Thankfully, in this 21st century, people are no longer passive observers of their healthcare. They are now co-pilots in the quest for optimal health. They are engaged, informed, empowered, and utilize every tool at their disposal to find healing. As one of those tools, many nutrition advices have been highly exploited, yielding positive and negative outcomes because; food can heal and kill. Healthy eating is beyond peripheral cooking and eating. Professionals called dietitians properly navigate science and art to the positive.
Dietitians are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. They are committed to improving the health of their patients and community. They assist your doctor in carrying out the plan they developed for you. With your consent and information about your lifestyle and eating habits, they will develop an ideal meal plan for you as well as guide you on careful planning of your meals.
As easy as it is to think of a mechanic when you have car issues or the dentist when you have tooth issues, consulting a dietitian should not be your last option when you have food issues.
Here are 10 reasons that you should see a Dietitian.
1. You are curious: You would be amazed at how efficiently a dietitian can operate in a 60-minute appointment. Not only are dietitians able to answer most questions you may have, but are also very proficient at figuring out the intricacies of your eating habits, including things that you do not consider important. It will be best if you come to your first dietitian appointment with the expectation of learning.
2. Your relationship with food needs help: Things can really get busy for you that you do not have time for your diet or you probably don’t eat as well as you think. Losing control of what you eat could result in negative health consequences and even if you think you are doing everything right, it is important to realize that small changes make a massive difference in the long-term when it comes to your nutrition, health, and happiness. A dietitian can help you make successful grocery shop trips, make healthier food choices, create an individualized/family menu plan while considering your busy schedule, food preferences, income, and health/nutrition status, and help you eat without feeling guilty.
3. Having weight issues: When it comes to gaining weight or losing excess body fat, dietitians know best! A dietitian will assess your overall nutritional status to detect your die’s missing gaps and help you through an intervention that will work best for you. They also assist with food addictions and eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
4. Infant and young child feeding success: Feeding babies adequately is usually challenging, especially for new moms. You should see a dietitian help you through this phase successfully. A dietitian will assess your child’s developmental growth and help you feed your child adequately based on your child’s age and nutritional goals.
5. You have certain food allergies or other digestive complaints: A dietitian can help you manage food allergies and digestive troubles by helping you eliminate foods that can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and at the same time making sure you get all the nutrients you need daily.
6. You have been diagnosed with or struggling with managing Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, or Other Chronic Diseases or you want to reduce your risk of developing them: A dietitian is an integral part of your healthcare team and can help you understand your condition and safely modify your eating pattern for better health outcomes without compromising your taste or nutrition.
7. You are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or have hormonal issues: A dietitian can help you make dietary and lifestyle choices that will correct hormonal disorders as well as help you get the right nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
8. You want to age gracefully: Aging comes with several changes such as a change in taste, dry skin, loss of bone and muscle mass, and mood changes, a dietitian can help you live a healthy life during the aging period by helping you manage the changes that come with it through healthy eating.
9. Dealing with food fads: Stuck between what you see online and hear on TV, eating right can become a challenge but it does not have to be when there are dietitians. A dietitian can help you through the numerous nutrition misinformation, understand and interpret nutrition labels, and help you achieve healthy eating without breaking a bank.
10. Improve sports performance: A dietitian can help you gain some competitive advantage through diet and lifestyle.
If you have been hesitant in the past about seeing a dietitian, hopefully, today’s article has convinced you that it is a worthwhile decision. Speak with a dietitian today!
Until next time, Eat Up!
Matthew Silverline (RDN)
