every meal, no exceptions.
