About Nutritional Counseling
By Helene Pulnik | Published on August 12, 2010 | 0 Comments
It’s true that your diet can have a huge effect on your health. Dr. Helene Pulnik ND, LAc is a naturopathic physician who owns Glastonbury Naturopathic Center and Wholistic Spa in Glastonbury, CT, and talks here about how naturopathic nutritional counseling could be the answer to a better, healthier lifestyle.
Nutritional counseling is really the foundation of naturopathic medicine, because it’s true what they say: You are what you eat. There are studies that show that people who eat a very inflammatory diet full of high fats and processed foods will suffer the consequences of that diet over time, with changes to their personal and physical selves.
For example, take the the movie Super Size Me. That is a perfect example of “you are what you eat.” In one month, a healthy man became very unhealthy from eating a strict McDonald’s diet. His doctor told him he had to stop eating McDonald’s or it would have very a detrimental effect on his health.
Macro and Micro-Nutrients
Naturopathic nutritional counseling is very different from what western dieticians do with their nutritional counseling. We are not all that concerned with macro-nutrients such as fats and carbs and sugars, we are also interested in micro-nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. We are also very concerned about the quality of the diet, not just the quantity.
As a result, we try to advocate organic foods as much as possible, minimizing processed foods and those with a lot of additives or preservatives. Western nutritionists are not concerned about those that much, with the exception of salt, for example.
Finding Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
For naturopathic nutritional counselors, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are important. There are so many people who are Vitamin D deficient, for example. I do a lot of testing that complements nutritional counseling, so I can see if someone has a lot of deficiencies or not.
My nutritional counseling is based on each individual’s own needs. For example, somebody who has cardiovascular disease will usually have a personally tailored diet that is very anti-inflammatory, with lots of foods that are healthy for the heart. People with diabetes or high blood sugar should have diets tailored to be low glycemic index and also anti-inflammatory, as diabetics already have a lot of inflammation in their systems.
I develop diets for people with all sorts of conditions, from psoriasis to eczema, to allergies and problems with infertility. My clients are people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, menopause, and even depression. Just changing your diet can make you feel a lot better, so nutritional counseling, along with our other therapies, can bring you much closer to a healthier new you.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.