About Susan

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, had it right when he said
“Let thy food be thy medicine”

I believe that the body has in innate ability to heal and that the right diet (with the help of judicious use of nutritional supplements, botanicals and a health-supportive lifestyle) can facilitate the healing process.

My passion is to teach those that I work with how to address root causes, build resilience and restore their health.

Susan Carroll, RDN, LDN
Restore Your Health Nutrition

My Approach and Philosophy

I am a registered dietitian-nutritionist with over 25 years’ experience as a functional nutritionist.  My practice focuses on healing from chronic illness and cancer.  I take a holistic approach and draw from my training in whole foods nutrition, natural and functional medicine to help people recover their health.

Read more about my qualifications and training here.

I believe that the body has an innate ability to heal.  While I embrace this traditional healing philosophy, my approach is at the same time rooted in functional medicine (an approach which aims to uncover root causes of disease) and modern scientific research. This enables me to help people who have been unsuccessful using conventional medicine alone.  Through the use of functional lab tests, food as medicine, nutritional and botanical supplements and positive lifestyle changes, I teach those that I work with how to uncover root causes, correct deficiencies, build resilience and restore their health.

My Path to Becoming a Functional Nutritionist

The seeds for my career in nutrition were planted at a young age.  I grew up in a home where nutrition was a central focus and where simple whole-foods were prepared from scratch in an era where processed foods prevailed. I was introduced to natural medicine long before it became mainstream when, as a young child, my mother and grandmother began working with a physician who practiced what we now call integrative or functional medicine. 

The seeds of my career in nutrition began to develop when, as a young adult, I became a patient and student of a naturopath.  I embraced the naturopathic philosophy and when I made the decision to study nutrition as a career, I was disappointed to find that there were no accredited avenues of study that were aligned with my philosophy and goals to help people heal through the use of diet and natural modalities.  I became faced with the decision to enroll in an unaccredited holistic nutrition school or obtain a conventional science-based program leading to a B.S. in clinical nutrition and becoming a registered dietitian.  I am grateful that I chose the conventional route which provided me with an excellent foundation in nutritional biochemistry, therapeutic nutrition, critical thinking and evaluating research.  I trusted that opportunities would arise for post-graduate education after I completed my studies. 

My Training in Functional Nutrition

After completing my studies and working for a couple of years as a nutritionist in a community health center, I sought out graduate programs in functional nutrition only to discover that they were non-existent.  I was advised to design my own program of study.  In 1989, I was fortunate to learn of a 5 day training program held in St John in the U.S Virgin Islands with Jeffrey Bland, PhD, the founder and “father” of Functional Medicine.  The course, Applications of Nutrition in Clinical Practice (predecessor to the foundational Functional Medicine course, Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) was everything that I had been looking for.  As the first registered dietitian to take this course, I immersed myself in the study of Functional Medicine. This led to another 5-day training course through the American Holistic Medical Association and a nine month mentorship program with an M.D-pioneer in holistic medicine where I obtained training in food sensitivities, elimination-challenge diets, functional laboratory testing, balancing the microbiome and environmental medicine. I was now equipped with the skills and training that I needed to practice as a functional nutritionist. 

As part of my training, I embarked on an elimination-challenge diet and discovered that the low-grade fatigue that I had experienced for several years was triggered by gluten.  I have since coached over 5,000 (closer to 10,000) people through elimination-challenge diets and have been practicing as a functional nutritionist since 1990.

Within a few years of my functional medicine training, I became known as a specialist in gut health, food sensitivities and detoxification and began teaching my signature group detoxification program.  I have worked with cancer patients since that time, although cancer did not become a focus of my practice until 2010, after attending an integrative cancer conference.  At this conference, I came across the work of clinical nutritionist and herbalist, Donnie Yance and felt drawn to bring his integrative and holistic approach to working with cancer patients to my practice.  I enrolled in and have completed his training program for clinicians and now use this approach with my patients through my virtual practice, Restore Your Health Nutrition. 

I continue to invest in continuing education, staying up to date on the latest research is important when dealing with cancer and complex chronic illness. 

Personal Notes

I have a passion for learning and studying nutrition and natural healing.  I enjoy cooking and, when I am not seeing patients or studying, you might find me in the kitchen.

I believe that, not only do we need to nourish the body through whole foods, physical activity and a clean environment, but also in in nourishing the soul through enriching relationships and exposure to God’s beauty and also in nourishing the spirit through prayer and service.

I live in the Boston area with my husband.  Having grown up on the shore, the ocean has always been a source of refreshment for me.  I enjoy spending time in nature, biking, kayaking, visiting farmer’s markets, spending time with family and friends, walking on the beach or just watching the waves on the coast of Massachusetts and Maine.  Prayer and Catholic spirituality enrich my life and inspire my work.  I enjoy traveling and have been to Italy several times and have had the privilege of going on pilgrimages to Italy, Portugal, Spain, France and, most recently, to the Holy Land.

Read more about Susan’s qualifications here.