A holistic approach to health

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Ayesha Shaukat has been working as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) since 2016. She graduated and began her career in Toronto, Canada. However, she moved to Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although she now resides in Dubai, she serves clients from around the world, including Canada, South Africa, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Pakistan. In an exclusive interview with You! Ayesha Shaukat discusses overall wellness. Read on…

You! Who is a holistic nutritionist?

Ayesha Shaukat: A holistic nutritionist is someone who looks at the whole person - not just what they eat, but also how they live, sleep, move, think and feel. Rather than simply prescribing a diet or counting calories, a holistic nutritionist seeks to understand the root cause of what is happening in the body and addresses it from every angle, including nutrition, lifestyle, stress, emotions and the environment.

Holistic nutritionists take an integrative approach and do not rely solely on standard food guides. Our knowledge comes from in-depth education, scientific research and real-life consulting experience. We study anatomy, chemistry, biochemistry, chakras, the mind-body-spirit connection, food energetics, sports nutrition, maternal and infant nutrition, mental health support and many other areas. This comprehensive training enables us to create personalised wellness strategies that support long-term health and overall well-being.

You! Why should one see a holistic nutritionist?

AS: Traditional medicine often treats symptoms, but a holistic nutritionist seeks the root cause. They ask why your energy fades, why your digestion struggles, why your mood shifts with the seasons, foods, environments, stress levels and the effects of different medications or health conditions. They see you not as a diagnosis, but as a whole, living, breathing person deserving of deep attention. There are no rushed appointments or generic prescriptions - only personalised guidance tailored to your unique body and needs. By blending nature, science and time-tested experience, they support a healing journey that can transform not only your health but also your entire relationship with life.

You! What is your modus operandi for your international clients?

AS: Beyond Dubai, I have a wide network of international clients who connect with me through my website and Instagram. A large and growing part of my practice is conducted online. This eliminates commute time, removes the overhead costs associated with in-person clinic visits, and allows clients to receive expert nutrition guidance from the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

You! What is healthier: three meals a day or several small meals a day?

AS: The honest answer is: it depends. Some people thrive on three solid meals a day. Others, particularly those dealing with digestive issues, blood sugar imbalances, or pregnancy, may do much better with smaller, more frequent meals. Then there are my clients who eat just one or two meals a day and are in excellent health. Meanwhile, some people wake up ravenous and can't function without breakfast, while others can’t even look at food before noon - and both can be perfectly healthy.

You! What is an ideal healthy breakfast?

AS: Breakfast is, in my opinion, entirely optional. Some people cannot function without it, while others comfortably delay their first meal until noon. Both can be perfectly healthy ways to start the day.

For those who do eat breakfast, start your day with real, whole foods. Beginning your morning with a bowl of cereal loaded with added sugars and fortified with artificial nutrients is not a good choice.

A truly nourishing breakfast might include homemade yoghurt topped with a handful of nuts and whatever fruit is in season. Another excellent option is a generous omelette paired with a leafy green salad or lightly wilted spinach and sautéed asparagus.

Orange juice is one of the most widely recognised symbols of a healthy breakfast. Yet, from a holistic nutrition perspective, it is far from the wholesome choice many people believe it to be.

You! Can eating late at night make you gain weight?

AS: The short answer is yes, but it depends on your overall calorie intake and lifestyle. Eating late at night may contribute to weight gain in some people, especially if it leads to excess calorie consumption. It can also disrupt your body’s natural circadian rhythm, potentially affecting blood sugar regulation, metabolism and sleep quality. Over time, these effects may negatively impact overall health.

You! What is the healthiest food you recommend eating every day?

AS: An egg. It is nature’s most perfectly packaged meal, full of vitamins, healthy fats and powerful antioxidants. It sustains energy, supports hormonal balance, nourishes the brain and keeps you feeling full.

You: What’s one ingredient you tell your clients to stop consuming?

AS: Refined sugar is the single most destructive ingredient in the modern diet. It fuels inflammation, disrupts hormones, burdens the liver, damages gut health, accelerates ageing and contributes to chronic disease. It offers the body absolutely nothing of nutritional value. Remove it, and everything begins to change.

You! Are you in favour of following food diets?

AS: From a holistic nutrition perspective, diets often fail because they address the symptom rather than the whole person. They focus on what you eat for a fixed period while overlooking other essential factors, such as how you sleep, how you manage stress, how you move and how you feel emotionally. The body is not a machine that you can reset with a thirty-day programme; it is a living, breathing system that responds to everything you do and everything you feel.

You! What items should one have in a grocery trolley?

AS: As a holistic nutritionist, my grocery trolley tells a story - and it is always the same story: real food, whole food and food as close to nature as possible. I always buy seasonal, local and fresh vegetables; fresh fruits; eggs; extra virgin olive oil; raw unsalted nuts; seeds; and avocados.

My trolley also includes chickpeas, red lentils, black beans and kidney beans, as well as quinoa, brown rice, oats and buckwheat - all preferred over anything refined, bleached or instant.

You! What foods should one never buy?

AS: Processed meats such as deli meats, sausages, hot dogs and packaged cold cuts are often high in preservatives, sodium and additives, which can place a significant burden on the liver and digestive system. It is also advisable to avoid refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. Additionally, white bread and white pasta should be limited, as products made from bleached flour offer little nutritional value. You should also avoid packaged breakfast cereals, fizzy drinks, flavoured juices, instant noodles, packaged soups, margarine and imitation spreads.

You! What’s one piece of advice you can give to women?

AS: Don’t neglect your health. A woman’s body must be deeply nourished to meet the demands of a hectic life.

You! How do you unwind?

AS: Reading is, without question, my greatest way of unwinding. I also try to stay away from screens after sunset as much as possible. Some evenings, I call an old friend or my brother, and we share a good laugh, because genuine connection and laughter are, in their own right, deeply healing. When my husband is home, we cherish that time together wholeheartedly.

You! What are your future plans?

AS: Right now, I am in the middle of writing two books. The first is centred on nourishment - the philosophy, the science and the deeply human side of how we feed ourselves. The second is a recipe book, which feels like a beautiful full-circle moment for me personally, having started my journey as a chef before finding my calling in nutrition.