Ayah Bint Luay
آية بنت لؤي
I did not grow up understanding nutrition.
I was surrounded by advice that sounded convincing but often left me more confused.
When I was diagnosed with PCOS in high school, that confusion became personal.
Like many women who feel lost and desperate for answers, I turned to the internet for “cures,” supplements, detox drinks, and lifestyle remedies presented with so much confidence that I did not always know what to question. In that season, I spent money on supplements that did not work, forced myself to drink things I hated, and became afraid of perfectly normal foods because I did not understand them.
Looking back, I do not blame my younger self.
I was scared. I was confused. And like many women, I was vulnerable to health misinformation that sounded trustworthy because it was packaged with confidence, personal stories, and promises of healing.
That is what led me to study nutrition.
Not just to learn what to eat, but to understand why.
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food with a concentration in Dietetics and a minor in Biological Sciences, and I am currently a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) student studying Human Nutrition–Dietetics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
During my time at university, I developed a strong foundation in evidence-based nutrition and grew to love scientific research. I especially loved learning how nutrition works at a deeper level: how the body functions, how nutrients are used, and how complex health really is.
I also gained experience with the California Department of Public Health in the WIC division, where I contributed to nutrition education and public health efforts supporting women, infants, and children.
But beyond the degrees, coursework, and experience, one of the biggest changes was this:
I no longer felt confused around food.
I stopped relying on trends.
I stopped fearing every ingredient.
I learned how to ask better questions:
That changed everything.
My journey into science began with nutrition, but my curiosity has never been limited to a single discipline.
Studying nutrition introduced me to the complexity of human biology and the importance of scientific evidence. As I continued my education in public health, I became increasingly interested in how scientific knowledge is produced, communicated, questioned, and understood.
I also began thinking more deeply about the relationship between science and the communities it serves. Why do some communities distrust scientific institutions? How do history, culture, and lived experiences shape the questions people ask? And how can we create spaces where those questions are taken seriously without compromising scientific integrity?
These interests have shaped the direction of Nutrition with Ayah.
What began as a nutrition education platform is now growing into a broader space for science education, scientific curiosity, and meaningful conversations, particularly within Muslim communities.
Nutrition with Ayah is home to two initiatives that share a commitment to accessible, evidence-based education, while serving different purposes.
Evidence-Based Health Education for Muslim Women
Amanah Health Academy is my educational community dedicated to helping Muslim women better understand nutrition, health, and their bodies through accessible, evidence-based learning that respects their faith, values, and lived experiences.
Explore Amanah Health AcademyBringing Muslim Questions to Scientific Conversations
Sci Muslim is my science communication and expert interview series, bringing questions relevant to Muslim communities into conversations with researchers, historians, and scientific experts.
From medicine and public health to biology, chemistry, and the history of science, Sci Muslim explores scientific topics with curiosity, critical thinking, and intellectual honesty.
My mission is to make scientific knowledge more accessible to Muslim communities through evidence-based education, meaningful conversations, and a commitment to curiosity, critical thinking, and beneficial knowledge.
Scientific information should be correct, and it should also make sense to real people with real schedules and responsibilities.
Health information was never meant to feel this overwhelming. Education should invite questions, not create anxiety.
What is the evidence for this? How strong is this claim? Is this advice actually helpful, or is it fear-based?
Faith, culture, and lived experiences shape how people hear science, so they need care when science is communicated.
Muslim communities should have access to thoughtful, evidence-based education that does not dismiss their values.
Not through shame, fear, or pressure, but through evidence, compassion, and practical education.
Taking care of our bodies was never meant to exist outside of our faith. Our health is part of our amanah, and our approach to it should be rooted in knowledge, sincerity, and responsibility.
Nutrition with Ayah is built on more than information. It is built on values that shape how knowledge is taught, shared, and applied.
At the heart of this work is the belief that our bodies, health, time, and knowledge are trusts from Allah. Health education is not about chasing perfection, but about caring for what Allah has entrusted to us with gratitude and responsibility.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
Quran 51:56
Nutrition with Ayah is rooted in the pursuit of beneficial knowledge, knowledge that helps people better care for themselves, their families, and their communities. The goal is not just to collect information, but to understand and apply it in a way that brings benefit.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When the human being dies, his deeds end except for three: sadaqah jariyah, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
Sahih Muslim
Science and health education should be honest about what research shows, what it does not show, and where individual needs may differ. This platform avoids fear-based claims, exaggerated promises, and trends that create confusion instead of clarity.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “You must be truthful. Verily, truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise.”
Sahih Muslim, Sahih Bukhari
Teaching about science and health is a responsibility. Information is shared with care, accuracy, and respect for the trust people place in this work. The goal is to educate sincerely, not to pressure, shame, or mislead.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever practices medicine without any prior knowledge of medicine will be held liable.”
Sunan Ibn Mājah 3466
Many people carry guilt, confusion, or frustration around health and science. Nutrition with Ayah approaches these struggles with gentleness, not judgment, helping people build knowledge and habits from a place of mercy and hope.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”
Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1924
This work is about serving Muslim communities by making evidence-based science and health education more accessible, relevant, and practical. When people are equipped with knowledge, they are better able to care for themselves and those around them.
Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Verily, knowledge is only two types: knowledge of the religion and knowledge of the world. The knowledge of religion is fiqh and the knowledge of the world is medicine.”
Ādāb al-Shāfi’ī wa Manāqibuh 1/244
Voyage LA
A conversation about my journey from studying nutrition to building an evidence-based health education platform for Muslim women, the questions that shaped my work, and the intention behind it.
Read My VoyageLA Interview →Whether you're here to understand your own health or to explore the questions where science and faith meet, I'm so glad you found your way here. Explore the initiatives, and let's stay connected.
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