The great thing about nutritional therapy is that it is a powerful adjunct to conventional medical treatment and a complementary therapy, which addresses a client’s symptoms holistically. So if you have been advised by your GP to reduce your cholesterol or need to reduce your blood pressure, it makes sense to make dietary and lifestyle changes yourself, to not only maximise the effects of your treatment, but more importantly to minimise the more complex, sometimes life-threatening health risks of not managing these facets of your health.
To enable you to take control of your health, nutritional therapists consider an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health. We also gather information on your medical history, family health history, dietary and lifestyle habits and the potential underlying causes of your symptoms which may be affecting your health, well being and quality and enjoyment of life.
Metabolic and hormonal imbalances can affect a person’s energy levels and cause many debilitating symptoms, including depression, PMT, headaches, anxiety, weight gain, insomnia and many digestive disorders. Supporting the body by adjusting a person’s nutrient intake is one of the most effective ways to address these imbalances and help a person to manage chronic conditions and achieve optimum health and disease prevention.
Frequently, chronic health problems, which may not respond well to conventional medicine are often improved when changes are made to an individual’s diet and lifestyle.
Intervention with Nutritional Therapy has been shown to be effective in managing various debilitating symptoms associated with chronic conditions, such as IBS symptoms of constipation/diarrhoea, bloating & wind. As a chronic condition, IBS has alternating episodes of these symptoms and they may be triggered by anxiety, stress, food intolarence or a diet of refined foods, which are low in fibre. Likewise, hormone imbalances, resulting in symptoms associated with PMT, PCOS, thyroid and adrenal conditions, can frequently be improved by avoiding high sugar, refined foods and stimulants, whilst a diet comprising foods which balance blood sugar levels may positively reduce the debilitating symptoms of headaches, fatigue, depression and low energy.
Recurring low-grade infections, which do not respond to antibiotics, may be a reflection of a poor and unsupported immune system. The immune system requires sufficient protein to continually make new immune cells, whilst vitamins and minerals support the efficiency of these cells in fighting opportune allergens and bacteria, so it is beneficial to find out the nutritious value of your diet and if it is working for you or indeed making you ill!
Modern diets comprising refined and processed foods are typically very high in saturated fats, trans fats and added sugars which not only cause weight gain and make it impossible to maintain a healthy weight, but they also cause individuals to have high cholesterol, which in turn leads to high blood pressure and heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Some parents may find their children are hyperactive and teenagers may be sluggish and unmotivated. By making changes to the type of food individuals eat, as well as making suggestions for lifestyle changes, such as advice on appropriate exercise, Nutritional Therapy is an effective method to reduce many symptoms of such chronic conditions as well as preventing chronic diseases from manifesting in the future.