Therapeutic Diet and Nutrition

There are many types of therapeutic diets and nutritional considerations which form an important part of the treatment protocol.

A therapeutic diet is a meal plan that is created with the goal of controlling the intake of certain foods or nutrients. It is often followed as part of the treatment of a medical condition, and is most times done temporarily. Sometimes it is necessary to maintain a therapeutic diet permanently, for example in Celiac disease or Type 1 Diabetes.

Many conditions are significantly improved with the introduction of appropriate therapeutic diets while others can even be sent into remission or permanently reversed.

Many conditions are significantly improved with the introduction of appropriate therapeutic diets while others can even be sent into remission or permanently reversed.

The most common therapeutic diet protocols used today have a similar foundation that starts with eating whole, real, unprocessed foods as its base. Additional inclusions and exclusions vary from diet to diet.

Despite a myriad of available information it is quite difficult to ensure that the diet you select will be effective in modifying the disease process that you are contending with while at the same time will continue to meet all of your nutritional needs. Additional considerations include:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Medications
  • Supplements
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Baseline nutritional status
  • Metabolic rate

For this reason, it is extremely important to consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before introducing therapeutic diets as part of your treatment protocol.

In addition, many people lack essential nutrients for optimal functioning, which slows recovery or even creates serious health problems. A proper assessment and supplementation will ensure that all the basic biochemical processes are functioning at their best, thereby creating an environment conducive to optimal health.