Nutritional Counselling
We’ve come a long way in our understanding of nutrition. These days, more people than ever seem to be taking an interest in what goes into their bodies.
But there’s an abundance of information out there about nutrition. Most of us know that eating vegetables is good for you, but which vegetables are ideal for your situation?
On top of that, these are all sorts of trendy diets that seem to be filling our news feeds. Which is best for you? Should you try the Atkins diet? The South Beach diet? Vegan, ketogenic, paleo, Mediterranean, on and on.
And what if you’re making the nutritional decisions for your family? Should you be eating the same diet as your spouse or your children?
Making the right decision on your own can be difficult. The Mindful Healing Clinic is here to help.
Done right, nutrition can become a positive force in your life, promoting resistance against disease and managing the symptoms of illnesses you’re already dealing with.
Keep reading to find out more.
Nutritional Counselling For Malnutrition
In the modern world, we have access to an abundance of different types of cheap, easy food. It can be tempting to grab a fast food meal on the way home from a long day.
The problem, though, is that many of these foods are lacking in nutrients. At the same time, though, added refined sugars and trans fats can cause weight gain, heart disease, and other complications. So we find ourselves in the unusual situation where someone can be both overweight and malnourished.
When we think of malnourishment, we may think of those who are less fortunate than us and don’t have enough to eat. This is one manifestation of malnourishment. However, if you aren’t eating the right foods, you can also be malnourished. This leads to deficiencies in one or more nutrient.
While we can be deficient in any nutrient, some deficiencies are more common than others. Here in Canada, it’s fairly common to see people deficient in iron, iodine, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B12, and D.
At the Mindful Healing Clinic, Dr. Maria has extensive training and experience in clinical nutrition. She can help diagnose any nutritional deficiencies you may have, and put together a nutritional and supplementation plan designed to help your body get the nutrients you need.
Clinical Nutrition For Digestive Disorders
Malnutrition can be caused by not eating the right sorts of foods, as we saw above. But it can also be caused by digestive disorders.
Disorders like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease can affect your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. In these cases, you can suffer from malnourishment even if you’re eating a nutritious diet.
Ironically, proper nutrition can be an effective way to manage the symptoms of some of the above disorders. So you’re left in a situation where your body has a reduced capacity to absorb the very nutrients that will help it deal with its nutrient absorption problem.
On top of nutritional deficiencies, these inflammatory bowel disorders can be painful and cause a host of other symptoms, including:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- Abdominal or rectal pain
- Fatigue
- Rectal bleeding
- Bowel urgency, as well as inability to pass waste despite that urgency
At the Mindful Healing Clinic, you’ll find naturopathic solutions designed to help you manage your digestive disorder and help your body absorb nutrients again.
Clinical Nutrition For Diabetes Management
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common diseases found worldwide. There are factors beyond your control that may put you at risk, like age, ethnicity, and genetics. However, diet and physical activity are also associated with increased risk.
If you’re dealing with type 2 diabetes, the most common conventional medical treatment is metformin.
However, there are also naturopathic solutions that can help you manage your diabetes, including nutritional counselling.
Some studies have shown type 2 diabetics to be commonly deficient in certain nutrients. These include chromium and magnesium. On top of this, eating a diet that significantly reduces or altogether eliminates refined sugars and processed grains is a good idea.
It can be difficult to manage such a diet on your own. Breaking a junk food habit can be as difficult as any other bad habit, especially since many of us have an emotional relationship to junk food.
At the Mindful Healing Clinic, Dr. Maria can provide naturopathic solutions to help you manage your diabetes.
The Power Of Nutrition
Poor nutrition has been linked with a number of different health concerns. On the other hand, a proper nutritional diet can help you manage the symptoms of a number of health concerns and improve your quality of life.
If you’re dealing with any of the following health disorders, contact the Mindful Healing Clinic for naturopathic solutions:
- Cancer
- Psoriasis
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
- Osteoporosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Chronic fatigue
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic urinary tract infections
Food Allergy And Intolerance Testing
True food allergies are fairly rare, and you generally know if you have one. A food allergy triggers an autoimmune reaction in your body, which can affect a range of different systems within your body. These reactions can be life-threatening, like anaphylaxis, even if your previous reactions have been fairly mild, and even the smallest amount of a substance can set it off. Peanut or shellfish allergies are two common examples.
A food intolerance, on the other hand, generally manifests in milder reactions. You can also sometimes prevent a reaction, like taking lactase enzyme pills to avoid a lactose intolerance reaction while eating dairy. However, they can still be troublesome.
Lactose intolerance is one of the most common and obvious food intolerances, but there are many other foods that can cause a reaction. Sometimes these reactions are fairly mild, or they manifest long enough after eating the offending food that it isn’t always obvious they’re the cause.
Eating foods to which you have an intolerance can lead to a number of unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Migraines
- Bloating and excessive gas
- Stomach ache
- Bowel irritation
- Hives
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Flu-like symptoms
- Diarrhea or constipation
In some situations, you may experience a reaction to food one day, while in the future if you try it again you won’t suffer the same reaction. This can be frustrating for those trying to get to the bottom of our dietary woes.
On top of this, an intolerance reaction can trigger a flare up of digestive disorders like Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease.
The Mindful Healing Clinic can help.
Working with Dr. Maria, you’ll get to the bottom of which foods are causing an intolerant reaction. You’ll find out what’s causing this reaction – absence of an enzyme, stress, celiac disease, or other factors are common culprits. And from there, you’ll walk away with a nutritional plan designed to help you avoid the foods to which you’re sensitive.
This can help you avoid some of the above symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Contact The Mindful Healing Clinic
If you’re dealing with one of the above health disorders, Dr. Maria can help.
However, even if you’re otherwise healthy, you may benefit from a clinical nutrition plan.
Dr. Maria can help you determine the type of nutrients you need to stay healthy based on your unique genetic makeup. From there, you’ll get a customized meal plan designed to help you achieve a level of optimal health.
Contact the Mindful Healing Clinic today to book an appointment.
