Nutrition
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Why you want to look at your Nutrition
Following are a few reasons why you might seek the advice of an experienced Nutritionist or Dietician:
- To optimize and maintain your health now and in your older years.
- For digestive issues.
- To lose, gain, or maintain weight.
- To cultivate healthy microbiomes in your body.
- To manage Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, or some other Chronic Diseases.
- Uncertainty about what you can eat because of Celiac Disease, Food Allergies, lactose intolerance, or another condition.
- You may not cook very well (or very creatively) and you realize the need to feed your family healthier foods, and more variety.
- To boost athlete performance.
- Prior to considering or having had Gastric Bypass Surgery.
- Caring for an aging parent and need to be as healthy as possible (for both of you!)
- Some practical lifestyle advice.
- You’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or you’re a new mom.
- You or a family member is experiencing Disordered Eating.
Overview
You’ve likely heard something like this from many sources:
A healthy diet and proper Nutrition throughout your life provides you with optimal opportunities for growth, development, and ageing; helps maintain a healthy body weight; promotes a stronger immune system; provides you with the energy you need to live your life; and reduces the risk of chronic disease—all of which lead to overall health and well-being, from cradle to grave.
We believe this is absolutely true! An adequate and balanced supply of fresh air; clean water; nutrients including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals; and regular movement are the foundation upon which our best health is built.
“Food not only provides the necessary energy for our bodies to function daily, but also consistently supplies specific nutrients that are required to build and regenerate body tissue, bone, muscle, fat, and blood. The nutrients in the food we eat are important for producing substances for millions of chemical processes that take place in our bodies on a daily basis. The quality of nutrients we consume determines the quality of our body’s performance and quality of life we enjoy. Nutrition is foundational to any care plan.” (Courtney O’Connor, RHN)
As an awareness of Complementary approaches to conventional healthcare continues to grow, people are realizing the need to take more responsibility for their own health. Yet, in this ever-expanding field of Alternative and Integrative medicine, the mountains of information and viewpoints can be overwhelming.
Sifting through the often conflicting information on topics such as Nutrition, herbal remedies, the best food sources, supplementary requirements, and environmental toxins, leaves many of us more confused than enlightened. With lives already overflowing with work and family, many people are increasingly turning to knowledgeable Practitioners to help them sort through the media-driven health hype and guide them towards a well-researched, nutritionally sound way of living.
Graduates from IHN [and other accredited holistic colleges and institutes] can be educated partners qualified to devise a personalized health plan that integrates and honours not only the physical/nutritional, but also the emotional, environmental, and spiritual aspects of your life. (The Institute of Holistic Nutrition – IHN)
Every day, you make choices about the food you eat (your Nutrition) and your lifestyle. You can make choices for yourself and your family that make a real difference to your ability to remain healthy and active now, and enjoy life to its fullest in the future.
The food you eat can affect your health and your risk for certain diseases. To eat healthier food, you may need to change some of your daily habits. You also may need to change some things in your environment. Your environment includes everything around you, including your home, the place you work, and the places you ‘play.’
You don’t need to make huge changes to eat healthier. And you don’t have to change your habits all at the same time. It’s best to set small goals and change your habits a little bit at a time. Over time, small changes can make a big difference in your health.
- Changing your eating habits and your environment can help you eat healthier foods.
- A healthy diet is good for your overall health. It also can help you reach a healthy weight and stay there.
- To improve your eating habits, it’s best to make small lifestyle changes that you can keep doing over time.
As you go through different stages in your life, you may sometimes have unique nutritional needs. Whether you have an active growing child, are a pregnant woman (or thinking about having a baby), or you are someone who wants to learn about healthy aging, It is important to
- Eat healthy and balanced foods – including plants and fermented foods.
- Follow a heart-healthy food plan.
- Get to and maintain a healthy weight.
- Be physically active every day. Find things that your enjoy doing and you are more likely to be able to sustain those activities over a longer period of time. Weight-bearing exercises are particularly beneficial for keeping your bones strong.
- Get appropriate sleep.
Options to consider when looking at your Nutrition
Nutrition is an important factor in
Explore the Research
We believe you should have access to high-quality research to help you make informed health decisions. Below are four trusted databases you can use as tools to expand your healthcare knowledge.
