Most of us know the basic building blocks of good nutrition (more leafy greens, less sugar, right?), but once we get past discussing what’s good and bad for us, expertise and motivation runs dry.
Making personalized dietary choices can get complicated pretty fast, particularly if you are exclusively relying on murky (and sometimes contradictory) advice from the internet. Are eggs good or bad? What’s an appropriate amount of sodium? Am I getting enough calcium? How can I prevent heart disease? Reduce inflammation? Prevent osteoporosis? Lose weight?
Just as a massage therapist can help untangle the mess that is your muscular system, a registered dietitian (R.D.) can answer all of these questions and many more, ensuring you get research-backed recommendations that suit your individual dietary needs and health goals. What an optometrist does for your eyes, a dietitian does for your digestive system. Really, it’s a no brainer!
Not sure if it’s necessary? Here are seven signs you should book an appointment with a dietitian ASAP.
1. YOU SUSPECT A FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE
A registered dietitian can help you understand which foods are safe to eat and which are best to avoid. They will also help ensure that you’re still getting all the vitamins and minerals you need once those foods are cut from your diet.
2. YOUR BOWEL MOVEMENTS ARE LESS THAN NORMAL
Poop isn’t something to be shy about. In fact, digestive health has quite a lot to say about overall health, making it one of the first places a dietitian will look (well, not look) to see how you’re doing. Less than regular? Chat with a dietitian! They can help you nail down the cause and develop a personalized strategy to get your poop back in check.
3. YOU ARE IN GASTRIC DISTRESS ON A REGULAR BASIS
Abdominal pain? Cramps? Bloating? Gas? These symptoms may be common, but they’re signals that something has gone awry. The best way to manage a sensitive digestive tractis to understand what causes episodes of discomfort and then eliminate them. This is one place a dietitian’s individualized advice can really come in handy.
4. YOU OVEREAT WHEN YOU FEEL EMOTIONAL
If you binge eat when you are stressed or emotional, a registered dietitian can help you sort through what you’re feeling and help you make peace with food and your body. We all have complicated attachments to food. A dietitian can help you address yours in a calm, professional environment.
5. YOUR BODY IS FACING A MAJOR SHIFT
Pregnant or trying to become pregnant? Have you recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness or need new strategies to face one? A registered dietitian can help you navigate this life change with understanding so you can be confident that your body is getting exactly the nutrition that it needs.
6. YOUR DOCTOR SAYS YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure can be quite a troublesome condition. If you have high blood pressure, you are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States. This is why treating it is so important. Look to a dietitian to help suggest lifestyle modifications that will put you back on the path to healthfulness. You won’t regret it.
7. YOU’VE TRIED EVERY DIET AND HAVE YET TO SEE RESULTS
If you’ve tried every diet under the sun and have yet to see the pounds drop off, you might want to consult with a dietitian. They will help tailor an eating plan specific to you, based on your current weight, eating habits, medical history, physical activity and goals, identifying all the reasons you’re not getting the traction you desire. Cool, right?
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