Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD, has been the Executive Editor of Environmental Nutrition since 2018. As a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Kristen is experienced in the areas of weight management, health promotion, and eating disorder prevention and treatment. She holds a BS in Dietetics from the University of Kentucky, a PhD in Nutrition Science from the University of Minnesota and is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian. She has written for peer-reviewed scientific journals, research-focused blogs, and various newsletters. She is also the co-author of The High Protein Vegetarian Cookbook: Hearty Dishes Even Carnivores Will Love.
As a PhD in Nutrition Science, Kristen specializes in the area of nutrition translation. She is skilled at taking the latest nutrition research and translating it into tailored and usable messaging for a variety of audiences, ranging from consumers to researchers to other health care professionals. Kristen has provided nutrition consulting services (including technical and medical writing) for research organizations, corporate settings, and within school districts to offer evidence-based nutritional support.
By Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Counting macros is a common phrase in the gym and among athletes. It’s more fine-tuned than simply counting calories among those who want to lose weight or gain muscle, but counting macros still means counting calories. The difference is a focus on the quality of foods eaten, rather than just … Read MoreBy Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Pumpkins mark the fall season with decorative flair on front porches and tabletops as well as in our favorite fall flavors—pumpkin spice has quite a following! It’s boosted pumpkin’s pizazz beyond pies and lattes to hummus, pasta, and even facial scrub. The most popular winter squash—pumpkin and pumpkin seeds—has a … Read MoreBy Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Selenium may have caught your attention, as it’s one among many supplements that has been studied for its potential to treat a variety of conditions ranging from asthma and dandruff to infertility. While it’s true that our bodies need this essential to function properly, it takes very little to do … Read MoreBy Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
We live in a diet culture, one in which we are constantly exposed to the “next best way to weight loss.” If you’ve toyed with trying one of these trends on for size—Keto, Vegetarian, Atkins, Whole30—or if you’re the type who just dives right in, you likely already know that … Read MoreBy Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Sulfites are commonly blamed as the culprit behind wine-drinking headaches. While that hasn’t been confirmed, sulfites can be the cause of some other serious problems. These food additives have long been used to preserve freshness and are ingredients in many foods, beverages, cosmetics, and medications. They also occur naturally in … Read More