09 Jun The Importance of a Nutritional Assessment
When patients visit us in Westminster and Broomfield to learn more about their nutritional needs, we work to give them a complete picture about their food-related health and total body wellness with a thorough nutritional assessment. Patients eating the wrong foods on a daily basis can develop serious health problems if this imbalance continues for years. Investing in a professional nutritional assessment is the best way to check your current diet and adjust it before serious problems develop.
The Need for a Nutritional Assessment
According to recent studies, most Americans don’t get enough nutrients but are over-the-top on the amount of sodium and fat in their diets. Researchers found that many American adults fell short of consuming enough vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and iron. In addition, Americans have a tendency to eat far more saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium than is normal or recommended. The American Heart Association offers some great diet and healthy lifestyle habits that are essential for total body wellness. Over the years, the majority of Americans have lost touch with portion size, the importance of leafy greens, fruits, and grains and keeping track of your calories. 79 percent of Americans don’t track how many calories they consume in a day often putting them over the necessary amount and leading to problems with being overweight or obesity. Combine these facts with the 30 percent or more of Americans that use food for coping and it isn’t hard to see that an intervention is necessary. The effects on your physical and mental state going day to day deprived of essential nutrients or having an excess of certain nutrients can lead to unwelcome symptoms and problems.
What to Expect During a Nutritional Assessment
Finding success with a nutritional assessment relies on you feeling comfortable to give us as much information as possible regarding not only what you eat, but why and when you eat it. Our caring Mile High Spine & Pain Center staff is trained to help you understand how you use food and what your body needs compared to what it is getting. When it comes to nutritional assessment, we work hard to provide you with a treatment plan and wellness practices that will help renew your energy stores and keep you healthy. As we get to know you as an individual, we can create strategies that are unique to you and your specific needs. Mile High Spine & Pain Center’s nutritional assessment focuses on:
- Regular chiropractic care
- Healthy diet
- Taking vitamin supplements
- Keeping your weight under control with food tracking and exercise
- Stress management
During your professional nutritional assessment we will make goals together so if you are trying to lose weight, increase muscle building, or just maintain good health we can help you achieve those goals. Adjusting your diet with data from testing coupled with Mile High Spine & Pain Center team support is a much more effective approach to achieving nutritional balance than guessing the amounts of carbohydrates and proteins you think you may need. We can create a diet that corrects nutrient imbalances, works around your chronic conditions and medications, and helps you reach your fitness goals.
What Will I Learn from a Nutritional Assessment?
When it comes to assessing your nutritional health and individual needs, our Westminster and Broomfield patients can expect that we will use multiple methods during our assessment–this is not cookie-cutter science. Each person has different things going on inside them which require that we get a good look on what is going on inside. To do this, we offer complete blood testing to discover possible deficiencies of vital nutrients like iron, Vitamin B12 and calcium. We also have technology that allows us to get an accurate picture of the fat deposits in your body using electric impulses. Through commitment to steady and honest food tracking, we can quickly pinpoint saboteurs in your diet that are contributing to weight gain.
Taking the time to understand any pre-existing conditions and medications you are currently using is an essential part of the nutritional assessment because both of these can block the absorption of crucial minerals and nutrients. If you are taking a drug that prevents your body from calcium absorption from food, you may need immediate supplementation to prevent serious health problems from developing. Our dietary plans are tailored to your exact needs and include both whole food sources and supplements.
What Are The Signs Of Dietary Issues?
Keeping a food diary is an eye-opening experience. Patients are often surprised to see that their diets are full of refined grains, solid fats, saturated and trans fats, salt and sugars–all things that in excess can poison your system. The organs and tissues of your body need proper nutrition to work effectively. Without good nutrition, you will be more prone to disease, infections, fatigue and poor performance. Patients that persist in eating the wrong foods can develop serious health problems. If you are suffering from any of the following, a nutritional assessment is essential to restore your good health:
- Ongoing fatigue that keeps you from feeling rested
- Constipation or recurrent diarrhea
- Blood sugar levels that fluctuate greatly throughout the day
- Low grade aches and pains with no other cause
- Lowered immune system leaving you susceptible to illnesses
- Irritability, depression, and other mood issues
- Obesity and excess weight
- Dizziness, headaches, migraines, and brain fog
- Daily heartburn with no other cause
Free Nutritional Assessment Consultation
Mile High Spine & Pain Center provides specialized treatment plans to patients in Westminster and Broomfield and can help you understand where you’re what it will take to improve your diet and health. Call (720) 507-0080 today to schedule your free consultation!