Medical nutrition therapy is a way to manage chronic health problems through an individualized nutrition plan. It differs from nutrition education which offers basic nutrition information to the public but isn’t intended to treat health problems. Auburn nutrient therapy helps individuals to use their diet to best support their medical conditions. Besides addressing existing medical conditions, nutrient therapy or medical nutrition therapy lowers the risk of new complications. Medical nutrition therapy is an important component of the overall management plan of common diseases such as:
Kidney disease
When your kidneys don’t function as they should, dangerous waste levels can build up in your blood. For example, kidney disease can lead to complications such as high potassium and calcium levels in the blood, poor bone health, low iron levels, and kidney failure. Medical nutrition therapy is vital since many people with kidney disease need some dietary changes. For example, they need to limit their intake of nutrients like potassium, protein, sodium, and phosphorus. Others may need to comply with certain fluid restrictions; these needs vary depending on the stage or severity of the disease. Treating hypertension is often central to medical nutrition therapy for an individual with kidney disease since high blood pressure can elevate the risk of this disease.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health problem whereby your blood sugar levels are higher than usual. This can result from little insulin production by your pancreas or impairment in how your body uses insulin to regulate blood sugar. If left unresolved, diabetes can cause complications such as vision loss, nerve damage, poor circulation, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and gum infections. Medical nutrition therapy can help control diabetes; for instance, this therapy lowers certain markers of diabetes, like hemoglobin.
Heart disease
Heart disease is a general term for various conditions that affect heart function; they include high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and plaque buildup in the arteries. These problems can cause stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and sometimes death if left untreated. Medical nutrition therapy lowers risk factors for heart disease, such as triglycerides, bad cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Your dietician may recommend that you adhere to a diet low in sodium, cholesterol, saturated fat, and inflammatory foods. Emphasis will be placed on following a more plant-based diet and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Since obesity also elevates the risk of heart disease, your specialist may also recommend lifestyle adjustments to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. These changes include getting adequate sleep and making physical activity part of our daily routine.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably, destroy healthy tissue, and spread to other body parts. This disease can affect any part of your body, including bones, blood, and organs. One of the main reasons you may need a dietician if you have cancer is to help with poor appetite, a common side effect of chemotherapy or cancer medications. Radiation therapy may also damage the gastrointestinal lining, causing pain when you eat and digestion problems.
Consult your healthcare provider at Docere Integrated Medicine to know how you can benefit from medical nutrition therapy.