Hi, I’m Krystle Zuniga

PhD, RD, CSO, LD

I’m a Registered Dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition, and I’ve spent over 18 years working in nutrition and cancer as a researcher, educator, and clinician.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a bright pink top sitting on a white chair in a room with white bookshelves and decorative items.

A Little About Me

After my B.S. in Dietetics my curiosity about the why behind nutrition and disease led me to pursue a PhD in Nutritional Sciences, where I studied the role of diet in cancer. I began my career in academia, continuing to study nutrition and cancer while teaching in higher education

But over time, something felt like it was missing. The research was meaningful, but the impact felt distant. I was discouraged to see the long gap between what we were learning in research and what was actually being implemented in clinical practice.

So I made a shift into full-time clinical practice, working directly with patients navigating cancer treatment and recovery. That’s where everything changed.

I was sitting across from patients who were overwhelmed, scared, and confused by conflicting nutrition information they had read online, heard from others, or seen on social media. I was shocked to discover how much of that information didn’t align with the evidence.

It raised several questions for me:
Why isn’t the science reaching people in a way that’s clear and usable?
Why are patients left to sort through this on their own?
Why aren’t more scientists and clinicians part of these conversations?

So I started showing up.

What began as a way to share evidence-based information has grown into Cancer Nutrition HQ—a platform focused on making oncology nutrition easier to understand and more practical to apply.

Today, my work brings together my background in research, clinical care, and education. I teach, speak, work with patients, and create content through social media and my podcast, to help bridge the gap between evidence and application.

Because when information is clear and accessible, it has the power to reduce fear, support better decisions, and help people feel more empowered in how they care for their bodies.

Learn More About My Approach

18+ years

Of experience in oncology nutrition, clinical practice, research, and higher education

Training & Expertise

PhD Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

BS Dietetics, Bowling Green State University

Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition

Assistant Professor of Instruction, University of Texas at Austin 

Registered & Licensed Dietitian

A stylized carrot with green top and orange body, wearing black glasses.

Community Involvement

Moving Beyond Cancer Collaborative

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group 

Nutrition and Dietetics Educator Dietetic Practice Group

In The Media

A woman in a beige cardigan is preparing food in a modern kitchen with white cabinets and a marble countertop. There are halved passion fruits, a loaf of bread, a knife, green leafy vegetables, and various colorful peppers on the counter. The woman is smiling while holding a bunch of green herbs.

PODCAST

Two Onc Docs Podcast featuring Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PHD, RD, CSO, LD

Oncology Nutrition 101

Podcast webpage titled 'Are Cancer Rates Increasing? with Dr. Krystle Zuniga,' featuring a play button, audio duration 58:27, with sharing options for Facebook and other platforms.

PODCAST

The Nutrition Science Podcast featuring
Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PHD, RD, CSO, LD

Are Cancer Rates Increasing?

A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a black top, in front of a dark wall.

PODCAST

The Proof Podcast featuring Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PHD, RD, CSO, LD

Can Diet Alone Cure Cancer?

A woman speaking into a microphone, wearing a dark sweater with red strawberries, with the quote 'It starts with one cell!' and the name Dr. Krystle Zuniga.

PODCAST

Cancer Expert Exposes the Truth About How You Get Cancer

The Jordan Syatt Podcast featuring Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PHD, RD, CSO, LD

A glass of pink grapefruit cocktail garnished with a grapefruit slice and a sprig of rosemary, with half a grapefruit on a white surface in the background.

ARTICLE

Patient Power featuring expert nutrition insight from Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PHD

Foods and Supplements to Avoid During Chemo

Fresh fruits and vegetables on a white background, with some in a green plastic bag. Items include grapes, strawberries, apples, lettuce, cabbage, a pear, peaches, and onions.

ARTICLE

Does Eating Organic Foods Really Lower Your Cancer Risk

EatingWell featuring expert commentary from Krystle Zuniga, PHD, RD, CSO, LD

The Cancer Nutrition HQ Fundamentals

  • Recommendations are grounded in current research and clinical experience. Every piece of guidance shared here is backed by evidence, reviewed critically, and held to a high standard of scientific integrity.

  • Cancer is not one disease, and nutrition support is not one protocol. Every patient, every diagnosis, and every goal is different. Nutritional needs are assessed and addressed accordingly, with individualized context at the center of every recommendation.

  • Complex nutrition science is translated into practical, understandable concepts that can be applied in everyday life. Accuracy and clarity are equally important because even the best information has limited value if it cannot be understood and applied.

  • Education is used as a tool to support confidence, autonomy, and more informed nutrition choices. The goal is not to prescribe a rigid set of rules, but to provide the knowledge and context needed to make decisions that are grounded in evidence and aligned with individual needs.

A young woman with long dark hair smiling, holding a red dice close to her face, wearing a black top and a skirt with a strawberry pattern, sitting next to a yellow chair against a purple background.
A young woman with long dark hair smiling, holding a red dice close to her face, wearing a black top and a skirt with a strawberry pattern, sitting next to a yellow chair against a purple background.

Cancer Nutrition HQ exists because everyone affected by cancer deserves access to nutrition guidance they can trust. I built this to be that place, and I’m grateful to share it with you.

Get in Touch