In the beginning eating was simple. We had what the earth would provide locally. Fruit, vegetables, berries, nuts, and if you could catch it – meat. That was it. These days we have a gargantuan array of endless choices of foods. Some natural and some artificial. It is immensely confusing. With the introduction of processed, packaged, frozen, and in recent years Genetically modified versions. We have preservatives, additives, fillers, and chemicals tossed in the mix. Some of what we consume here in America these days isn’t even technically food.

When it comes to honing in your diet and health, nothing can top the advice of a licensed nutritionist or dietician.

No two people area alike, and nutrition specialists have a large database of knowledge and understanding of how what we put into our bodies has on the way our bodies feel and work as well as look visually.  While there are a host of possible reasons why you may be considering a visit to a professional, a few of the most common are laid out below:

Weight loss or maintenance
Losing weight and keeping it off is a worldwide obsession. We all have an idealized version of what we want to look like in our minds.  We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to fit that. Sometimes it can be a tough transition. If you don’t have the right tools to get there it can be difficult if not impossible. Fad diets don’t work. You may see minimal results only to bounce right back to where you were if not past that. It gets frustrating and many give up.

A nutritionist can help you get there the right way. Allowing your body to have the nutrition it needs and not hang on to extra weight.

Digestive Issues and Food Allergies
There is no one size fits all meal plan. Our bodies all react differently. Some may not tolerate certain foods causing upset stomach or even allergic reactions. If you have headaches frequently or digestive issues it could be a food sensitivity.

Through testing and other methods, a nutritionist can help determine what specifically is causing your discomfort, and help you develop a plan for avoiding those foods and working them safely out of your diet.

Medical Conditions which require a specialized diet – Everything that you feed your body effects your heart, veins, arteries, and blood sugar levels. An unhealthy diet eventually will result in an unhealthy body.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with a condition, then it is likely that your doctor has encouraged you to make important diet and lifestyle changes. Implementing these changes can be a challenge, especially if you are suddenly forced to live without many of your favorite foods.

A nutritionist can help you manage your condition by recommending the appropriate foods to strengthen your heart and veins while lowering your risk for stroke or heart attack, often recommending healthier alternatives to the foods that you already like.

Health Protection and Disease Prevention.
Whether you have a diagnosed condition, are being wise and looking towards the future,  or simply feel like you want to eat better to improve your appearance and state of current health many consider visiting a nutritionist as they get older and nutritional needs begin to change. Pregnancy, new baby, your senior years, weight gain or loss, we all have our own reasons. Visiting a nutritionist could benefit anyone of any age.

It is never too late or too early to develop healthful eating habits.

Extra Motivation to Reach Your Goals
Whatever your diet goals may be, we all face setbacks along the way and must respond to friends and family members who don’t believe in us.

The hardest problems rear their heads when you don’t even believe in yourself or set unrealistic goals and expectations that only set you up for future disappointment when you can’t reach them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with needing a little extra help or encouragement, and your nutritionist is here to provide you with just that. A nutritionist is not here to judge you or make you feel worse about yourself, only to help you come up with achievable goals and plan accordingly to reach them.

If any of the above reasons apply to you, then please contact Tampa Cardiovascular Associates today, and make an appointment with our on-staff licensed nutritionist. www.tampacardio.com  813-975-2800