Complementary Medicine - Therapies
Nutritional Therapyby Jacqueline YoungHistory & theoretical foundationsHow does it work & what is it good for?Consulting a practitionerCautionsFrequently asked questions
In nutritional therapy, food - or food nutrients in supplement form - is seen as medicine.
To ensure optimum levels of essential nutrients for the body, practitioners recommend special diets and vitamin, mineral or other supplements, to prevent and treat disease.
Many complementary medicine approaches involve advice on diet - but in recent years nutrition has developed into a therapy in its own right.
By analysing diet, tailoring it according to individual needs and rectifying any vitamin, mineral and other nutrient imbalances, nutritional therapists seek to alleviate and treat common diseases and promote health.
History & theoretical foundations
Diet has always been a part of medicine and healing, and it is a feature of all traditional medicine systems. However dietary and nutritional advice and therapy have become much more specific following scientific advances in the understanding of essential nutrients and their functions.
In the early part of the 20th century biochemists began to isolate individual vitamins and minerals in food and determine their importance in the role of health and disease. Later research has focused on the role of different amino acids, enzymes and friendly bacteria for healthy digestion and anti-oxidants, which may play a role in slowing down aging and preventing cancer.
The body requires essential macro and micronutrients in order to sustain life and health. The macronutrients are carbohydrates (sugars and starches), proteins (including amino acids), fats (including essential fatty acids) and fibre. The micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Since the body cannot manufacture the micronutrients itself it must obtain them from food.
Nowadays, poor diet, increased intake of junk food, a decrease of nutrients in the soil, chemical farming methods, global pollution and high-stress lifestyles are all thought to play a part in nutritional deficiency. This is becoming increasingly common even amongst Western populations. Individual needs for different nutrients has also been shown to vary widely. Careful dietary adjustment and/or nutritional supplementation can therefore have a huge impact on health.
How does it work & what is it good for?
A vast number of studies have been carried out to show how certain nutrients and diets affect health. Certain diseases appear to be clearly linked to particular nutritional deficiencies. Replenishing these nutrients, through food or supplements, facilitates changes at a cellular level and helps restore body function. For example, studies have shown that prostate problems may link to zinc deficiency, PMS may be affected by Vitamin B6 deficiency - and folic acid deficiency in pregnancy may contribute to birth defects.
Nutritional therapy has been shown to be beneficial for many diseases especially heart disease, arthritis, digestive complaints such as constipation or irritable bowel, gout, asthma, cancer, diabetes - and also in the treatment of hyperactivity in children, chronic fatigue and obesity. Correct nutrition is also crucial during pregnancy.
Consulting a practitioner
Consultations often begin with a questionnaire analysing your food and lifestyle habits. You may be asked to keep a food diary and be recommended certain tests to determine levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, bowel function, levels of healthy bacteria in the gut and possible food intolerances. These can take the form of hair, sweat and urine analysis, blood tests, measurement on electrical devices designed to detect food sensitivities (such as the VEGA system) or muscle testing as used in applied kinesiology. The practitioner may also carry out physical examinations, for example, of your skin and nails, to look for signs of deficiencies.
Treatment involves tailor-made diets usually eliminating specific foods and increasing the intake of others. Specific nutrients in the form of pills, capsules, powders and liquid tinctures may also be recommended.
Cautions
Certain nutrients, especially the fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D and E, can be toxic when taken in large doses. Always follow your practitioner's advice or the guidelines on supplement packaging.
If you are taking medication always inform your doctor and practitioner before starting supplements in case they are incompatible.
Restricted diets should only be carried out under the careful supervision of an experienced practitioner. Especial care should be taken during pregnancy.
