Introduction
What is a nutritional therapy and what does a nutritional therapist do? As the name suggests, nutritional therapy is the science of nutrition and lifestyle medicine to promote well-being, combat illness, and improve performance.
Nutritional Therapists combine their training and expertise with the latest nutritional and evidence-based health science and provide practical strategies for improvement.
Nutritional Therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health. Nutritional therapy practitioners use a wide range of tools to assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances and understand how these may contribute to an individual’s symptoms and health concerns.
Nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory foods – your body deserves nothing less!
WHAT DOES A NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST DO?
A Nutritional Therapist analyses a person’s symptoms to determine if these are caused, or made worse, by the diet they are eating or the lifestyle they are living. Therapists aim to find the root cause of a symptom and improve it through dietary changes, lifestyle improvements or the introduction of vitamin or mineral supplements if required.
Each client is given their own personalised diet and lifestyle plan. Practitioners and clients work collaboratively together to achieve the best outcomes.
Nutritional Therapists analyse and prepare in advance, to personalise their recommendations
The role of a nutritional therapist
#1 Personalised diet plans
One of the primary roles of a nutritional therapist is creating personalised diet plans based on an individual’s unique needs and goals. These plans take into account various factors such as age, gender, physical activity level, medical history, and personal preferences. By doing so, they ensure that the diet plan is not only effective but also realistic and sustainable.
Diets need to provide the necessary macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats & fibre) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) required for good health. They may also consider the individual’s need for specific nutrients like fibre, antioxidants, Vitamin D, B12, iron, certain minerals or omega-3 fatty acids.
The therapist helps the individual make informed food choices by recommending whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, high fibre foods and healthy fats. They may also suggest reducing or avoiding foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and processed ingredients. They may also help the client with meal planning, meal timing, hydration, optimising digestion, breaking unwanted habits and creating new, better ones.
#2 Improving Digestive Health
Nutritional therapy is helpful for common digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and food intolerances. A longside medical care, therapists can support those with digestive conditions such as coeliac disease, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.
#3 Supporting Disease Management
Nutritional therapists play an important role in helping to manage chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, dementia and metabolic syndrome, Coeliac disease, IBS, diverticulitis. Specific eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia can also be helped, by those therapists with additional specialist training, likewise for cancer support. They provide dietary advice tailored to manage these conditions effectively while ensuring adequate nutrient intake for overall health.
#4 Health Promotion
Apart from disease management, nutritional therapists also focus on promoting overall health, preventing disease and optimising healthy ageing. They educate individuals about the importance of a balanced diet, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight. They also provide guidance on how to make healthier food choices and develop better eating habits.
#5 Counselling and Support
Nutrition therapy is not just about prescribing diet plans; it’s also about providing emotional support and motivation. Changing dietary habits can be challenging for many individuals, and a nutritional therapist provides the necessary coaching to help them overcome these challenges. They also monitor their progress and make necessary adjustments to their diet plans to ensure they are moving towards their health goals.
Nutritional Therapists don’t just help with weightloss!
The impact
Nutritional therapy has been shown to have significant benefits for individuals with various health conditions.
For instance, this systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2022 has shown that it can help manage diabetes by improving blood sugar control and reducing the risk of complications, and enhance quality of life.
Similarly, nutritional therapy can play a crucial role in managing heart disease by helping individuals lower their cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, and maintain a healthy weight.
This 2017 paper entitled, “Effectiveness and efficacy of nutritional therapy: A systematic review following Cochrane methodology”, states: “The result of this review supports the use of nutritional therapy to reduce healthcare costs”.
Registered nutritional therapists
While there is no legal protection for the titles “nutritional therapist” or “nutritionist”, several professional organisations and registers have established specific titles to denote registration and a high level of training.
One notable organization in this regard is the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), which was established with government backing to safeguard the interests of the public. Individuals who become part of the CNHC register identify themselves as ‘CNHC registered nutritional therapists.’ To qualify for registration, they are required to have completed training that adheres to the minimum national standards of practice as defined by the Nutritional Therapy National Occupational Standards and the Nutritional Therapy Core Curriculum.
The CNHC stands out because it offers a voluntary register for complementary therapists that has received accreditation as an Accredited Voluntary Register (AVR) from the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. Due to this recognition, several professional bodies in the UK, including the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT), exclusively admit members who have registered with the CNHC.
Dawn is a member of both the CNHC, BANT and The Institute of Functional Medicine. Her list of qualifications and memberships is here.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST?
- Firstly, ensure the practitioner is registered with an accredited organisation. Start with the CNHC “Find a practitioner” database. Additionally, check if they belong to a professional body such as BANT. You can check the register here.
- Secondly, search the register for a therapist who specialises in the type of problems you have. Each practitioner will have a bio which explains their specialisms.
Look to see if they offer a complimentary call to discuss your needs. Make sure you feel confident in what they say and feel that you could work together well.
HOW effective is nutritional therapy?
Here are three pieces of research to show the effectiveness of nutritional therapy in the scientific literature.
This 2022 paper concluded, “Nutritional therapy strategies (i.e., educational/counselling programs and food replacement programs) in primary care, improved HbA1c [blood sugar] in patients with type two diabetes mellitus and blood pressure in people with hypertension.
In 2017 this Cochrane review entitled, “Effectiveness and efficacy of nutritional therapy: A systematic review following Cochrane methodology”, states, “This result of this review supports the use of nutritional therapy to reduce healthcare costs”.
The McClelland teaching clinic at the University of Worcester evaluated the effectiveness of Nutritional Therapy. Their summary stated, “These results suggest NT is effective in reducing symptoms, improving health and activity and this may be facilitated by a strong therapeutic working alliance”.
what do clients say?
“I worked with Dawn through several health issues including candida and menopausal difficulties. Dawn is extremely thorough and works holistically, ensuring that she understands life history as well as current events before recommending a bespoke program where she gave me a complete nutritional guide, recommended supplements tailored to me and based on her osteopathic skills, offered her deep knowledge around specific exercises to help deal with my arthritic pain. Dawn has an extremely caring personality and I’ve learned so much from her to integrate into my daily life. She is my ‘go-to’ whenever I get stuck”.
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY ONLINE
If you are looking for some help Dawn provides an online service to help you wherever you are located. Simply contact Dawn to find out more or read about her Nutritional Therapy Services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the role of a nutritional therapist extends beyond merely prescribing diet plans. They play an integral part in promoting health, managing disease, and supporting individuals in their journey towards better health. By providing personalised dietary advice based on scientific evidence, they help individuals make informed decisions about their diet and lifestyle.
So whether you’re dealing with a chronic disease or simply looking to improve your overall health, consider seeking the expertise of a nutritional therapist. Their guidance could be the key to unlocking your potential for optimal health.