When people need rehabilitative care, physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies generally come to mind. But another type of therapy is an important part of the big picture for those wanting to make improvements in their overall wellness.
Often referred to as nutritional therapy, or medical nutritional therapy, this approach can help prevent or ease various health issues, as well as make positive changes in overall health and well-being. Here are three things to know about nutritional therapy and how it can help you.
It benefits overall health
Much like other therapy practices that apply tested theories and research in their field, nutritional therapy draws from the most up-to-date health sciences research on how to promote good health and manage chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.
With a focus on improving "physiological functions of a number of bodily systems, including the digestive, immune, endocrine and cardiovascular systems, nutritional therapy can help ease and manage a range of conditions and can help improve the health outcomes of many individuals," according to the Institute of Health Sciences.
Nutritional therapy offers some secondary health benefits, as Only My Health describes: positive effects on mental stress and anxiety, higher energy levels and "glowing and healthy" skin and hair.
As summarized by Only My Health, "Nutritional therapy is a holistic approach which takes care of the human mind, soul and body and provides tremendous health benefits to both healthy and sick individuals alike. The fundamental focus on aiming at the root cause rather than dealing with the symptoms makes the therapy more meaningful and beneficial for anyone who intends to follow it."
Therapy is personalized
While most people could do better about following some basic nutrition habits, nutritional therapy is very much a personalized approach.
According to the Institute of Health Sciences, once a patient has decided to pursue nutritional therapy, a nutritional therapist will work with them to give specific advice on disease prevention and control, recognizing that each patient is different and has unique dietary and nutritional requirements.
To do so, nutritional therapists draw upon personal and family health histories as well as current and past diet and lifestyle habits. They may even conduct lab tests to best assess what specific physiological issues need tending to. Then a personalized dietary and lifestyle regimen is created for the patient.
It's easy to implement
While sessions for some other types of therapy require hours over months of visits, nutritional therapy is not so time-consuming. According to the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, the first consultation may take about an hour to an hour and a half, during which the nutritional therapist will consider the patient's health needs and give recommendations about diet, nutrients, meal ideas, recipes and more to improve overall well-being.
Once the first consultation is complete, depending on the patient's needs, a follow-up visit or multiple follow-up visits might be necessary to check progress. However, the goal is to give patients the necessary knowledge and tools to take care of themselves for the long term.
Being able to follow the prescribed recommendations at home and enjoy the freedom to explore different food choices that will improve their conditions are benefits for most people who receive nutritional therapy, according to Livestrong.
The therapy team at Solaris Healthcare, along with your physician, can work with you to develop an individualized plan of care to help you achieve your highest level of independence and health through nutritional and lifestyle changes.
Stop in to see why Solaris is your first choice for nutritional rehab.
