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Health Information | 03/19/2019

March is National Nutrition Month

By  Helen Mastro, MS, RD, CDE
Each one of us has our own individual food preferences, cultural traditions, and most importantly, "relationship" with food. But sometimes the choices we make are not fostering the healthiest person we can be.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics promotes March as National Nutrition Month®, and it is an excellent time to become informed about the importance of good nutrition for overall health and well-being. Registered dietitians can be one of your best resources for up-to-date, science-based food and nutrition information. They provide medical nutrition therapy which includes education about nutrition-related diagnoses and the latest research about how different foods impact those diagnoses. Medical nutrition therapy can also involve determining what, how, and why you eat the way you do; reviewing your personal health concerns; and creating a customized nutrition and physical activity plan to help you achieve your goals.

At Atrius Health, we are fortunate to employ highly skilled registered dietitians who are positively impacting our patients' health outcomes through one-on-one appointments and through the general nutrition education they provide on this blog. If you would like to see one of our dietitians, patient referrals can be made by primary care providers, specialists, and other clinicians. Once a referral has been placed, please call 617-629-6444 to schedule an appointment. Please recognize the dedication our registered dietitians bring to the patient care experience at Atrius Health.
  • Janine Clifford-Murphy, Quincy Hancock Street and Chestnut Hill/West Roxbury. She is a certified diabetes educator and specializes in digestive health, diabetes, eating disorders, weight management and family nutrition.
  • Lisa Ferreira, Copley and Medford. Her specialties include digestive disorders, food intolerance, eating disorders, weight management, and pediatric nutrition.
  • Carol Haladyna, Dedham. She is a certified diabetes educator for adult and pediatric patients.
  • Haewook Han works in the nephrology department at Cambridge, Chelmsford, Kenmore, Medford, and Quincy and only sees patients who are followed by a nephrologist.
  • Stephanie Karakantas, Chelmsford and Concord. She is a certified diabetes educator and specializes in diabetes, pediatric nutrition, food sensitivities, and nephrology.
  • Helen P. Mastro, Somerville and Wellesley. She is a certified diabetes educator specializing in diabetes and weight management. Helen is the lead nutritionist for the group.
  • Sarah Mazerall, Beverly, Kenmore, and Peabody/Lynnfield. Her specialties include eating disorders, weight management, and hypertension.
  • Marlene O'Donnell, Braintree and Kenmore. She is a certified diabetes educator specializing in diabetes, sports nutrition and weight management.
  • Margie Ullmann-Weil, Cambridge and Post Office Square. Her interests are food allergies, gastroenterology, celiac disease, and women's nutritional needs.

About The Author

Helen Mastro, MS, RD, CDE

Helen Mastro has been with Atrius Health since 1993 and sees patients at our Somerville and Wellesley practice locations. While she provides medical nutrition therapy education for a wide variety of nutritional problems, she has a particular interest in the areas of diabetes education, obesity, and pediatric nutrition.

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