Do You Need a Nutritionist?

Nutritionists and registered dietitians have completed specialized training in nutrition and its effects on the body. These individuals must pass certification exams in order to work as nutritionist and give diet advice.

While you may think that only people who are ill need nutrition help, in reality most people can benefit from nutrition counseling and education. Nutritionists help you better understand the foods you eat and how you eat, helping you develop better eating habits.

You may benefit from having your own nutritionist if:

You have diabetes.

Nutrition is vital to controlling diabetes or preventing pre-diabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes. Personalized diabetes nutrition counseling not only gives you your own eating plan, but teaches you all about the food you eat and its effects on your body. Nutritionist can help you better understand your condition so you can make the healthy choices that fit into your lifestyle.

You are an athlete.

What athletes need to eat to achieve performance goals varies from sport to sport. Sports nutritionists understand the demands that exercise puts on the body and helps you give your body what it needs to perform. Nutritionists can help you design eating plans for workout days, race days and game days, helping you select foods that you enjoy and fuel your body.

You have a metabolic condition like polycystic ovary syndrome.

Metabolic conditions require specialized nutrition to maintain a healthy weight and lower your long-term risks of heart conditions and diabetes. A nutritionist can develop a plan based on your specific condition, your health needs and what foods you like to eat. By following this plan, you can improve your weight, increase fertility and reduce symptoms of metabolic conditions.

You have digestion problems, food allergies or intolerances.

If you have a digestive condition like irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux or Celiac disease, a nutritionist can help you design a plan for eating that helps you control symptoms. They can also help you find foods you enjoy if you no longer can eat foods you once loved, like wheat bread.

You want to have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

Nutritionists can help you lose weight before pregnancy and find foods during pregnancy that keep both you and the growing baby healthy. Nutritionists can also help you keep up your milk supply and stay hydrated when you are breastfeeding.

You have trouble losing weight on your own.

A nutritionist provides caring support during a weight loss journey. When you want to lose weight, whether it is five pounds or 50 pounds, a nutritionist can guide you to the right food choices to meet your weight loss goals. Individual weight loss nutrition plans help you better understand the food you eat while ensuring you get to eat foods you enjoy.

Nutritionists can also talk to you about behaviors associated with food that may hinder weight loss. For instance, eating while watching TV or not measuring out portions. By exploring underlying behaviors, you can develop new, lifelong healthy eating habits to help you lose and keep off weight.

At Bon Secours in Motion, our expert nutritionists helps people across Hampton Roads achieve healthier bodies through delicious food. Learn more about how you can receive one-on-one nutrition counseling at any of our locations.