CLINICAL NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING

“Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

One of the most common causes of food allergies is a compromised digestive system. Consuming foods that irritate your stomach and intestines results in inflammation that can increase intestinal permeability. When food is consumed and is not completely digested due to the irritation of the stomach and intestines, some partially digested proteins will pass through the intestines into the blood. This causes the body to create harmful antibodies to fight off these proteins. These antibodies cause damage in the body by causing inflammation as they attack other tissues. This inflammation may result in pain, stiffness and soreness.

Nutritional deficiencies and parasitic infections can also lead to food allergies by disrupting digestion. The food we eat is low in nutrients, which are vital for the proper functioning of our bodies. Genetically, some people are predisposed to develop food allergies when one or both of their parents have allergies.

Clinical nutritional counseling is important because the food we consume may affect our hormones, disrupt thyroid function, cause disturbance to our adrenals, pancreas and reproductive hormones. The food we eat may also cause degradation to our body organs when it is low in antioxidants and high in chemicals, food colorings, preservatives, pesticides, genetically modified genes and other destructive changes in food brought on by large food companies. Chronic food sensitivities also lead to leaky gut.

Nutritional supplementation can be used to speed up the body’s healing process when an insufficient nutrient status has resulted in illness. Through properly applied supplementation, patients can quickly see a return to health. Supplements include vitamins and minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, glandulars, essential fatty acids, cleansing powders, fiber, and other specialty products to enhance various organ function.

The Indigo Integrative Health Clinic contains a full dispensary, ensuring patients obtain the highest quality nutrients at their convenience, bypassing any confusion or misinformation that is commonly faced on the internet and various Health Food Stores.

DIET DIARY

To better guide you in your nutritional program, you will complete a one week diet diary on your patient portal prior to your second appointment. People most often forget this and or disregard it, but we cannot express the importance of a diet diary.