Meet Jamie
Jamie Menzel (she/her)
Functional Nutrition | Clinical Research | Mental Health
Hi, I'm Jamie.
My journey into nutrition began years ago, as a natural extension of my background in Western herbalism. I heard someone once say that the best herbalists start with food, and that sentiment greatly resonated with me. Through a combination of personal experience and a love of research, I’ve come to appreciate that thoughtful nutrition is foundational to both mental and physical health. Food not only represents culture, joy, identity, and survival; it also provides the nutritional building blocks that impact our biochemistry, influencing everything from our digestion to our mood.
While I primarily specialize in mental-health focused nutrition care, I love to work with clients to address a wide range of concerns. After all, the brain and the body are connected, and improving symptoms in one area often provides benefits elsewhere. As a clinician, my approach is warm, nonjudgmental, and personalized. I feel passionate about disentangling the field of nutrition from diet culture and perfectionism, and I love helping others discover ways to cultivate a healthier relationship to food and self. I taught myself to cook later in life, first on organic farms, then in punk houses, and then while living on a school bus, healing myself through a combination of the food, drinks, and conversations I shared along the way.
In addition to my clinical work, I serve as Adjunct Faculty at the National University of Natural Medicine, where I teach a 3-credit graduate-level course, Nutrition for Mental Health, and provide Clinical Research Assistance within the Science of Nutrition, Affect, and Cognition in Kids (SNACK) Lab at Oregon Health & Science University. I am also actively involved in research within the field of nutritional psychiatry and am interested in pursuing a PhD in this area. When I'm not talking about nutrition or neuroscience, you can find me in the woods, petting my cat, politely declining a party invitation, planning my next trip, or watering my houseplants.
Education
Master of Science in Nutrition
National University of Natural Medicine
Portland, Oregon
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Washington
Herbalism & Wildcrafting
1000+ hours of formal training
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The Columbines School of Botanical Studies
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The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism
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The Arctos School of Herbal and Botanical Studies
Licenses & Board Certification
Certified Dietitian
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist
State of Washington
State of Florida
Certified Nutrition Specialist®
Board for the Certification of Nutrition Specialists
Manuscripts & Publications
Aucoin M, Bruton AM, Nafisa N, Higgins LD, Menzel JE, Ghannoum M, Maheshwari S, Stoesz F, Pletch J, LaChance L, Sze A, Goldenberg JZ. The effect of Rosmarinus officinalis on depression, anxiety and psychological stress in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Herbal Medicine. 2026; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2026.101147.
Aucoin M, Pletch J, Menzel JE, Akinbode T, Gray O, Lamb K, LaChance L, Sze A, Bagnato M, Murphy MA. Dietary protein, anxiety and psychological stress: A scoping review. Nutritional Psychiatry. 2026;10.1016/j.nupsyc.2026.100045.
Thexton A, Mackay L, Vita A, Heron R, Menzel JE, Patterson K, Zwickey H. Psychobiotic strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia: a narrative review. J Restorative Med. 2026;11:10.14200/jrm.2026.0002.
Bruton AM, Menzel JE, Welsh A, Machingo TA, Ryan JR, and Johnstone JM. Increased neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio in ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Manuscript under review. Protocol at: https://osf.io/n78cz/.
Johnstone JM, Menzel JE, Faydenko J, Bruton A, Bell AK, Srikanth P, Tost G, Zwickey H. Focus groups to optimize research methodology in a multinutrient study of children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation who are typically not included in research. Manuscript in preparation.
Johnstone JM, Bruton AM, Menzel JE, Srikanth P, and Loftis JM. Optimizing parent reporting of child behavior change using ecological momentary assessment in a virtual multinutrient study of children with ADHD and emotional dysregulation. Manuscript in preparation.
Goldenberg JZ, Wright TJ, Batson RD, Wexler RS, Menzel JE, McGovern KA, Venugopal NK, Ward, WW, Randolph KM, Urban RJ, Pyles RB, Sheffield-Moore, M. What is the association between the microbiome and cognition? An umbrella review. Manuscript in preparation. Protocol at: doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077873.
Bruton AM, Menzel JE, Djulbegovic B, Ostelo R, de Zoete A, Hemkens L, and Rubinstein S. Consistency and predictors of GRADE downgrading in Cochrane reviews of neck and low back pain interventions: A meta-epidemiological study. Manuscript in preparation.
What is a Certified Nutrition Specialist?
A Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®) is a board-certified nutrition professional who has earned a graduate degree in the science of nutrition from an accredited university, fulfilled at least 1000 hours of supervised practice experience, and passed a rigorous board exam. This certification currently represents the highest standard for advanced personalized nutrition practitioners.