When Should I See a Dietitian?

Eliminating something from your diet can be difficult, but when you’ve identified a food allergy or intolerance, sometimes there’s just no other way. Whether you suffer from allergies to common foods like nuts or shellfish or you’ve been diagnosed with an intolerance to something like lactose or gluten, a dietitian will make sure your nutrition plan is both safe and delicious. They’ll suggest great substitutes that can be almost as good as the real thing.

We all experience digestive issues from time to time, such as gas, bloating, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach aches and acid reflux. If you’re experiencing these symptoms regularly, however, your body could be telling you that you need a change in your diet.

A registered dietitian will dive deep into your medical and nutritional history in order to find out what’s causing your digestive issues, and help you kick them to the curb.

A registered dietitian can help with a number of chronic illnesses including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, and many more. In many cases of chronic illness, the foods you eat can directly affect your treatment. No matter your condition, a dietitian can help you understand your illness and its relationship with food. They will help you build a nutrition plan that has the vitamins and nutrients you need to effectively manage your condition and explain how the foods you choose may affect you.

When a blood test identifies abnormal levels of things such as cholesterol or triglycerides, your physician will often recommend a change in diet. For example, eggs, cheese, red meat, shellfish, and full-fat yogurt can all raise your cholesterol. The foods you should eat or cut out in order to mitigate these problems ultimately depend on your lifestyle.

By getting to know you, your habits, and even your medical history, your dietitian will help you develop an individualised meal and exercise regimen to manage your blood levels and get you back on track.

Emerging research is showing that lifestyle-related factors such as diet and exercise can actually help treat common mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Additionally, certain foods, vitamins and minerals can stimulate the production of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, that relate to mental health.

It’s important to remember that simply having a healthy diet and exercising regularly should never replace the treatment plan set for you by your physician. Seeking advice from a dietitian, however, can absolutely complement your medical treatment plan.

Many women benefit from scheduling regular visits with a dietitian, both during their pregnancy and during the planning stages. The rules surrounding what you should and shouldn’t eat can get complicated during this time. Portion control is another important aspect, as fertility can be impacted by gaining or losing too much weight.

A dietitian can help you develop smart meal plans that will be the healthiest option for mom and baby, and give you the inside scoop on everything you should be eating to ensure you’ll receive the proper nutrition during your pregnancy.

At the end of the day, a dietitian’s most important job is to help you build and maintain a healthy relationship with food and diet. If you struggle with an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, or even body dysmorphic disorder — no matter what stage you’re at in your recovery — a registered dietitian can help guide you through the world of nutrition safely and comfortably.

If you’re consistently getting eight hours of sleep but still have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, it could be a sign of a nutrition-related issue. It could be anything from caffeine addiction — we all love a good cup of joe, but you can get “too much of a good thing'' — to a nutritional deficiency, such as iron. A dietitian will help you identify the root of the problem and set you up with a nutrition plan that will have you feeling more energised in no time.

Most professional (and even casual) athletes incorporate regular visits with their dietitian into their healthcare routines. For an athlete, meal timing and frequency is just as important as deciding what foods to eat. A dietitian can help you navigate the complex world of fueling for performance to get the most out of your training.

If none of the issues listed above speak to you, that in no way means you won’t benefit from visiting a registered dietitian. You could be healthy as a horse but still want to learn more about nutrition and make sure your eating habits are in top shape. Maybe you have questions about a hereditary health condition in your family that can be prevented with the right diet. Maybe you’ve been curious about becoming a vegan and don’t know where to start, or how to ensure you’re receiving the necessary nutrients in your diet. Either way, meal planning is a dietitian’s specialty and they will work with you to help you achieve your nutrition goals, no matter what they are.