Nutrition: The key to open the door to a healthier life!

When individuals seek to obtain optimal health, proper nutrition is often discussed. This is because it is a main factor in improving overall health and reducing risk factors for many diseases and illnesses. However, there is no “one size fits all” modality when it comes to nutrition! At the core, it is important to obtain most of your nutrients through food, and supplements only if necessary.

The Benefits of Nutrition Counseling

The primary goal of nutrition counseling is to learn how to have a healthy relationship with food and how to make changes that support a healthy lifestyle. A lot of people associate nutrition with weight loss, and while adopting a healthy diet may result in weight loss, it should not be the main goal of counseling. 

Nutrition Counseling with a Registered Dietitian can help each person learn their own unique nutrition and diet pattern needs. Registered Dietitians have extensive education and training to help assist in managing acute and chronic health conditions. Registered Dietitians can also work with individuals to find a plan that works best for them – and accommodate challenges such as a tight food budget, busy family and work schedules, unique cultural preferences, cooking limitations, and more!  Outside of managing or preventing chronic diseases, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and Nutrition Counseling is a very important part of everyone’s everyday life, their health and help people feel better, physically, mentally and emotionally, and therefore be more confident and productive in their family, work, and social lives.

Helpful Dietarty Guidelines

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a public resource that seeks to provide the the most current information to help promote health and disease prevention. These guideliens are updated every 5 years and focus on 4 main recommendations:

1. Following a healthy dietary pattern at every stage of the life cycle.
2. Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.
3. Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits.
4. Limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium, and limit alcoholic beverages.

Disease Prevention & Nutrition

Achieving a healthier diet is a significant part of treating and preventing diseases.

Chronic diseases can develop for many reasons including, but not limited to, genetics, behavioral, socioeconomic and environmental factors – another reason why proper nutirion is not a one-size-fits-all modality.

Chronic diseases such as Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Other chronic diseases such as Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Thyroid Disease, and Osteoporosis can all be supported by nutritional counseling and medical nutrition therapy. 

Quick Tips For Healthy Eating

• Choosing more fiber rich whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds
• Eating fruits and vegetables at every meal
• Eating enough omega-3 fatty acids through seafood, fish, nuts and seeds
• Reducing saturated fat intake from high fat meats, whole milk dairy products, coconut oil, and products made with palm oils – like store bought sweets and desserts.
• Reducing sugar consumption in sodas, juices, sugar sweetened coffees and teas, and desserts.
• Choosing packaged and processed foods with lower sodium
• Drinking enough water throughout the day

Nutritional Counseling at ECHN

ECHN offers many opportunities for Nutrition Counseling. All services are coordinated by a Registered Dietitian.

• Outpatient Nutrition Services at Manchester Memorial Hospital
• Diabetes Management Program
• Prevent T2 Diabetes Program
• Gestational Diabetes Program