Dietary advice may be plentiful, but good dietary advice can only be obtained from a professional nutritionist. Don’t be fooled by all of the advertisements that promise quick results, because most of the time you will just waste precious time and establish no healthy habits. You need a good nutritionist that understands your goals and is ready with the knowledge of how you will fulfil them. The only question is: how do you find a nutritionist like that. Here are a few tips to get you started: 

• Consider your dietary and health needs first – before you even begin searching for a dietitian, you should consider your needs first. Is your primary goal losing weight? Do you have a medical condition that you want to manage? Are there any food sensitivities or allergies that you have to be careful with? There is a lot that nutritionists can help you with, and some of them have certain specialisations, which are better suited for your goals. Once you have considered your goal, it is time to look for an expert to get on your case. 
  
  
• Check their credentials – nowadays everyone can claim they are an ‘expert’ on something, especially nutritional health and dieting. However, because of this reality, it is very important to make certain the expert you are consulting with is trained and has the knowledge in the field you are interested in. You should always check their credentials, see if they are members of a professional body and how much experience they have had with people like you. If possible, check for references and even ask some of their previous clients about their work process and results. 
  
  
• What is their motivation for working with you? – there is no denying the bad reputation that some of the elements of the wellness industry have. Many of the so-called experts only want to sell their protein shakes, nutrition bars and other products with very little proven effect to the public. That is why you should always consider the business model of your nutritionist. If they are focused on selling you expensive products, maybe you are better off looking elsewhere. Avoid multi-level marketing schemes, because you may end up being provided with dietary products that don’t work. A reputable nutritionist will be more interested in providing you with good menu plans, and a list of whole foods and will take the time to understand your issues, like cravings, emotional eating, obesity, etc. In other words, they should be more of a coach than a marketer of questionable products. 
  
  
• Check their experience – a good dietitian will be open and transparent about what they have to offer and what qualifications they have. You can tell a lot about them just by checking out their website or Linkedin profile. When it comes to nutrition, many things expand the knowledge of a professional in the field. Namely, you should be interested if they have a degree in health science or sport. 
  
  
• Learn the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian – on some levels, these are interchangeable words. However, there is sometimes a subtle difference. A nutritionist is someone who has a tertiary qualification and provides a range of services that all relate to nutrition. A dietitian delivers these same services, in addition to addressing certain medical conditions. They can even provide medical nutrition therapy if need be. 
  
  

Following all of these tips can help you find the best nutritionist for your needs and benefit from their services. 

© 360 Health Clinic

Integrative medicine is all about creating the best possible reality regarding wellness for those struggling with complex diseases and chronic conditions. 

As an approach to medicine, integrative medicine combines conventional medicine with its potential for surgery, use of medications and lifestyle changes along with complementary medicine, which involves therapies and treatments like yoga, meditation, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc. 

What sort of provider delivers integrative medicine?

Normally, an individual will work with a team of providers, and in rare cases an individual practitioner who has both the traditional medicine knowledge base and also uses complementary medicine. 

In regards to traditional western medicine, providers include individuals who have undergone formal medical training and have knowledge of conventional therapies. They practice evidence-based care. There are many options for experts who provide this sort of care: nurse practitioners, doctors of osteopathy, medical doctors, physician assistants, etc. 

In regards to complementary medicine, the experts can have a very diverse backgrounds. They may include board-certified practitioners who have gone through a series of exams, and other licensed therapists, like acupuncturists, massage therapists, doctors of naturopathic medicine and chiropractic practitioners. 

How does integrative medicine help an individual? 

Integrative medicine is all about utilising the strengths and effects of different techniques, to deliver that essential whole-person care. The goal is to always work on the mind, body and spirit with the aid of conventional medicine and complementary therapies. None of the complementary therapies replaces conventional treatments, however. Their goal is to further aid in the treatment of complications and symptoms of the condition. 

Who can rely on integrative medicine? 

A lot of individuals can benefit from integrative medicine. Mainly people with chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions or complex illnesses can be top recipients of the benefits this medical approach has to offer. The physical ailments that common users of integrative medicine are struggling with include cancer, asthma, diabetes, chronic pain, joint pain, nausea, sciatica, neck pain, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, etc. There are also mental illnesses that one may wish to address with integrative medicine: insomnia, depression, addiction, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), etc. 

What sort of complementary therapies are usually recommended? 

The complementary therapies encompass a wide range of potential treatments and categories. Here are a few of the most popular ones: 

• Natural remedies – the basis of this treatment involves the use of substances found in nature to help with nutrient levels. Diet therapy is a common example, which includes going on a specific diet. A doctor can also recommend herbal supplements derived from seeds, berries, flowers oils, roots, etc. 
  
  
• Mind-body practices – these are practices that strengthen the connection between physical and mental dimensions of health. Common examples include hypnotherapy, meditation, biofeedback and yoga practices. All of them are aimed at providing better self-awareness and mindfulness to better deal with things like racing thoughts, anxiety and stress. 
  
  
• Bodywork – these therapies are aimed at improving wellbeing and physical health. They include acupuncture, reflexology chiropractic adjustments and therapeutic massage. 
  
  

What benefits does integrative medicine hold? 

The main benefit is that this approach to treatment unifies the disease-focused therapies of Western medicine with the healing potential of the complementary therapies described above. This approach can help people with complex illnesses and conditions achieve better appetite, peace of mind, pain relief, better sleep, better cognitive function, etc. 

Are there any downsides? 

The only potential downside to integrative medicine is that appointments will often include seeing more than one doctor, which means it takes special scheduling and timing. 

© 360 Health Clinic