Top 10 Reasons To See A Nutritionist
If you've been contemplating making an appointment to see a Nutritionist, but aren't 100% sure you need to, have a read of my top 10 reasons.
There are many different things your Nutritionist can help you with, it's not just about meal plans and weight loss. It's so much more than that. I personally practice as a Holistic Nutritionist, meaning I look at the body as whole and take into consideration not only how your diet impacts your health, but also how each system in your body interacts. I also take lifestyle & environmental factors into consideration as well.
If you feel as though you can resonate with one or more of these reasons, then you should seek the assistance of a Nutritionist, such as myself.
Here are my Top 10 Reasons To See A Nutritionist
1. You've been 'Yo-Yo' dieting
No carbs? Intermittent Fasting? Ketogenic Diet? Shakes? Pills? Frozen meals? Paleo? Tried them all?
One of the first questions I ask my patients that are seeking help with weight loss is, 'What have you tried in the past to manage your weight?' Often the answer is 'Everything!' Then they go ahead and list off at least 5 different diets. There is no one size fits all when it comes to weight loss and that is why these diets often don't work. These diets are not tailored to suit the individual and because everyone is genetically & physically different, there is no way a generalised diet is going to work for everyone.
I take all the confusion out of weight loss, by providing you with individually tailored advice to suit your body and your needs. I take a holistic approach to weight management, with a focus on health.
2. You experience tummy troubles most days
Experiencing symptoms such as cramping, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, pain, wind, gas and nausea on a regular basis (more than once per week) are a sure sign that your gut isn't happy. Contrary to what you may have heard or been told, it's actually not normal to experience digestive discomfort.
There are many reasons why you are experiencing these symptoms and it's important to work out why. The gut provides us with the building blocks for health. This is where we absorb all our nutrients from our food. Nutrients that provide us with energy, help us grow and keep our systems running. If we do not have a healthy functioning digestive system, then we are preventing our bodies from receiving adequate nutrition. Not to mention the build up of toxins in the body we accumulate if we are not having a regular, daily bowel motion.
3. You're tired of sifting through the fact & fiction of the Nutrition world
Should you quit sugar? Are carbs bad for you? Should you be fasting? How many meals per day should you eat? How many almonds should I eat daily? Should I go gluten free? Is dairy bad?
I've seen some wacky claims out there and I can't imagine how people must feel getting fed information that not only conflicts itself, but also changes all the time. There is so much information out there and it can be difficult to determine what's actually fact & what's a personal opinion.
4. You're feeling tired
If you were to rate your energy on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being none and 10 being high), where would you put yourself? I'm generally an 8/10 and on really good days I feel 10/10 - no I'm not joking! It is possible to feel 10/10! If I'm doing everything right to nourish my body, get the right amount of sleep and take on just enough that I can keep on top of, I feel fantastic.
Energy is one of those things that people don't realise they're missing out on. Yes, we are supposed to feel tired, but we aren't supposed to be tired ALL the time.
The good news is that energy is simple to achieve but adjusting diet, sleep patterns & lifestyle habits. Sometimes there are underlying causes of fatigue and this is why it's important to see a practitioner.
5. You're a woman experiencing PMS
Ladies, PMS is not normal. Yes, it is common, but it's not normal to experience. Why oh why would you're body give you pain & discomfort every month for no reason? Why would it make you weepy or angry just because? Well I'm here to tell you that it's not just doing it for fun, it's telling you that your hormones are imbalanced.
Many girls and women head to their GP when they are experiencing irregularities with their menstrual cycle. Unfortunately your GP will give you the option of either going on the oral contraceptive pill (or another type of contraception) or tell you to fall pregnant. If you're not in the stage of life where a baby is the right choice, then most often the pill is the only choice - so you're told. The problem with the pill is that it masks your symptoms. The pill provides you with synthetic hormones that do not even do the same thing as your natural hormones. The pill can not balance your hormones - as they do not even contain the same reproductive hormones that your body produces.
I could go on and on about this topic, but the point I'm trying to get across is that you need to get to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance, rather than using a temporary band aid fix. Diet & lifestyle factors can play a huge part in regulating your hormones and it's a great place to start.
6. You have unexplained acne
Anyone can experience acne at any age and many people are in shock when they are in their late 30's and all of a sudden have acne. Acne isn't just caused by puberty or hormonal imbalances, it can also be caused by a poor diet, poor digestive health, nutritional deficiencies, a sluggish liver and even food intolerances or allergies.
On your own it's difficult to determine which of these could be causing your acne, especially because it can sometimes be a combination of things. That's why seeing a Nutritionist is a great option as I can do all the hard work for you.
7. You have high cholesterol
You've just been to see your GP for a routine check up and have been told your cholesterol levels are high. Usually your GP will give you an ultimatum - lower your levels by changing your diet & exercising - or you will need medication.
For most people medication seems like the easiest option, but it's not. Changing your diet & lifestyle to prevent taking a long term medication is easier than you think! I have reduced a patients cholesterol levels in one month just by changing their diet & increasing their physical activity level. This patient was committed to lowering their cholesterol as they did not want to go on any medication. Commitment & guidance is a great place to start when you want to improve your health.
8. You're sick of GP's dismissing your feelings & not giving you the time of day
Generally, a GP only has 15 minutes to give you before moving onto their next patient. This often leaves people feeling frustrated as they have not been able to express how they feel. During an initial consultation with me, we sit down together for 1 hour talking about every aspect of your health where you can express all your concerns, no matter how small you think it may be. It's important for me to know as much about your health as possible in order to create your health plan moving forward.
9. You're extremely stressed
Stress affects almost every system in the body. You may or may not notice, but when you're stressed your body changes. Your toilet habits can change. Your energy drops. Your sleep is disturbed. You get sick when you're under a lot of stress or pressure. Many people don't realise that stress is often a root cause of many health conditions.
Long term stress is not good for the body and that is why it's important to find ways of managing your stress levels & supporting your body nutritionally during these times.
10. You're just feeling 'bleh'
Not sure why you're feeling 'bleh'? Feeling 'bleh' means you don't feel 100% but you can't quite put your finger on why you're feeling like that.
Maybe you went overseas and haven't felt 100% since coming back. Maybe you've been dealing with an extremely stressful situation and haven't felt yourself since that time. Maybe you just had that nasty flu that was going around and even though its been a month or two since having it, you still feel pretty average.
I can help you work out why you're feeling out of sorts and get you back on track.