Holistic nutrition is the philosophy that one’s health is the expression of the links between chemical and psychical, emotional and mental, and environmental and spiritual aspects. Simply put, it’s healing with whole foods. Those who are trained in holistic nutrition will approach healing and health from a whole-person perspective. Each person is approached as a unique individual and this approach requires engaging the individual in his or her health recovery process and honoring his or her own wisdom.
What a Holistic Nutrition Professional Does
A professional that takes this approach will advise individuals, groups, and families on their lifestyle, how to diet, and their attitude in order to prevent disease and promote health. The professional can work with a licensed healthcare provider to help individuals that have been previously diagnosed with an illness to identify imbalances and toxicities that may be contributing to poor health.
A licensed healthcare provider, such as an MD, may work with a holistic professional to educate clients on the benefits of whole foods and the appropriate supplementation relative to their unique health issues.
Holistic professionals will usually provide some of these services, including lifestyle and diet evaluation, teaching healthy eating, family meal planning, suggestions for improving lifestyle, suggestions for managing stress, and meal plans.
The Benefits of This Approach
The best part of this holistic approach is that it’s an individual approach. No one is going to be put into a box, no matter the health conditions he or she may be experiencing. Each person needs to be treated differently because everyone is unique.
This view often uses a whole food approach, which also has plenty of benefits. No matter how technically advanced you have become, your digestive system just hasn’t kept up. Stomachs don’t know how to properly digest certain blended food and keep you healthy when eating processed food. The industry has made it hard to know which foods are healthy and what you should be eating. With this approach, disease prevention can be within reach. About 80% of Type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented if you alter exercise and nutrition. The body’s immune system and the ability to repair itself are linked to nutrition. Improving what you can also encourages better healing and preventing other ailments from occurring.
This approach can help you increase energy and focus. Eating foods that aren’t refined or altered allows your body to break them down properly and use the food for maximum energy. It’s more than just a diet and instead it is a way of life. Diets only work for a little while and they are not sustainable. However, this approach can become a lifestyle that is sustainable.