Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapy and Functional Medicine (another term you may soon hear of) are gradually making in-roads to the thinking of conventional and complimentary medical practices in certain Western countries. These approaches recognise our bio-individuality, the connectivity of body systems, plus they also integrate information from a mind-body perspective in a similar way to many traditional health approaches. Body systems that are of interest to our health may include: the immune system; digestion and detoxification; nerves and hormones (communication); the musculoskeletal system; and brain chemicals for mental focus and balance.

In South Africa, we have the South African Association of Nutritional Therapy (SAANT). Click Here to visit their website.

In the UK, we have the British Association of Nutritional Therapy (BANT). Click Here to visit their website.

Continue reading for a definition of Nutritional Therapy, which was actually written by Jeffrey Bland, the founder of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) in the US. Nutritional Therapy and Functional Medicine share an enormous amount of common ground in their philosophies and the IFM website is definitely also worthy of a read. Click Here to visit their website.

Nutritional Therapy Defined

Nutritional Therapy is the application of nutrition, naturopathic principles and health science to enable individuals to maximise their health potential. The external and internal environment of the individual is altered through diet, food supplements, detoxification, environment, lifestyle and education to alleviate or prevent chronic health problems and to promote optimal health. Biomolecular nutrition is considered the foundation of health care.

The practice of Nutritional Therapy is thus an integration of science and naturopathic thinking. Nutritional Therapists follow a holistic approach by 'treating the whole person'. They recognise that each person is an individual who has unique dietary and nutritional requirements. Individual prescriptions for diet and lifestyle are based on medical, family and dietary histories and practitioners develop a diagnostic insight specific to this form of medicine. Nutritional Therapy is a complementary therapy. Instead of opposing other therapies, Nutritional Therapists wish to work synergistically with other health care practitioners to benefit the patient. Nutritional Therapy can be characterised by:
• drug free nature
• overall respect for the inherent vitality of cells and tissues and the body's ability to heal itself
• support for active biological processes that prevent health problems, rather than using inhibitory methods that tend to mask problems
• recognition of the extent to which nutrition of the brain affects mental health
• appropriate use of optimal supplementary nutrients to maximise an individual’s health
• acknowledgement of the emotional state of the patient and encouraging positive attitude

A Nutritional Therapist competent in clinical nutrition understands the following:
• the human biochemistry of both micro- and macronutrients
• how nutrition influences pH, electrolytes, intercellular communication and blood sugar control
• human bioenergetics
• nutritional influence on membrane composition and receptor function
• clinical signs and symptoms of nutritionally related disorders
• biochemical and laboratory findings related to nutrient excesses / insufficiencies
• molecular genetics and how nutrition influences its expression

Reference: "Clinical Nutrition: A Functional Approach" - Preface by Jeffrey S. Bland PhD