Luba Kazakova
Nutritionist
Self-employed
Describe your role in 1—2 simple sentences.
I analyze people’s current health conditions and help them feel better through personalized diets, nutrient supplementation, and lifestyle habit recommendations.
What do you really do at work?
I talk — but mostly, I listen to my clients.
I analyze their blood test results, questionnaire responses, diet, symptoms, daily routine, and lifestyle habits.
Then I create a detailed PDF with my analysis and recommendations: food choices, medical specialists to consult, activity plans, and supplementation for the next 2–4 months.
What skills are necessary to do your job?
Hard:
- Deep knowledge of functional medicine
- Understanding cause-and-effect relationships in various human conditions
- Coaching and proactive listening
- Clear verbal and written communication
Soft:
- Strong self-organization
- Motivational interviewing techniques
- Passion for continuous learning and self-education
- Empathy
Biggest eye-opening since you started this job.
Everything is more complicated in practice than in theory, but it’s practice that truly makes you a good specialist.
Most challenging part of your job that people often don’t see from the outside.
Finding the root cause of a condition and working with it directly, instead of just suppressing symptoms. Sometimes it takes days of thinking, reflection, and connecting subtle details that aren’t immediately visible.
If someone wants to enter your field today, where should they start?
Start by choosing a good university with a strong nutrition program and focus on getting a solid, science-based education.
What drives you at work?
I’m driven by my clients’ results — seeing how their lives change for the better. I’m also motivated by my personal research, scientific interest in this field, and a desire to share the positive experience this work has brought into my own life.
Biggest professional goal.
To implement Nutrition Basics into school curriculums for children.
To reach your top career goal, what skills do you believe you should get or improve?
To be bolder and more courageous, believe in myself, my knowledge, and my talents, and start building a team.
What do you think is your unique talent?
To listen deeply and understand my clients’ real problems and needs, even between the words they say. To create personalized nutrient plans and find the words they need to hear to start real change.
Best career advice you’ve ever received.
Start right now.
Advice that never worked for you or your career.
“Study more before you start practicing” — that advice doesn’t really work — you’ll always need to keep learning. Practice is part of learning, and mistakes are inevitable — they help you grow.
Lesson that feels the most valuable and hard-earned.
You can’t help someone who doesn’t truly want help or isn’t ready to put in the effort to improve their life.
Moments at work made you feel proud or fulfilled.
Seeing the happy eyes of clients who finally understand what’s been happening to them, and start feeling better.
Looking back 3—5 years, what do you regret doing or not doing?
I was embarrassed to talk openly about being a nutritionist on social media. I also didn’t choose the best university for studying Nutrition the first time, and missed the chance to learn from the best teachers.
Let’s talk about work ethic. What principles do you always stick to?
I never share clients’ names or discuss their health conditions with others, and I don’t post test results with personal data on social media. I don’t scold or criticize when recommendations aren’t followed — I’m not a mom or a teacher, I’m a buddy. I also never cancel doctors’ prescriptions, criticize their treatment, or make diagnoses.
What mindset or habits do you think enable some people to achieve more than others?
Discipline and good time management. Healthy self-esteem. The ability to connect with very different people. Staying consistent and keeping going, even when there are no results yet. And always being willing to try new things.
How do you deal with the discomfort of doing something you’ve never done before?
I study the theory, make an action plan, try it out — and if something doesn’t work, I ask for help from someone who’s already done it.
How important is networking in your career? Any tips?
Super important!
Collect contacts during your studies, at conferences, and events. Be active on social media — it’s a great way to find like-minded people.
Do you believe in work-life balance? How does it work for you?
Yes, I do.
For me, it works when I follow a strict schedule and a detailed plan that includes everything — not just work tasks, but also personal ones like sports, travel, and time with friends and family.
What’s something you value now that you didn’t before — and vice versa?
Back then, I cared more about fitting into external frameworks than trusting my own views and sense of the world. Now, staying true to myself matters more.
I also value youth, good health, a clear mind, and comfort way more than I used to.
- PW:
What is youth in this context?
LK:Youth is the ability to look and feel good without making any special effort.
If money is not an issue, what would you genuinely love to do in life?
Study neurobiology and psychiatry at a medical university, travel the world, and share it all through a blog or vlog.
Trend or development in your field that excites you now.
Peptides.
- PW:
What's so special about peptides?
LK:Peptides are signaling molecules that tell cells what to do — like activating or deactivating receptors. For example, the well-known drug Ozempic suppresses hunger by acting on the GLP-1 receptor in the gut. Peptides can also stimulate collagen production or help repair damaged tissues, making them a powerful tool in both cosmetics and medicine.
- PW:
Why are peptides becoming more popular in modern skincare?
LK:They can trigger very specific biological processes. In skincare, they help stimulate the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, which are essential for firm, hydrated, and youthful-looking skin. Some peptides can even support muscle tissue repair. And since they’re made of short chains of amino acids, they can penetrate the skin easily and work more effectively.
- PW:
Are peptides a silver bullet for the skin?
LK:Peptides aren’t a magic fix for every skin concern, but their high specificity makes them a powerful tool in the right hands. They can trigger specific processes in the skin with impressive accuracy. For example, the peptide Melanotan can even stimulate tanning without you having to leave the house!
Any advice to your 20-year-old self from your current perspective?
Don’t be afraid of the world or people, and go to a medical university.
Favorite books, podcasts, movies, etc.
- “Dirty Gens” by Ben Lynch
- “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
- “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
- #безфильтров
