Meet Toral
Nutritional Scientist and Functional Medicine Practitioner
Toral Shah is a Nutritional Scientist (MSc Nutr Med), Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Health writer Consultant, as well as the Founder of The Urban Kitchen. She originally went to medical school with a view to becoming an oncologist but when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she realised that this was not the career for her.
After completing her BSc in Cell Biology, specialising in cancer, she worked in research, winning a prestigious Royal Society scholarship where she worked on SRC oncogenes. Toral then went on to do an MSc in Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey and became a functional medicine practitioner, with a special focus on working with nutrigenomics. She is completing the Institute of Functional Medicine full certification. She is currently putting together a PhD proposal looking at the impact of stress, diet and lifestyle on oestrogen-dependent breast cancer.
Toral specialises in optimising health and disease prevention through improving food, diet and lifestyle. She uses evidence-based science and nutrition knowledge along with lifestyle medicine to help support others to optimise their health. Toral was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29. In 2018, she was diagnosed with a breast cancer recurrence and in 2020 for the third time, undertaking major surgery and treatment through COVID pandemic lockdown, and utilising all the tools in her toolbox to support recovery.
Qualifications
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BSc Cell Biology 2.1
MSc Nutritional Medicine (Merit)
IFM Functional Medicine - awaiting examination
Lifecode Gx Master Genomics Practitioner
Royal Society of Medicine Ambassador & member
Nutrition Society member
Le Cordon Bleu trained chef
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Positions of change & advocacy
NIHR Nutrition and Cancer Committee Member
Co-founder South Asian SuperNovas
The Health Collective with Wellbeing of Women
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Consulting and Media Work
She also works with a large portfolio of brands & press within the food, health and wellness industry from writing scientific content, speaking at health and corporate wellness events, and developing recipes and content for brands sharing her knowledge of nutrition and science. She is currently in the process of writing her first book which explores the latest science behind foods that optimise health and illustrates them with some of her favourite recipes.
Equity, diversion and inclusion
Toral is also passionate about combatting the lack of diversity in healthcare and ensuring both doctors and patients from racially minoritized groups are equally represented within the NHS and healthcare systems. Currently, these have poorer health outcomes, even when you take into account socioeconomic factors, and are often diagnosed with cancer later and at later stages. Toral is working with several charities and organisations to ensure that they are creating more inclusive health promotion campaigns with more diversity and inclusivity so that all communities know that cancer can affect them.
Toral is part of several research groups and committees investigating nutrition and lifestyle pre-habilitation and rehabilitation post-cancer diagnoses, along with reducing risk and supporting seldomly reached groups to improve cancer outcomes.
Your future in Maths: A-Z - Nutritional Scientist Toral Shah
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Toral Shah is a Nutritional Scientist (MSc Nutr Med), Integrative Medicine Practitioner, Food and Health writer Consultant, and Founder of The Urban Kitchen. Maths plays a crucial role in Toral’s daily life. Watch her interview to learn how she uses maths to optimise her patients' health and prevent major diseases like cancer.
Free Gift!
Cancer can be one of those moments that changes our lives forever. Whilst it can be scary, sometimes being able to take control can support us through treatment and beyond to recovery. This plan shares the basic nutrition and lifestyle principles that can help you to optimise your health and reduce your risk of cancer recurrence. I’ve done the research for you so you can focus on looking after yourself and your health. Download this plan for free and kickstart your cancer recovery plan!