Taking care of your diet is essential for enjoying a good state of health, having the necessary nutrients for the body to function properly and prevent diseases, among others. Experts talk about the importance of going to a nutritionist and when to do so.
Seeing a nutritionist has many advantages. Professionals in this field provide guidance on nutrition and healthy eating habits to help improve the health and well-being of patients. These are fundamental, on the one hand, to offer an individualized nutritional plan, according to the needs of each person. But also to help discover the origins of problems that often go unnoticed or are blamed on other issues, such as allergies and food intolerances. Of course, a nutritionist also fulfills the role of helping people with eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. Such is the case of ProyectoART, the nutritionist in Barcelona and psychologists group specialized in this type of problems that provide online and in-person care, in English and Spanish. In addition to having an ED day center for patients with recurrent and persistent problems.
Seeing a nutritionist is essential, on the other hand, to deal with special situations, experts stress. This is the case, for example, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but also to design specific diets for professional athletes and much more.
Losing or gaining weight and other specific diets
One of the main reasons why people go to a nutritionist is to lose or gain weight, the field explains. The causes can be very varied, from bad habits that have led to weight gain, lack of activity, genetic issues… The nutritionist is in charge of creating a personalized diet according to each patient, analyzing their specific situation and goals. At the time of designing it, the professionals comment, several aspects are taken into account, such as health and wellness objectives. The nutritionist is in charge, first of all, of evaluating whether the patient is looking to lose weight, gain muscle mass, improve sports performance, manage a medical condition (such as diabetes or hypertension) or improve their general state of health, among others. For the development of the personalized diet, professionals also take into account the patient’s current health status and medical history.
Specifically, they check for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, food intolerances or allergies, digestive problems and so on. They also check body composition, including body fat percentage, muscle mass and body mass index (BMI), in order to determine energy needs and the distribution of macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates or fats. Other things that are taken into account when making a personalized diet are the level of daily physical activity and what types of exercises are performed, if any. The patient’s preferences and lifestyle also play a very important role in its elaboration, such as daily routine, work schedule, habits…
Finally, the industry stresses that other determining aspects are considered, such as age, sex and genetics, an analysis of the current diet and the dietary restrictions a patient follows (for example, not eating meat). All these aspects are analyzed in order to offer an effective and balanced diet that also fits the lifestyle and specific needs of each individual, the experts determine.
Diseases, intolerances and eating disorders
Seeing a nutritionist is of vital importance in cases where health is at risk, whether from issues related to intolerances and allergies (in which case the nutritionist can also help to detect them), as well as in acquired or hereditary diseases. See, for example, digestive diseases or cardiovascular diseases and problems such as dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension. These last diseases are part of the metabolic syndrome and are the consequence of suffering from obesity, although they are not the only ones. Also to treat diseases related to a lack of nutrients, which usually causes problems such as headaches, low energy, constant tiredness, dizziness, mood swings, loss of consciousness and more serious problems. In this same sense, professionals emphasize that seeing a nutritionist is of vital importance in cases of eating disorders. The professionals in this field, with the help of psychologists and psychotherapists, can improve the patients’ relationship with food in order to recover their well-being.
ED is the acronym for Eating Disorder. It refers to a group of psychological disorders characterized by a persistent alteration in eating habits and behaviors related to food, affecting the physical and mental health of the person. These have serious both physical and emotional repercussions, affecting mental health, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and, in many cases, the physical function of the body. They are associated with a number of health complications, such as malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, heart problems, organ damage and, in the most severe cases, death.
Special situations for which to see a nutritionist
The role of a nutritionist is also vital to treat the most diverse and varied special situations, say the professionals. For example, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, two very important stages in a woman’s life in which there are a great variety of changes in the body and different needs to cover. The nutritionist can recommend which foods to consume and which not to consume in order to have a balanced and healthy diet. Another example can be sports nutrition, in this case the professional can design a specific diet to help the athlete to have the necessary energy and to meet their goals. Even if a vegetarian or vegan diet is chosen, to ensure that the change in the daily diet will not cause health problems to the people concerned, professionals conclude.
