We hear it every day: Eat less sugar, more fiber, keep your calorie count down.
But it doesn't stop there.
Did you read about the latest superfood to fight disease, the newest workout for the person on the go, and the latest trend shared on Facebook? A new magazine article recently reported that coffee is bad for you, but one last week on a different aisle trumpeted coffee's benefits. Is breakfast the most important meal of the day again?
And how can you possibly enjoy breakfast when you have to worry about counting carbohydrates and grams of protein?
There's too much to keep track of and too much information to digest. Many people are looking for a way to streamline and understand what trends and foods will have an effect on their own body.
"As we all know, not everything you read on the internet is scientifically based," says Lee Health outpatient dietitian Stacy Zell. "A registered dietitian can help you get beyond the hype of the headlines and provide you with sound information that is based on current research."
What is nutritional therapy?
Therapy is usually a term reserved for behavioral and mental health, but great strides have been made in recent years to apply it to nutrition.
Professionals, usually registered dieticians, can remove the guesswork and tailor a plan for people of all ages who want to lose weight or adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Therapy is often recommended for specific problems such as celiac disease, heart failure, kidney problems, unintended weight loss, cardiovascular disease, reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and much more. But it doesn't have to be so specific.
"Anyone with a nutrition concern is eligible to be seen for nutrition counseling, children ages 2 through adult populations," says Lee Health nutritionist Julie Hill.
What can I expect?
Nutritional therapists will take a look at a person's medical history and current health. You'll want to be honest about what you eat as well as your regular exercise habits.
Then a personalized plan will be put together that focuses on foods that will boost your health including health plans, foods that need to be eliminated, how many meals you eat per day, the kinds of snacks that will give you more energy, etc.
"There is a difference between knowing you need to make changes in your eating habits and actually being able to make those changes," Zell says. "Cooking ability, financial resources, stress level, emotional relationship with food, and work schedules all vary greatly among individuals. Nutrition counseling aims to not only identify what would be beneficial to change, but to also help you to incorporate those changes into your unique daily life."
How do I start?
Lee Health Solutions' registered dietitians are available for clients who receive a referral from their physician and those who are self-referred. Just give them a call and chat with someone who is guaranteed to provide you with the proper motivation.
For more information on local nutrition counseling options as well as prices and location options, call 239-424-3120.
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