Desi Carlos, Dietitian

Desi Carlos

Clinical Dietitian & Nutritionist

BAppSc (Micro & Biochem) Grad Dip Nutr & Diet APD AN

Desi Carlos is a functional/integrative clinical dietitian, who has been a leader in nutrition since 1993 as principal dietitian and founder of Tree of Life Nutrition in Brisbane. Desi has helped thousands of patients through one on one nutrition consultations with a focus on complex cases. Desi is passionate about getting the science right for each patient. She offers individualised programs – with an emphasis on providing options and results where others may have failed. With years of real world experience, she also provides education, research, public speaking and media appearances around nutritional health alongside her clinical work.

Desi’s special interest areas

Gastrointestinal disorders and bowel health, gut microbiome health and inflammation management through food – including IBS, SIBO, allergies, food intolerances (FODMAPs and Microba Insights and Co-Biome trained and certified), Coeliac disease.
The Mediterranean Diet
Coeliac disease (expert dietitian for the The Queensland Coeliac Society, media spokesperson for 15 years)
Women’s health including endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic pain, PCOS, treatment of IBS with nutrition for gut health (resident dietitian at Vera Wellness and preferred consultant dietitian at Eve Health)
Menopause (pre and post menopause)
Nutritional intervention and pain management for autoimmune disease (including thyroid)
Chronic disease, weight, cholesterol and diabetes management
Fertility (Nutrition Plus certified fertility dietitian. Resident dietitian at Vera Wellness and preferred consultant dietitian at Eve Health)

Qualifications

Desi is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Biochemistry and Microbiology and a Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has completed the Microba Insights Course in gut microbiome health, is Monash University FODMAP Certified and is certified with Nutrition Plus as a Fertility Dietitian.

More about Desi's special interest areas

Focus on complex and chronic cases

A clinical dietitian since 1993, Desi has a wealth of experience testing and applying nutritional protocols for complex, chronic cases. Desi is committed to understanding the science behind each person’s needs, and she’s found that this personalised method is often the key to progress. Over the years, Desi has seen her evidence-based approach to diet and nutrition succeed where other attempts may have fallen short. She often calls herself a “food detective” because she is passionate about solving complex puzzles, bringing together information from multiple places in order to create breakthroughs that ultimately lead to healing for the patient.

Gut health dietitian

Desi has a special interest in gastrointestinal nutrition and years of experience working with patients to improve gut microbiome health, and manage inflammation through food, including for complex cases. She is sought after for her experience in nutrition for gastrointestinal disorders and bowel health, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), SIBO, allergies, food intolerances and FODMAPs and was resident dietitian and media spokesperson for the Queensland Coeliac Society for 15 years. In addition, she is passionate about nutritional intervention and pain management for autoimmune diseases, including for thyroid issues.

With a microbiology background and training in The Microba Insights Course, Desi has a unique and effective treatment plan for improving the balance of the gut microbiome. Desi is also Monash University FODMAP Certified. A healthy microbiome allows for improved immunity, improved mental health and decreased inflammation. The Mediterranean Diet supplies both the pre and probiotics required to keep this improved gut microbiome healthy. Desi’s nutritional expertise in both finds the perfect balance to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions lending itself heavily to better health outcomes and fulfilling her motto of eat well, look good, FEEL GREAT!

desi carlos dietitian speaking at gluten free expo

mediterranean diet dietitian desi carlos

Mediterranean Diet dietitian and advocate

Desi has substantial experience working in clinical practice with the scientifically-backed Mediterranean Diet to assist patients to reduce inflammation, improve the gut microbiome, and look and feel their best. Through individual consults, cooking demonstrations, lectures, supermarket tours, recipes and advice, Desi is Brisbane’s “go-to” on implementing a Mediterranean lifestyle for better health. She has co-authored two recipe and lifestyle books on the subject The Mediterranean Diet – the Lifestyle of Eating and Mediterranean Eating Cook.Eat.Live.

Desi can explain the nutrition science that encompasses Cooking Mediterranean: Eating Well: Living Long. Importantly, she can also show you how to incorporate those principles of the Mediterranean Diet into your current eating practices for an enjoyable, sustainable and culturally-rich guide to Mediterranean eating.

Dietitian for women’s health

Desi is a leading dietitian for women’s health and fertility. She is the resident dietitian at Vera Wellness and preferred consultant dietitian at Eve Health, both prominent women’s health clinics in Brisbane.

Menopause dietitian

As a menopause dietitian, Desi helps women navigate the hormonal changes that influence their health during this stage of life. From the first stages of perimenopause, she can apply evidence-based nutrition to support symptoms such as weight changes, gut disturbances, mood fluctuations, and disrupted sleep. Desi’s practice brings together nutritional testing, personalised dietary guidance, and practical strategies that fit a woman’s lifestyle. Her work includes identifying nutrient gaps, supporting gut function, reducing symptom triggers, and drawing on sustainable nutrition frameworks like the Mediterranean Diet. As a FODMAP and Microba-certified gut health specialist, she integrates digestive health into her care, recognising its key role in hormonal wellbeing.

Post menopause

In post-menopause, Desi’s focus extends to the long-term health considerations that commonly emerge after the final menstrual period. She supports women with nutrition strategies that help maintain bone density, metabolic health, muscle mass, heart health, and stable energy levels. Her approach focuses on helping women move through post-menopause with confidence and a strong foundation for healthy ageing.

Endometriosis, adenomyosis and pelvic pain management

Desi has considerable experience and proven results in women’s health nutrition for endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and pelvic pain management. Desi utilises a personalised combination of anti-inflammatory diet, gut health microbiome improvement, identifiying food intolerances, and nutritional treatment of IBS with improved gut health where relevant.

Fertility

Desi focuses on the nutritional management of fertility and obstetrics and is a Nutrition Plus certified fertility dietitian. Desi holds particular experience in the following interest areas around preconception and conception nutrition:

Optimising egg and sperm health
Restoring menstrual cyclicity
Assisting with ovulatory dysfunction
Increasing implantation rate
Falling pregnant with endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and coeliac disease
Nutrition therapy to support Assisted Reproductive Processes
Gestational diabetes management support

Featured in

Author and educator on the Mediterranean diet

Desi is a co-author of The Mediterranean Diet – the Lifestyle of Eating and Mediterranean Eating Cook.Eat.Live and co-hosted Brisbane’s Mediterranean Diet Expo in 2018 and 2019, which brought together health experts from a range of disciplines. As a champion for the Mediterranean Diet, you will see Desi frequently offering lectures and cooking demonstrations on the evidence-based benefits of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. Desi’s message is simple; “eat well, feel good, look great!” With this philosophy and wealth of industry experience, Desi has helped thousands of people rediscover themselves with increased confidence and self-esteem.

Speaking

Desi is an accomplished speaker, having delivered many lectures on a range of topics on corporate health, school nutrition, the Mediterranean diet, chronic disease, women’s health and fertility and of course on gut health. She has spoken for many years at the Gluten Free Expo, and has recently spoken at the Vera Womens Wisdom Summit on the Mediterranean diet as an anti-inflammatory diet for pelvic pain.

Media and Publications

Desi has appeared on 97.3FM and was the resident dietitian for Robin, Terry & Bob for many years. She has also appeared on Channel 7, 9 and 10 News, the Courier Mail, The Hellenic Odyssey, West End Magazine and more.

She is also widely published in journals and magazines.