Floridians are increasingly taking steps to control their own healthcare – and in many cases, this means educating themselves about holistic and natural alternatives to their medical issues. One of the most fundamental realities regarding personal health is that diet significantly influences our overall wellbeing.

What we eat can ignite our health or make us sick and tired. When researching ways to promote health and longevity, more and more people seek a certified nutritionist’s advice to get back on track. 

A certified nutritionist will consider your lifestyle and eating habits, consult with your physician about any medical concerns, and work to create a unique meal plan to benefit you. If you are unsure about calling a nutritionist to help with your diet and health, check out these eight great reasons to set that appointment. 

1. Get Food Allergies Under Control: Nutritionists will use food allergy and sensitivity testing to identify any foods that may be causing inflammation and causing disease in your body. A nutritionist may put you on an elimination diet that will allow your body to heal naturally.

2. Say Goodbye to Gastric Distress: Diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and acid reflux indicate digestive disturbance. They are sometimes diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but often people live with these symptoms, thinking them a normal part of the digestive process. A nutritionist can help you develop a diet incorporating foods that will not irritate your digestive symptoms. 

3. Kick Start Your Weight Loss: If you have been counting calories and exercising but can’t seem to lose weight, a certified nutrition expert may be able to help.

By taking your family history, hormone levels, genetic factors, and lifestyle into consideration, they can take a more scientific approach to your weight management efforts. Working with your physician, they will create an individualized meal program to help you reach your goals safely and gradually. 

4. Take a Deeper Look: Blood tests that measure your glucose, iron, cholesterol, or thyroid levels often reveal your body’s response to what you are eating. Results outside of the normal range provide insight into what your body lacks or what it may need – data that is impossible to ascertain by simple external observation. Lab work of this sort will also alert you to any potential chronic conditions – such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders.

5. Plan Your Family: Consulting with a dietician or nutritionist can help women to optimize their health from conception to birth. Nutritious meals will help enhance the growth and development of the child and the mother’s health. 

6. Stop the Mood Swings: Research proves a direct correlation between the body and the mind. If we live in a state of anxiety, our body creates adrenaline and cortisol, which puts stress on the system. In contrast, regular exercise helps us achieve peace and serenity by burning off these hormones. Good nutrition is a vital tool that can be utilized in many ways – to keep you active, lower your stress and inflammation, and even positively impact conditions such as depression, ADHD, or autism.

7. Compassion in Treating Eating Disorders: There are many eating disorders, and the road back to health can be challenging both physically and emotionally. A certified nutritionist help to restore health, taking into consideration the patient’s aversions or preferences. For instance, if someone can only eat food of a particular texture, they can create a nutritious diet plan around that criteria. Through education, they can also assist in developing a new, healthier relationship with food. 

9. Be Healthier Every Day: You may hear about fad diets, unique diet plans, or new trends in healthy eating – but they may not be optimal for you. While any move off of the traditional American diet is likely beneficial to your health, your body is unique and may need certain nutrients that a fad diet eliminates. Working with a certified nutrition expert allows you to create a diet specifically for your body type and current medical health – and gives you the best chance at creating the healthiest possible personal lifestyle diet.

Dr. Cynthia Clark, owner at Longevity Wellness Clinic, is an applied clinical nutritionist and herbalist and a renowned acupuncturist and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques such as acupuncture and Qi Gong. If you want to achieve optimal health naturally and holistically, call Longevity Wellness Clinic today.