Does Nutritional Counseling Offer the Same Plan for Everyone?

For many people, commercial diet plans are their only encounter with “personal nutrition.” But dieting is just one part of nutrition, and the one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Nutritional counseling differs dramatically. Here’s how.

When it comes to improving our nutrition, many of us think about commercial diets — eating plans that tend to use a one-size-fits-all approach for every person. However, nutritional counseling is different. Every counseling plan is based on an individual’s unique needs for optimal results, whether that means losing weight or achieving another wellness goal.

At Health Meets Wellness, our team specializes in nutritional counseling services focused on helping everyone achieve their personal goals, whether that means losing weight, managing a chronic condition, preventing illness, or other wellness goals. Read on to learn more about the factors that form the basis for our truly custom nutritional counseling approach.

Health history

Your health history plays a surprising role in your nutrition. People with gastrointestinal disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome, may have trouble digesting certain foods or absorbing their nutrients.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can influence your nutrition, particularly in determining which foods can help and which can exacerbate your condition. Some medications can affect your nutritional profile, affecting how vitamins and minerals are absorbed or used.

Nutritional counseling begins with a review of your health history, sometimes accompanied by lab tests to identify underlying conditions or measure specific nutrient levels.

Lifestyle and activity

Your activity level can play a role in your nutritional needs. An active athlete typically needs more calories — and often different macronutrients and micronutrients — than someone who leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle.

Nutritional counseling ensures your eating habits support your activity level, along with any future goals — like an upcoming marathon, for instance.

Personal factors

Underlying health conditions can influence your nutritional needs, and so can other personal factors — specifically, age and gender. Age-related changes in hormones and metabolism can lead to problems with weight, energy levels, and mood or outlook.

Other age- and gender-related risks, like hypertension, thyroid disease, and osteoporosis, can also be influenced by your dietary habits. Nutritional counselors take all these factors into account, adjusting your nutritional plans as those needs and risk factors evolve.

Goals

Nutritional counseling can be tailored to suit your underlying health needs, but it’s also important for helping you achieve specific goals. For instance, nutritional counseling plays an essential role in helping you manage your weight, especially as your needs change with age.

Nutritional deficiencies may trigger overeating, while other foods can lead to a sluggish metabolism and difficulty shedding extra pounds. Nutritional counseling ensures your weight-management goals take center stage while tailoring your plan to help you navigate your personal weight-related challenges.

A plan that changes with your needs and goals

Our nutritional needs change — sometimes dramatically — over the course of a lifetime. Nutritional counseling can help you stay healthy while achieving an array of personal goals, giving you the tools needed to enjoy optimal wellness and a better quality of life.

To learn more about nutritional counseling and how we can develop a plan just for you, call 934-203-8941 or request an appointment online with the team at Health Meets Wellness in Midtown East, New York City, today. We also offer telehealth consultations.