What is Nutritional Therapy? by Sarah Twomlow

Nutritional therapy is the application of nutritional science, to provide individually tailored recommendations that promote optimal health and performance through dietary and lifestyle means.

These recommendations may include education and guidance on natural healthy dietary choices, weight management, and avoidance of common allergens that promote allergies or sensitivities. Nutrition therapy aims to prevent or improve conditions such as:

• Digestive disorders, IBS, indigestion or constipation
• Menstrual disorders
• Arthritis
• Cardiovascular disorders, high cholesterol, high blood pressure
• Food allergies and intolerance
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Skin disorders, acne, psoriasis and eczema
• Weight management
• Eating disorders such as obesity, anorexia and bulimia
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• and many more

Nutrition therapy may also encompass the appropriate use of supplementary nutrients or clinical testing with a reputable laboratory.

What Is A Nutritional Therapist?

In the UK Nutritional Therapists must meet the National Occupational Standards for Nutritional Therapy and are presently coming under regulation by the Nutritional Therapy Council. Nutritional therapists often work with patients, many of whom have been referred by medical practitioners, who have chronic health problems that conventional medicine finds difficult to treat. These include allergies, digestive and bowel disorders, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, depression or stress, auto-immune conditions, migraine and skin disorders. Increasingly, parents with an overweight child and/or a child with learning and behaviour difficulties seek to support their child with nutritional therapy as opposed to prescription medications.

What Happens When You Consult A Nutritional Therapist?

Before your first consultation you will usually be asked to complete a Health Assessment Questionnaire and a record a ‘typical’ week’s food diary. This information relates to your symptoms, diet and lifestyle, and your medical history. These are necessary to make an initial assessment of your health which will be used as a foundation for your consultation. Your HAQ and food diary will need to be submitted prior to your consultation.

During your consultation additional information will be gathered for a full assessment of your needs. An explanation of findings and symptoms, that may be influencing your health problems, will be given and any concerns discussed.

Your therapist’s role will be to research and impart relevant guidance, in a thorough health consultation, based on the information you have given.

The consultation will conclude with personalised nutritional recommendations that will be negotiated and agreed with you, that encompass dietary, and lifestyle changes.

Your role, with your therapist’s ongoing support and guidance, will be to actively implement any recommendations made. It is important to note that it may have taken many years to arrive at your current state of health and it may require time, co operation and patience to achieve the results you are looking for.

Supplements may be recommended to correct nutritional deficiencies or imbalances. Referral to other professionals or clinical testing may be suggested if appropriate.

Nutrition support and guidance is usually available in follow up consultations. However many practitioners also encourage individuals to take a proactive approach to their own personal health development through further reading and research.

Initial consultations may take approximately 60 to 90 minutes with follow up consultations taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes

Follow up consultations are generally carried out 4 to 6 weeks after your initial consultation to assess progress. This is to allow time for you to implement and adjust to recommendations given and for any changes to take place.

How Can I Find A Nutritional Therapist?

In the UK the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutrition Therapists (BANT) keeps a professional register and you can also check on our sites international therapist listing.

Copyright 2008 Sarah Twomlow Dip ONT, Optimum Nutrition Therapist. Phoenix Nutrition aims to provide a friendly, professional and non judgemental environment to support its clients to achieve the benefits and results they are looking for. We aim to provide the latest cutting edge nutrition science, to enable individuals to make informed decisions regarding their own health, diet and lifestyle. Phoenix Nutrition believes that to restore optimum health we need to return to a more natural way of eating and living. Phoenix Nutrition Therapy ~ Renew Health & Vitality Email | Online Nutritional Consultancy Service | Read another article by Sarah