A complete and balanced nutrition plan lays the groundwork for any successful treatment plan. Naturopathic physicians, by staying up to date with the most recent nutrition research, work with patients to design a plan that fits into any lifestyle in a sustainable and effective way.
Weight Management:
In the naturopathic model, the goal of nutritional weight management is not to ‘diet’ per say. The goal instead is to find a food plan that is consistent and cohesive with your lifestyle and your food preferences, while taking into account other factors, such as stress or chronic pain, that contribute to weight gain. By making changes that fit into your life rather than disrupt it, excess weight can be lost in a way that is sustainable and stress-free.
Type II Diabetes:
Many with Type II Diabetes struggle to maintain normal blood sugar levels, even with medication. Naturopathic physicians, trained extensively in nutrition, consider dietary changes to be the most important intervention one can implement to improve and slow the progression of this disease.
Metabolic Syndrome:
Metabolic Syndrome is incredibly common in today’s society and encompasses high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abdominal weight gain, and abnormal cholesterol levels. In many individuals, this is a precursor to conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Nutritional adjustments are the key to stopping, and in some cases reversing, these potential outcomes. A naturopathic physician can work with you to create a nutritional plan that pushes your metabolism back to balance.
High Cholesterol:
Though high cholesterol can be genetic in origin, high levels are considered markers of cardiac risk. The rates of it are very low in societies that follow a plant-based or Mediterranean style diet. By making nutritional changes, even small ones, these levels can be restored to a healthy range.
Plant-Based Nutrition:
In today’s world, there are very few societies that have escaped the burden of chronic disease. Those that have, have been referred to as the “Blue Zones”. These areas have some of the lowest rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity in the world. What do they all have in common? Simply put, their diets are plant-based. The people who live within these Blue Zones eat diets high in fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and seeds. At the same time, their diets are low or completely devoid of sugar, processed foods, and animal products.
Following a plant-based diet doesn’t have to be hard and can be incredibly rewarding. Though many associate the word ‘plant-based’ with vegan or vegetarian, there are a number of key differences. For one, the term plant-based implies that the diet itself isn’t restrictive unless you want it to be. It’s true that many of the proponents of this way of eating are vegan, but even a Mediterranean Diet, which allows fish and small amounts of red meats and dairy, can be considered plant-based. Ultimately, the goal is to enrich your diet with food that looks like food, promoting good nutrition wherever you are on your health journey in a way that is supported by the latest research.
