Food as medicine for your illness? Let's talk about Medical Nutrition Therapy

Has your doctor ever told you to "control your diet"? Maybe it's for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, or some other disease. Actually, this "control of diet" is not just about cutting down on rice or stopping eating sweets. It's a much deeper, scientifically based treatment method. That's what we call Medical Nutrition Therapy , or (MNT) for short. It's like a specially designed diet plan that helps control symptoms while providing your body with the nutrition it needs, in a way that suits your disease.

Simply put, what is Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)?

Imagine, just like a doctor prescribes medicine for your illness, this is what happens when he or she adjusts your eating habits to help you recover from that illness. This is not just a diet you find on the internet. This is done by a Registered Dietitian who has received special training and is qualified in this field.

He or she will work with you and your healthcare team, including your treating doctor, to first determine your health needs and personal goals. Then, they will create a personalized nutrition plan for you. The goal of this plan is to optimize your health by providing your body with the optimal levels of micronutrients and macronutrients it needs. He or she will also help you implement the plan.

Your doctor may recommend MNT therapy to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. It can complement your existing medications. In some cases, it can even help you avoid taking medications. It is also essential for people who have a medical condition that prevents them from swallowing or digesting food properly.

Depending on your needs, MNT treatment may look like this:

• Stopping or limiting certain foods. (For example, telling a kidney patient to limit potassium-rich foods like bananas and oranges.)
• Ensuring that certain foods and nutrients are consumed in sufficient quantities . (For example, telling someone with anemia to eat iron-rich vegetables, meat, and fish.)
• Taking nutritional supplements .
• Feeding through saline (Parenteral Nutrition) or feeding through a tube (Enteral Nutrition) .

Your medical team will explain this to you in more detail.

What kind of diseases does MNT help with?

Medical nutrition therapy can help manage many diseases. You can get a good idea of ​​it from the table below.

Who provides this treatment?

This is a very important question. Medical nutrition therapy is provided by Registered Dietitians (RDs) . They are medical professionals who have specialized knowledge and training in this field. Therefore, they can give you reliable, safe guidance.

Sometimes people who simply call themselves "nutritionists" may not have this kind of in-depth training, so it's important to work with an RD to ensure you're getting the most accurate and medically-backed advice.

Your nutritionist will work with other healthcare providers, such as your doctor and nurses, to create your nutrition plan. They will also be there to help you every step of the way.

How does this treatment process happen?

There are usually several steps that nutritionists follow when providing this treatment. This can vary from person to person. For example, if you are hospitalized with a serious illness, you may not be able to actively participate in this process at first. If your child needs MNT, you will be the one who will be most likely to talk to the nutritionist and coordinate the work.

Here are those steps:

1. Nutrition Assessment

This is the first step. This is where your nutritionist learns about you and your nutritional needs. They look at things like your medical records, lab reports, etc. But that's only one side of the story. What you say is also very important.

Your nutritionist will talk to you and try to learn more about your needs, goals, and preferences. They may ask questions like:

• What do you usually eat a day?
• Do you have any food allergies?
• How does your lifestyle and cultural background affect what you eat and drink?
• What challenges do you face in preparing and finding food? (e.g., lack of time, financial difficulties)
• What foods are easy to find and not so easy to find in your area?

2. Nutrition Diagnosis

This is not like your medical diagnosis (e.g. diabetes). This is different. Here, the nutritionist is focusing on a problem related to your nutrition.

For example, you may be consuming too much of a nutrient, such as carbohydrates, or not enough. The nutritionist will identify the root cause of this problem, as well as the signs and symptoms you are experiencing from lab reports.

3. Nutrition Intervention

Now, based on the assessment and diagnosis made above, the nutritionist will create a plan to solve the problem. He will explain to you what you need to do on your part to implement the plan. For example, he will tell you about the changes you need to make in your daily life. He will also tell you how often you need to see the nutritionist, and perhaps about group meetings.

4. Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation

Once you start the plan, the nutritionist will check in with you regularly to make sure everything is going well. He or she will review your lab reports, ask you how you are doing, and talk to your other doctors.

What are the benefits of MNT?

There are many benefits you can gain from medical nutrition therapy. It's not just a diet, it's an important investment in your wellness journey.

Are there any risks to this treatment?

The risks depend on the way you are fed.

• Parenteral Nutrition: There is a risk of bloodstream infection.
• Tube Feeding: There is a risk of infection at the site of the tube insertion, or digestive problems such as constipation, nausea, or diarrhea.
• Dietary changes: This is a very safe and low-risk thing to do if you are doing this under the guidance of a nutritionist. They will let you know in advance about the changes you will feel when you change your diet.

Your medical team will explain to you further about any such risks and how to manage them.

Things you can do to make this journey easier

Your nutritionist will help you make this treatment manageable for you. They will try to understand your preferences. They will also want to know if there are any barriers to reaching your goals.

For example, maybe there are no healthy food options in your area. Or maybe you're too tired to cook when you get home from a late shift. Being open with your nutritionist about any challenges you're facing can help you find solutions together.

It can also be helpful to keep a journal of what you eat and drink each day and when you eat it. Also, keep a note of what you like and don't like about your current eating habits.