A new episode of The Smart Human podcast is now live! In this episode, Dr. Aly Cohen is speaking with Ashley Koff, RD, nationally recognized nutrition expert, curriculum creator, and published author.
Ashley Koff, RD is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program (BNP), the Nutrition Course Director for UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute's Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship, and a faculty member at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA), where she teaches “An Integrative and Functional Nutrition Approach to Obesity and Weight Management.” She is also the author of the upcoming book, Your Best Shot (Harper One, January 6, 2026). A practitioner for over 25 years, Koff is leading a transformative movement in personalized nutrition, turning “better, not perfect” choices into practical, sustainable strategies that deliver real health outcomes. Through patient stories and personal experience, she shows that optimal health is not just possible—it’s essential to living your fullest life. Koff has been recognized as one of CNN’s Top 100 Health Makers, featured in InStyle as “Hollywood’s Leading Dietitian,” and has been selected as Westin’s Global Nutrition Ambassador.
In this episode of the Smart Human Podcast, you'll learn:
- Why weight health is about body composition and metabolism—not the scale or BMI
- How gut health, stress, medications, and environment affect weight and hormones
- What GLP-1 medications do in the body, including effects on appetite and metabolism
- Why GLP-1s require nutrition support and medical guidance to work safely
- Key risks and side effects, including digestive slowdown and altered hunger cues
- Why protecting muscle is essential during weight loss
- A simple lifestyle focus on daily hydration, nourishment, movement, and stress care
- Why diets aren’t failing—bodies are under-supported, and health requires a whole-system approach
