Nutritional Therapy as a Healing Modality

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

A New Preventive Health Modality
by Jennifer Doctorovich

The question that I get most often is “what exactly is nutritional therapy?” Nutritional Therapy is based on the belief that disease is the result of nutritional deficiencies in our diet that accumulate over time. The body has the innate intelligence and ability to heal from any ailment provided we give it the appropriate nutrients to do so. Many of us come into ...this world having inherited nutritional deficiencies from our parents.

Nutritional therapy is part of the growing aspect of alternative medicine—like acupuncture, naturopathy, biofeedback resonance and Chiropractic, it is holistic in nature. By holistic, we mean to treat the whole rather than the sum of its parts. A holistic or alternative practitioner aims to correct the entire body as a system rather than just treating the symptoms. The basic philosophy of nutritional therapy is simple: The myriad of health problems that plague our modern world result from weaknesses in the body’s physiological foundations. This is mostly a result due to poor nutrition and chronic stress. An NT’s job is to help reverse the ill effects on the body from poor habits while supporting the basic foundations. We endorse a nutrient dense, whole food, properly prepared diet as well as adding necessary supplementation to balance body chemistry and correct deficiencies. The other aspect of being an NTP (nutritional therapy practitioner) is one of education and debunking certain nutrition myths…many of which are archaic and outdated. While most people are very smart, they are more likely ill informed and misdirected.

As an NTP, not only do I educate my clients on diet and nutrition as it pertains to health and wellness, but I take it a step further. I palpate points on the body (both neural lymphatic and neural vascular) to assess each person accurately. NTP’s believe that each of us is a biochemical individual. No two people are alike. Because of this, as we proceed to evaluate each person (a hands on evaluation as well as running a software program directed to the client to get the most accurate information), we are able to make decisions based on biochemical individuality. Thus, it allows us to individualize and prioritize a protocol that is best suited for that person. This includes a dietary assessment as well as a supplementation recommendation.

NTP’s look at the big picture rather than the symptoms accompanying an issue. What this is means is to not assume the problem is the actual “problem”. We become investigators going further and further back to find the root underlying cause. For example, we believe that obesity is not so much a disease, but a symptom of imbalance. There is no “one size fits all” approach nor do we (generally) endorse drugs as a first measure of defense. We simply seek to educate and use natural wellness as a way to create balance. However, as a disclaimer, it is important to understand that drugs may be a necessary course of action. And although this isn’t our scope, we try to work with the client’s health practitioner. It is important to remember that the body is often capable of correcting itself…if done with patience. If a client is working with their doctor, we support what they are doing with the GP. We recommend a balanced diet of whole, non processed foods and supplementation, and are NOT here to treat or diagnose disease. We will work with those who do have certain diseases, careful to follow their protocol yet support their foundations (digestion, blood sugar, mineral balance, fatty acids, and hydration).

I also stress other modalities as well as NT. This may include hypnosis, yoga, energy work, exercise, meditation, behavioral therapy or any other spiritual practice that calms the psyche and improves overall health.

Everyone can benefit from nutritional therapy. The sad fact is that it is virtually impossible to get all our necessary nutrients from food now. Our soil is depleted, our food is highly processed and our environment is filled with toxins. Chemicals and pesticides plague us on a daily basis. Most diseases can be prevented. Our medical system is irreparably taxed and our doctors don’t have the time or energy to help us when we don’t feel well. Sadly, so many go round and round desperately trying to find an answer to their problem, whilst slowly despairing for lack of money and knowledge. But there IS hope and this is where taking a natural approach is most effective if you can trust in your practitioner. We are ultimately responsible for our own health and for being informed. Many of my clients reveal they are suffering from lethargy, depression, mood swings, poor digestion…and feel like the batteries are draining and they aren’t “plugged in”. They’ve even been told that this is a normal process of aging! Rest assured, it isn’t and that many of these issues can be corrected. NT, while certainly not a cure, is advantageous at protecting us from sliding down that dark hallway. It can even help to find an answer to a “lost question”— Nutritional therapists can help discover the real reasons to an underlying problem. It is a fantastic complementary modality that can be used to balance the body whether it is a digestive imbalance, blood sugar regulation, endocrine issues, diabetes and insulin resistance, allergies, weight loss, depression, joint pain, PMS, and general detoxification…to name a few.

One more advantage: It is a very affordable way to garner information about the body. Prevention is always substantially affordable in the long run.

There is a growing call to arms needed regarding education and holistic prevention in our health care system. NTP’s are dedicated to helping healthcare professionals understand this importance in order to reverse the travesty of disease in our world.