Why see a Nutritionist?
With so much nutrition and diet info about it can be easy to think you can learn all you need to have a healthy diet by ‘Googling’ and looking through magazines. The problem with this however is that so many short terms fads come and go, many articles are written with an agenda (i.e. they are trying to sell you something), and the information is generic – not taking into consideration you and your particular situation and circumstances. It is easy to get lost in the huge amount of information available and I often see clients who think they have been eating correctly when really they have been causing themselves more harm than good.
When you book an appointment with a nutritionist the time is spent looking at YOU, your health, and how your diet can be enhanced to best meet your health goals and improve your wellbeing. Sometimes only minor changes can make a huge impact on how you feel and respond to other treatment modalities. In other cases I can help you manage more considerable lifestyle or health driven diet overhauls be they for weight loss, weight gain, sporting needs, food allergies or sensitivities, behavioural problems, or specific health concerns.
So what’s the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
Pretty confusing actually, and in many areas we do overlap. We both look at the effects nutritional status can have on your health and believe that nutrients play a significant role in preventing and reducing illness. The major difference however, is the manner in which we approach how you actually get your nutrition. From a dietitian’s perspective as long as the nutrients are going in (be they added synthetically or as a tablet) your needs are being met, whilst a nutritionist will aim to get your nutrient requirements to you in the whole foods they come from. As a nutritionist I only consider supplements when absolutely necessary, and definitely advise you stay clear of most food products with added ingredients – including vitamins and minerals. My focus is on real living food, not edible man-made substances.
A nutritionist looks at you, your lifestyle, your nutritional needs, your food habits, likes and dislikes, and helps you reorganise your diet so you can meet your nutrient needs from your foods and gain optimal wellness physically and mentally.
A nutritionist sees the value in real foods and believes that a ‘food’ in its complex whole state, complete with co-factors, fibre, and enzymes that help to absorb and assimilate the nutrients, is the most health protective and value laden way to meet nutritional needs.
I believe in the power of whole foods, for both illness prevention and health promotion, and am passionate about educating others on the many wonderful, tasty, real foods available that can be easily added to your diet to help you get the most out of life. Investing a little bit of time and energy on your diet today can save you a whole lot of pain and poor health in the future.