Nutritional healing is the science of treating disease with foods, herbs and bioactive compounds such as probiotic bacteria. Some diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, can be caused by improper nutrition. Even in conditions with other causes, such as arthritis and psoriasis, the right diet can lesson symptoms. This is because nutrients and other compounds affect hormone levels and levels of chemicals naturally produced in the body.
Diagnosis
A professional trained in nutrition must diagnose possible nutrition-related causes of your condition. They might ask you to fill out an extensive questionnaire on your health and dietary history and interview you in person. In most cases, they'll recommend laboratory tests on blood, urine, saliva and hair. If the nutritionist suspects food allergies, they might suggest a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). Lab tests are important for diagnosing the exact cause of your health problems. For instance, what at first seems like a food intolerance might be a more serious autoimmune disease.
Eliminating Harmful Foods
Hidden food intolerances can cause chronic health problems. It's possible to be intolerant of a very common food product, such as corn or gluten, yet not have acute symptoms when you eat these foods. For example, corn intolerance can cause seemingly unrelated problems such as eczema and sinus congestion. If tests identify certain foods as a cause of your health problems, you'll need to avoid those foods. You might also need to reduce sugar, salt or saturated fat intake. These foods, in excess, can cause health problems. Some people are sensitive to certain artificial ingredients, such as the food coloring tartrazine, and need to avoid these. Your nutritionist also might recommend quitting nutrient-destroying habits. For example, smoking destroys vitamin C, and excessive drinking is associated with low vitamin B levels.
Correcting Dietary Deficiencies
Deficiency in vitamins, minerals or other dietary elements can cause illness or increase the chance of chronic health problems later in life. Some conditions, such as rickets and scurvy, are obvious. Others, such as heart disease, are more subtle. If tests discover a deficiency in your diet, you can work with your nutritionist to develop an eating plan that includes more of what you need. For example, if a low magnesium level is contributing to your migraines, you might try eating more beans and nuts. Your nutritionist also might recommend more fiber, monounsaturated fats found in avocados and olive oil, probiotic bacteria found in yogurt and miso, and more fresh vegetables and fruits for the enzymes they contain.
Dietary Supplements
Herbal remedies are also a part of nutritional healing. These can ease symptoms and support the body's regenerative powers. Clinical research supports the use of a wide variety of traditional herbal remedies from around the world. Raspberry leaf tea, for instance, can ease menstrual cramping. You can take most herbal supplements as a tea, tincture or in pill form. If you have trouble eating a balanced diet, you also might need vitamin supplements. In addition, your nutritionist might recommend supplements of amino acids or enzymes. These, however, are typically used only for specific medical conditions.
Effectiveness
Nutritional healing is most effective for those conditions caused by poor or inappropriate nutrition, such as anemia, night blindness and irritable bowl syndrome (IBS). It can also relieve symptoms in conditions with a strong nutritional component, such as diabetes and certain types of depression, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Nutritional healing focuses on treating illness, but it also can help you avoid future nutrition-related illnesses such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Finding the right combinations of foods and supplements, however, is complex process that involves trial and error. Even with accurate diagnosis and correct dietary recommendations, improvements can take months. Still, nutritional healing is a viable supporting therapy.
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