What Inspires Celebrity Nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella

Celebrity nutritionist Cynthia Pasquella has appeared on numerous TV programs, has been featured in many popular magazines and is a best-selling author. 24Life recently sat down with Pasquella to talk not only about her own transformation, but also about what inspires her and how she helps people fix their relationship with food and much more.

24Life: What inspires you and how do you stay on top of the latest breakthroughs in nutrition science, and what filter do you apply?
Cynthia Pasquella (CP): My biggest source of inspiration comes from my family and friends. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by people who hold me to a higher standard and inspire me with the contributions they’re making every day.

I’m also a total bookworm and find ideas from books, articles and quotes. I also meditate and journal as part of my morning ritual, which creates space for me to let my creative juices flow freely.

I also never trust the media. If there’s a study that interests me, I always go back to the original study to see how it was funded, what control factors were in place, and more, to see what the results of the study really were.

Often, they are very different from the news stories we see splashed across magazines and televisions.
24Life: Timing of hydration and eating: Should people drink water with meals or not?

CP: It’s definitely better to avoid drinking while you eat, because liquids dilute your stomach acids and digestive enzymes.

24Life: What’s your comfort food: Is it sweet or salty?

CP: I definitely prefer savory foods as opposed to sweets. A Thai curry with vegetables feeds my soul in a way that cookies can’t even come close to. And when I’m feeling really wild, I love indulging in a hot, steamy pizza!

24Life: Your reading preference: Is it a physical book or Kindle? What’s your bedside reading right now?
CP: I love reading, and in fact, I would rather read than eat. True story! Books feed me in a way that food (or anything else) just can’t.

At the end of the day I like to read “easy” books like Michael Connelly mysteries or memoirs. They help me to fall asleep and I’m don’t feel like they leave me needing to take action. I typically read these books on my iPhone Kindle app or iBooks app because it’s so convenient and I’m not trying to hold up a heavy book.

That said, I also love the touch, smell and feel of physical books and will choose to read the physical copies of books that I want to refer back to again, such as Ram Dass’ “Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart” or Gary Zukav’s “The Seat of The Soul.”

Currently, I’m reading “The Glass Castle,” a memoir by Jeannette Walls, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend it!

Learn more about Cynthia Pasquella and try her recipes in the May/June 2016 issue of 24Life magazine.