WHAT IS A REGISTERED DIETITIAN?
A dietitian is a medical health professional that focuses on managing their client’s health by prescribing various foods that can enhance recovery and prevention of numerous diseases. They educate clients on what foods are beneficial and generate a specific meal plan in conjunction with their medical conditions. The care provided is strictly food based and in certain special cases nutritional supplements may be recommended for a speedy recovery or prevention of a disease.
Dietitians specialize in areas like corporate wellness, paediatric nutrition, sports nutrition, weight management, diabetes, renal health, heart disease, cancer, wound healing, gastrointestinal disorders, fertility, IVF and pregnancy to name a few.
Dietetic services at Lusaka Chiropractic & Wellness are provided through a one-on- one client session, known as the nutritional assessment. The final nutritional recommendations are based on the nutritional assessment, anthropometric information (height and body weight), medical history as well as information from your doctor and blood reports.
Follow-up services are also available. These sessions allow the dietitian to keep track of your progress as well as fine-tune your eating plan after trying out the proposed recommendations. The dietitian’s primary goal is to provide their client with knowledge and skills that will assist them in making the appropriate food choices to promote healthy living.
WHEN TO SEE A DIETITIAN?
It is crucial to seek dietetic advice once your physician recommends it, however anyone can seek help from a dietitian. Some patients seek the assistance of a dietician to learn more about healthy eating or prevention of chronic diseases that run in the family. Dietitians will prescribe diets and eating habits that are suitable for the needs of each patient based on the unique health parameters which are unique to that patient.
BENEFITS OF SEEKING DIETETIC CARE
Initial consultation may run for around 45-60 minutes. The dietitian will ask detailed questions about your current diet, exercise habits, general health and lifestyle. This information helps the dietitian formulate a tailor-made eating plan after understanding your history as well as likes and dislikes.
Weight loss
Trying to lose weight or trying to keep it off? A dietitian can help in creating an eating plan and exercise regimen as well as help create healthy eating habits that are lifelong as opposed to trying out several fad diets that are short lived.
Food Sensitivities and Allergies
Certain allergies or conditions like celiac disease requires an individual to eliminate or limit consumptions of specific food items. A dietitian can assist you by identifying your trigger foods and providing alternative food choices to ensure that your body’s nutritional needs are still being met.
Healthy Eating Habits
Your dietitian can help you create a meal plan that is tailor made to your likes and dislikes. They can also assist with meal planning which can go as far as devising grocery lists, create menus and provide nutritious recipes.
Chronic Diseases
Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease etc are connected to your daily dietary pattern. Your dietitian can help create meal plans, provide recipes, or even provide alternative foods that can assist with controlling your chronic condition through a detailed analysis of your dietary and medication routine.
Sports Nutrition
Athletes or fitness enthusiasts who want to eat healthy can seek advice from a dietitian. A dietitian can provide information to aid in achieving peak sporting performance as well as enhance energy and activity levels.
Vegan or Vegetarians
Since their diet choice eliminates certain food groups, a dietitian can assist with providing alternative foods choices with similar nutritional content to promote a well-balanced diet.
Paediatric Nutrition
Dietitians can assist with devising nutritional plans while taking children’s food preference into consideration and suggest strategies to encourage children to try new foods. A dietician can also provide recipes that are nutrient dense as opposed to food rich in empty calories.
