Naturopathy and Holistic Nutrition
Natural Medicine
Naturopathy and Holistic Nutrition
Your naturopath will continually remind you that holistic nutrition is about the individual. However, we all have different strengths, weaknesses, and lifestyle needs that require different approaches
By Mark Zuleger-Thyss
We know that nutritionally balanced food can be delicious as well as nourishing. Naturopaths are well suited to help with diseases caused by the lack of good nutrition. They know what to eat to help treat the causes of illness, foods we should consume every day, and which ones to avoid.
Holistic Nutrition is based on the Principle of Holism
The basic idea is that parts of a whole system are interconnected. When it comes to health, “holistic anything” typically refers to the belief that you need to look at the whole as an interconnected person. Holistic nutrition is the process of taking food into the body and absorbing the nutrients in those foods based on the principle that everything is connected in some way.
When a doctor tells you to change your nutrition, you might think they are talking about diet and fitness. Holism is about ALL the factors affecting our ability to make and sustain healthy habits. Many factors can thwart our attempts to change our lives. These include gender, being overweight, lack of ease with moving our bodies, low budgets, poor mental states, etc.
Holistic nutrition is a formulated approach to meet a patient’s needs. For example, your doctor will select a specific diet and lifestyle plan that considers your individual goals, medical condition(s), or injuries.
Food is the Best Medicine
Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, with fewer complications and side effects. Naturopaths will guide you towards a whole foods diet full of color and variety.
Science and Holistic Nutrition
Naturopathic medicine addresses the root causes of disease and poor health rather than treating the symptoms.
Naturopathic medicine’s origins are in the nature cure movement of the 19th century. The earliest doctors used herbs, food, water, fasting, and tissue manipulation to restore the body to health. Today’s naturopathic doctors combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science.
Naturopaths know about health and disease, both traditional and holistic, and which whole foods, herbs, and spices have been scientifically proven to reverse disease. They know about basic anatomy and physiology, having studied each body system and how they interrelate.
Your gut, for example, plays a fundamental role in your overall health because everything you eat, digest, and absorb literally becomes who you are.
Holistic nutrition requires a whole-life approach. Followers are concerned about when and where they eat, where food comes from, and what their food ate. Holistic nutrition might also include a specific cultural philosophy like Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Naturopathic Nutrition incorporates respect for the traditional naturopathic approach to nutritional therapy and recognizes:
Your naturopath will design a personalized diet and lifestyle program that optimizes health.
She will make recommendations such as dietary and lifestyle changes, therapeutic exercise, herbs or supplements, or hydrotherapy techniques – preferably in cooperation with your primary care provider.
They will consider ancestral foods, raw foods, cleansing, vegetarianism, or anti-inflammatory foods, for example. They will continually remind you that holistic nutrition is individual. We all have different strengths, weaknesses, and lifestyle needs that require different approaches.
Find your new naturopathic doctor here on Garden of Healing:
May we suggest these excellent Naturopathic Medicine Doctors:
Thrive Holistic Medicine | Dr. Mary Simon, ND
“Health can be attained in numerous ways. Having a variety of tools allows me to work with patients where they're at, and it also allows us to avoid using 'a pill for every ill.’”
Family Clinic of Natural Medicine | Dr. Robert E. Coleman & his team
Dr. Coleman is the president of the Wisconsin Naturopathic Doctors Association (WNDA) and an active member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).
Radiant Natural Health Clinic | Dr. Kerry Niebrzydowski, ND MSOM LAc
Dr. Kerry analyzes a patient's diet to promote nourishment of the whole body. She works to discover hidden food sensitivities that might be compromising health showing up as low-grade symptoms.
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