About Julianne Taylor-McNeill

(image credit – NZWW)

Hi, I’m Julianne Taylor, a Registered Nutritionist (Nutrition Society of NZ) and NZ Registered General & Obstetric Nurse (non-practicing), and I’ve recently completed a PhD (currently under examination) on dietary strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Nutrition is my third career and I kind of fell into it by accident. I’ve always been interested in diet however, and experimented with different protocols over time. In the mid 1990’s I experimented with the popular Zone diet, and within days I experienced increased energy, improved mental focus, and greater appetite control leading to weight loss without hunger. This changed the course of my career and I trained initially as a Zone Diet coach. Working with a CrossFit gym around 2009 led to further experiments and trying the paleo diet, which eliminated auto-immune joint inflammation and menstrual issues.

In 2012 I started a post grad diploma in nutrition science (PGDipSci) at Massey University and began my first foray into nutrition research in 2015. I interviewed 10 people with rheumatoid arthritis who had used a paleo style diet that they attributed to a reduction in RA symptoms. You can read an overview of the research here. I consequently trained as an AIP-certified coach.

In 2021 I began my PhD  investigating the role of diet in RA, with a particular focus on elimination–reintroduction approaches. I wrote a review paper on the studies conducted over the years. I also conducted a small pilot study testing the effect of the AIP diet in nine people with RA. In 2022 I followed up on all nine participants to see how they managed the reintroduction process and what the status of their RA was post-intervention. My PhD is now completed, and currently under examination. Several more papers form my PhD results and are currently in review with journals. One is a qualitative study on the experiences of participants in the study, that is – how they managed the very restrictive AIP diet and what happened in the year post intervention. Another is a detailed nutritional analysis on the differences between participants’ usual diet and the AIP diet, and the other covers the results from the one year follow-up.

I’m also a fan of strength training, and have been going to the gym consistently for the last 17 years. In 2016 I switched my focus to powerlifting. As I got stronger, I realised that I could actually compete in this sport. My first competition was in 2018, and this led to me representing New Zealand in Sweden in 2019 in the Masters 3, 52kg category, winning a bronze medal for bench. In 2023 in Mongolia and 2025 in South Africa, I won this category (World Champ) much to my surprise. I encourage women to work out in any way they can to gain strength, as it is so crucial for healthy aging.

Special interests:

  • Diet for appetite regulation and fat loss
  • Menopause and diet
  • Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
  • Diet plans: Nutrient-dense non-restrictive diet, optimising diet for strength gain
  • Diet and nutrients for auto-immune disease and reduction in inflammation including the Auto-immune Protocol (AIP)
  • Diet to build muscle, and lose fat, for strength training
  • Group Seminars, a range of nutrition and lifestyle topics
  • Previous group seminars include:  Nutrition to optomise the immune system, Nutrition for women’s health issues, Nutrition for mental wellbeing, Paleo eating principles and practice, Zone diet principles, Auto-immune protocol (AIP),

You can contact Julianne via email:

Phone 0800 72 74 72 or (64) 021 680703

Appointments are via Zoom or Teams or a platform of your choice.

See consultations for more information.

Qualifications, from most recent:

  • Current 2021- 2025 PhD (c) (AUT), currently under examination
  • Registered Nutritionist (New Zealand Nutrition Society)
  • Auto-Immune Protocol (AIP) Certified Coach
  • Post Grad Diploma Science (Human Nutrition) Massey
  • Grad Cert Science & Technology (Human Nutrition) Massey
  • Certified Zone Diet Instructor (Zone Labs, USA)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Design for disability (London City Polytechnic)
  • Diploma in Interior and Furniture Design (Unitec)
  • Registered Nurse (NZRGON) (Auckland School of Nursing)