Meet Gauri Junnarkar | Integrative Dietitian, Ayurveda Practitioner, Certified Diabetes Educator and Founder AyurNutrition

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gauri Junnarkar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gauri, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Let me share my story. In my childhood home, in the heart of Mumbai, I regularly helped my mother with preparing our family meals. Food was aromatic, full of spices, and delicious. By helping my mom in the kitchen throughout my childhood, I was lucky to be introduced to cooking and proper nutrition at a young age.

Little did I know that an incident involving a small cut on my thumb while helping her cut onions would serve as a major turning point in my life and also introduce me to Ayurveda – the ancient health science of India.

Following the small scrape, the area on my finger was bleeding. In response, my mom instructed me to wash my hands and gently dab a pinch of Turmeric on the open cut. She also emphasized the importance of slowing down while using a kitchen knife. In just a few short seconds, the bleeding had immediately stopped. She briefly explained the healing benefits of Turmeric, which left a lasting impression on me for the rest of my childhood and adult life.

Daily gratitude practice, grounding, and Ayurvedic Abhyanga Massage became my everyday practice, and it is still part of my routine today. I immersed myself in India’s ancient science throughout my life and went on to receive my bachelor’s degree in Ayurveda (BAMS) from the University of Mumbai.

This education allowed me to work as an Ayurveda Practitioner in a Mumbai clinic, which exposed me to diverse patient populations and reinforced my passion for complementary wellness. After moving across the globe to the U.S. with my husband 15 years ago, I was determined to continue this practice while furthering my education. My knowledge and experience with the Ayurvedic diet and food principles, coupled with my interest in evidence-based nutrition, led me to pursue a rigorous and competitive combined clinical internship and Graduate Nutrition program in order to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). My background in Ayurveda inspired me to complete my master’s thesis research on “Dietary Curcumin (phytochemical in Turmeric) and its effect in Melanoma (skin cancer).” This research was selected at the National Conference on Experimental Biology under “Diet and Cancer” and also at the Texas Dietetic Association conference.

Despite my many years of dedication as an RD in an outpatient diabetes setting, there was always a little voice in the back of my mind telling me to go back to my roots of Ayurveda. Understanding the proven benefits to evidence-based and individualized nutrition, I was determined to share this passion with others in the U.S. by using a unique combination of Ayurveda principles. With a desire to offer an individual approach to one’s health and wellness, Ayurnutrition was born.

At Ayurnutrition, I combine the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern nutrition. I am an Author, International Keynote speaker, Ayurveda, Nutrition & wellness expert with 17+ years of experience in Integrative Health. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, Ayurveda Practitioner (Vaidya), and Panchakarma Specialist specializing in Diabetes, Digestive health, Weight management, metabolic disorders, and Women’s health. I have co-authored two books ‘A Primer on Ayurveda: A Practical Guide,’ & ‘Ayurveda & Yoga: A Path to Health and Healing’ published on Amazon. I also host of the Health & Wellbeing show ‘Wellness Bites with Gauri’ on YouTube and as a podcast.

I currently offer personalized nutrition & Ayurveda consultations, comprehensive programs, engaging webinars, immersive events, rejuvenating retreats, corporate wellness solutions, and enlightening healthy cooking demonstrations. Through Ayurveda & Nutrition, I empower people to make informed choices for a healthier and more balanced life. To learn more about me and how I integrates Ayurveda with Nutrition, visit my website: www.ayurnutrition.com

What should our readers know about your business?
Here at Ayurnutrition, we offer a unique approach to an individual’s health and wellness. We combine the age-old wisdom of Ayurveda with Nutrition and provide an individualized wellness plan that fits a person’s lifestyle and needs. Each client of Ayurnutrition may walk in with a different wellness concern: weight management, Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, Prediabetes, Gestational Diabetes, GI issues, Hypertension, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol and Triglyceride, Women’s wellness, stress management, or many others. With proper nutrition being a key factor in disease management and prevention, I work together with each person to develop a realistic and personalized wellness plan to ensure long-term healthy habits. With almost a decade of professional experience in evidence-based nutrition, coupled with my Ayurveda roots, Ayurnutrition serves as an innovative and comprehensive private practice promoting balance, nourishment, and rejuvenation.

I believe that balanced nutrition paired with Ayurvedic principles may allow for a more rejuvenated living. Every person is unique, and there is no one size for a body’s ideal nourishment. I believe in working together, to dig deep to get to the root of a person’s individual challenge and develop a personalized set of steps to encourage a lifetime of health and happiness.

We offer a variety of wellness services: Here are some our wellness offerings:

Ayurveda Consults

Nutrition Consults

Integrative Consults

Ayurveda Programs:

Nutrition Programs and courses:

Integrative Programs:

• Integrative Weight Management Program:

• Integrative Diabetes Program

• Integrative Gut Health Program

Meal plan tools:

Workshops, Wellness seminar, and Webinars

Corporate and employee wellness programs & healthy cooking demos.

What sets me apart from others is my unique training in both Ayurveda, an ancient system of holistic healing, and modern nutrition. I combine the wisdom of Ayurveda with the scientific principles of nutrition to offer a truly integrative approach to health and wellness.

In addition to being the founder of Ayurnutrition, I’m also an author, keynote speaker, and wellness entrepreneur. I’m incredibly proud of winning the Immigrant Journey Award, which represents my journey and dedication. I’ve authored books on Ayurveda, which are available on Amazon, and they reflect my passion for bringing these timeless principles into modern health practices.

My journey to where I am today was far from easy. There were many challenges along the way, but I overcame them through hard work, flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to learning. Being able to pivot when necessary has been key, as well as always seeking growth and staying open to new ideas. These lessons have shaped who I am and how I approach my work.

What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that it’s built on a foundation of blending ancient traditions with modern knowledge to create a holistic, personalized approach to wellness. My goal is to help others discover the balance and vitality that comes from integrating these two worlds.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Here are some places I would take my friend:
Downtown Dallas & Arts District:
Dealey Plaza & Sixth Floor Museum:
Pioneer Plaza:
Dallas Museum of Art:
Nasher Sculpture Center:
Klyde Warren Park:

Historic Dallas & Bishop Arts District
Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden:
Bishop Arts District:
Reunion Tower:

Fort Worth – Stockyards & Cultural District
Fort Worth StockyardsA famous Tex-Mex restaurant with a beautiful outdoor garden.
Fort Worth Water Gardens:
Cultural District Museums: Kimbell Art Museum and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth f
Billy Bob’s Texas:

Outdoor Fun in DFW
White Rock Lake:
Dallas Zoo:
Deep Ellum:

Day Trip to Grapevine & Southlake
Grapevine Historic Main Street:
Grapevine Vintage Railroad:
Grapevine Mills Mall: S
Southlake Town Square:

Explore Frisco & Plano
The Star in Frisco: T
Legacy West in Plano:

Last Day in Fort Worth
Fort Worth Botanic Garden:
Amon Carter Museum of American Art:
Sundance Square:
Texas Motor Speedway

I would also take her to some amazing Restaurants in DFW.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, who truly deserves all the credit. He has been my constant support, standing by me through every challenge, every success, and every moment in between. Whether I’m faced with difficult decisions or seeking inspiration, he is always there to guide me with his wisdom and unwavering encouragement. His strength, patience, and belief in me have been the foundation on which I’ve built so much of what I do. He is not only my partner but my rock, the one who lifts me up when I need it most. I honestly couldn’t have achieved what I have without him by my side. His influence and love have shaped both my personal and professional journey in more ways than words can express.

Website: https://www.ayurnutrition.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayurnutrition/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauri-junnarkar-ms-bams-rdn-cdces-lmt-12a6091/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayurnutrition

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AyurNutrition

Image Credits
Kaushik Chaudhuri