Culina Health – Is it worth it? An honest review

I recommend that everyone should work with a dietician, especially those who are recovering from Celiac or have just been diagnosed. The tough part is finding a dietician who is right for you. I started working with Culina Health in February 2024. In this post, I explain my honest experience working with Culina Health, if I recommend it, and what you can expect if you decide to work with Culina!

*Disclaimer: This is my own objective opinion. I am not paid or sponsored in any way for this post!*

What is Culina Health?

Culina Health is a virtual provider for dietary support. You are matched with a registered dietician who fits your unique needs. You can meet with your dietician as often as you like, via Zoom. Culina has won awards from Shape Magazine, Very Well Health, and NJBIZ.

My overall experience:

I was slightly apprehensive before I started working with Culina. Being open about one’s diet is an extremely vulnerable thing to do, much less with a complete stranger! Food and diet are extremely personal. I was also a bit worried about being told to avoid certain foods, which would be difficult given my already limited diet due to food allergies and intolerances.

I began the process by filling out a lengthy questionnaire, which took about an hour. The form asked questions about what a typical “day on my plate” looks like, my physical activity, lifestyle, smoking and alcohol use, medical history (including any autoimmune conditions), gastrointestinal symptoms, medications, and goals. There was ample space for me to explain all about my Celiac disease, other food allergies/intolerances, and my goal of improving my digestion, being able to eat a variety of foods, increase my energy levels, improve my sleep, and increase my physical activity.

About a week or so after submitting my questionnaire, Culina Health emailed me two dieticians’ bios, both of whom specialized in Celiac disease. Both seemed impressive on paper. Upon seeing that one of the dietician’s names was Nicole (my best friend’s name), I knew immediately it was a sign!

I downloaded the Culina Health app and scheduled my first virtual appointment, which was a 1-hour intake session. We met via Zoom and my journey began!

Right from the start, Nicole was understanding, friendly, helpful, inclusive, and proactive. I explained my journey to her again, and my goals for improvement. Nicole emphasized that these dietician sessions were for ME, so we could discuss whatever I wanted to ensure that we were moving towards my goal.

We have met nearly every month since I began in February 2024. When we are not meeting, we correspond via the Culina Health App. The app has several features, including a Food Journal (I upload photos of my plate for Nicole to see), Symptom Tracker, Notes, Physical Activity, and a Messaging feature so I can contact Nicole with questions. The food journal has been especially helpful to track symptoms of potential gluten contamination.

One of my biggest achievements in working with Nicole is that I have lowered my total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides significantly. Despite being a competitive runner, running nearly 50 miles per week, my cholesterol has been high my entire life. My digestion has also been off. Nicole fixed both issues by increasing my fiber intake to 28-30 grams per day. Despite loading my plate with veggies, I was not eating nearly enough fiber. Nicole suggested I add gluten free grains like brown rice, quinoa, and psyllium husk to every meal. It worked like a charm.

Another great thing about my experience with Culina is their emphasis on science-backed research and advice. Nicole’s advice is heavily reliant on medical research. Definitely better than Dr. Google!

How much does it cost?

Culina Health is in-network with most major health insurance providers, including Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, and United Healthcare. My insurance covers my dietician appointments 100% with zero copay. I have not paid a cent for any of my sessions, which is absolutely incredible.

If you aren’t sure about your insurance coverage, you can email or call Culina Health and they will get back to you within 24 hours. More on this in the Customer Service section of this blog!

What does the intake process look like?

Let me break it down:

Step 1: Schedule an initial consultation

Navigate to https://start.culinahealth.com/. Fill out your name and insurance information. If your insurance is accepted, you will receive an email with next steps.

Step 2: Fill out the health questionnaire

You will be asked to fill out a virtual form, with questions surrounding your diet, physical activity, lifestyle, smoking and alcohol use, medical history (including any autoimmune conditions), gastrointestinal symptoms, medications, and goals. This takes about 1 hour. You can start and stop the form as needed.

Step 3: Be matched with a dietician

Culina Health matches you with a dietician who is specialized for your needs. I had the choice of two dieticians, although I am not sure if other patients are given a choice.

Step 4: Schedule your first session

Download the Culina Health app and schedule your first session. You can also access your account dashboard online, too.

Step 5: Meet via Zoom

Your sessions include a 1-hour initial consult, and subsequent 45-minute meetings. All are via Zoom.

Step 6: Communicate via the Culina Health App

Whenever you have questions or need advice, your dietician is only a chat away! I can message my dietician through the Chat feature on the app. I also use the app to upload pictures of my plate and track any symptoms.

How is the customer service?

Culina Health’s customer service is one of the reasons I love them! When you call, you speak immediately with someone in their New York office. I was NEVER placed on hold. The customer support is responsive, friendly, and quick. They get things done.

Do I recommend Culina Health?

I absolutely recommend Culina Health! Overall, Culina Health has transformed my life! I am feeling 10x better than when I started. With gradual dietary changes, my strength and energy levels have improved, and I am able to be more active and do the things I love! Nicole has helped me manage my Celiac, pinpointing areas of potential gluten contamination. Nicole has helped me vary my diet to make my microbiome more diverse and efficient. Her approach combines science-backed research with recommendations that fit my lifestyle. She is supportive and kind, which are important given how personal food and diet are!

I am in less pain, with less adverse food reactions, and I recover from reactions faster when they do happen! It’s unbelievable that Culina Health is covered by insurance. I truly feel that having access to virtual dietary care is setting me up for success and longevity.

Given that Culina Health is free for most people (at most you might have a small co-pay), you really have nothing to lose. Let me know if you try it, I would love to hear your experience!

How do I start with Culina Health?

You can start by visiting https://culinahealth.com/

Thanks for reading! Please reach out if you have questions or want to share your own experience working with Culina! And, be sure to read my blog post 7 steps to go gluten-free: A complete gluten-free guide for a complete breakdown of how to go gluten-free!