Nutrition

(NOTE: in the following section, when the word “diet” is used, it does not mean a weight-loss plan. It refers to all the food and drink you consume.. Whether you are eating broccoli and tofu or burgers and cupcakes, that is your diet.)

Nutrition Wars

It would be challenging to find another subject besides nutrition about which there are
so many different and conflicting opinions regarding exactly what is best for your health. Should you eat less fat or more? Should you eat a high protein diet or a low-carbohydrate diet? Should you eat according to your blood type, your metabolic type? Should you be on a Candida diet? Do you need to take vitamins, or can you get everything you need from food?

These are a few of the more common questions about diet and nutrition, and for each of them there are several possible answers. The problem with the most common answers is that they are usually presented as absolutes: that is, we are told there are universally true answers that apply equally to all people at all times. A more realistic appraisal of the situation would be: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”

Nutritional Individuality

The truth is, no two people are alike, and no two people’s dietary or nutritional requirements are exactly alike. No two people have the exact same fingerprint or face or genetics, so it is foolhardy to expect that there is any one perfect diet that would be ideal for everyone, all the time. To take that one step further, since our bodies change as we age and as our stress and activity levels change, a diet that suits someone in their 20s may be unsuitable for the exact same person in their 50s. Also, restrictions that may be absolutely necessary when you are in your “stress” mode of life may become optional while on vacation.

This, of course, does not mean it’s impossible to find the right diet for a given person at a given time. And no health professional is as qualified to help you find the correct diet as a naturopathic physician. Only naturopathic physicians complete over a year of academic training in holistic medical nutrition after having already spent two years of training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and biochemistry. Beyond that, naturopathic physicians receive two more years of clinical training using diet and nutrition to treat patients, in an outpatient setting, for all manner of chronic and acute conditions. In fact, naturopathic medicine is the only profession that requires all physicians to prove their competency in clinical nutrition on a board examination before they can receive their license. No other profession – not medical doctors, not dietitians, not nutritionists, not chiropractors – requires this kind of academic and clinical training.

Our Customized Nutritional Approach

So – what kind of nutritional advice are you likely to get from us? Firstly, as you may have guessed from the above, the dietary plan will be customized to your needs and your health concerns. Also, we will work with you on an ongoing basis to make your program work for you and to fit your lifestyle.

Our dietary programs usually address these primary concerns:

– Do you have the correct balance of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, and water) for your individual body type and metabolism?

– Do you have food sensitivities or food allergies that are upsetting your whole system? Reactions to foods cause an incredibly wide range of health complaints, from immune problems to digestive problems to conditions as serious as asthma and autoimmune disease.

– Are you trying to lose weight? Different approaches work for different people, ranging from calorie restriction to carbohydrate restriction to something in between.

– Does your diet suit your constitution? From a chinese medicine point of view, individuals may have a predominance of hot or cold, dampness or dryness, and a variety of other characteristics. What you eat can compound these natural tendencies and tip your balance away from health.

In addition, we create individualized nutritional supplement prescriptions for his patients who require them. Unlike many practitioners, we do not represent a single brand of supplements: rather, we utilizes only professional quality supplements that adhere to strict standards of purity and hypoallergenicity, and selects only those products that are most likely to help you. In addition, it is our belief that, by and large, nutritional supplement protocols beyond the basics such as a multivitamin and Vitamin C should be temporary measures, used to return you to health, not to create dependency. Please explore the rest of this website, to learn more about the general philosophy and practice of naturopathic medicine. Of course, I am happy to meet with you to discuss your particular situation, and to explore with you how I can help you feel your best.