I am writing in response to last week’s letter to the editor (“Please Share Citations When Sharing Health Information” August 18, 2022) regarding my August 4, 2022, article “How to Choose Safe Consumer Products.” Thank you Ms. Kira Rynhold, for expressing your thoughts; I appreciate your feedback. In your response, you stated that I did not cite any articles, books or websites, scientists, physicians or experts to back up my information. However, I did provide the reader with two websites, both with impressive scientific advisory boards including chemists, physicians, and scientists.

For example, the ewg.org, the Environmental Working Group, is a science backed website spearheaded by David Andrews, who holds a Ph.D in chemistry from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in chemistry from Wesleyan University. On ewg.org, each ingredient is given a safety rating based on the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in published scientific literature. Dr. Mark Hyman, MD of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most respected physicians in the country has expressed in numerous articles, blogs, podcasts and again just last week advocated that the public should be checking the ingredients in products to avoid chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, synthetic colors, triclosan, fragrances, propylene glycol (and more). Dr Hyman, consistently refers his readers to the ewg.org, the very website I cited in my article.

Ms. Rynhold, where I was most taken aback in your letter to the editor, was your attempt to disparage the entire profession of health and wellness coaches. As a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, I received my certification from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), which is the same board that will provide your medical license. I also hold a master’s degree in physical therapy and have been licensed for over 20 years. Both of my professions obligate me to share evidence based information with my patients and the public.

It should be noted that doctors and health coaches are now working together all across the country to help their patients make diet and lifestyle changes. There is much research to show the benefits of these partnerships as evidenced in the following research articles from the NIH (National Institute for Health).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6125027/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389392/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28202032/

I welcome any further conversations with you or other medical practitioners who would like to learn more about how health coaches can benefit your patients.