Why You Should See a Dietitian

One person tells you to stop eating fat; someone else tells you that eating fat is healthy. What do you do? Who do you listen to? For these moments of indecision, you can make an outpatient appointment with Lompoc Valley Medical Center’s Registered Dietitian.

A Registered Dietitian, or RD, is a healthcare professional who is qualified to assess and treat nutrition-related problems. Dietitians are trained to translate the complicated and confusing science of human nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.

Nine Reasons to See a Dietitian

Here are some reasons to consider seeing a dietitian to help start your 2020 off healthily and happily.

1. Preventing Chronic Disease

As well as being physically active and avoiding tobacco, eating well-balanced and nutrient-rich diets are the major preventative factors in preventing chronic disease. Our diets play an important role in making sure that our immune system, hormones, and organs are functioning correctly.

2. Diagnosed with A Chronic Disease

An RD is trained to help you understand your condition and how different foods can help prevent associated symptoms. In some cases, improving your diet may even reverse your diagnosis. (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease)

3. Digestive Complaints

Food plays a massive role in the way our digestive system operates. An RD can help you determine which foods are causing that uncomfortable feeling in your gut or painful acid reflux.

4. Disordered Easting Patterns

Usually, when someone thinks of disordered eating, anorexia nervosa or bulimia are the first disorders to come to mind. But there are genuinely many types of disordered eating. If you find yourself binge eating, obsessing over food or eating for comfort, consulting with an RD can help improve these behaviors.

5. Weight Management

Fad diets may show quick weight loss, but they are often lacking in many nutrients and do not provide long-term success. An RD will work with you on an individualized nutrition plan that is not only sustainable but also enjoyable.

6. Thinking of Having or Have Had A Weight-Loss Surgery

Many lifestyle changes must be made after weight-loss surgery. This includes paying close attention to your diet and vitamin/mineral supplementation to promote the best outcomes possible. Registered Dietitians are a crucial part of your support group through this process.

7. Improve Your Child’s Health

Whether your child is overweight, underweight, or has other nutrition-related concerns, many Registered Dietitians are trained to improve childhood conditions without creating an unhealthy food environment.

9. You Are Pregnant, Post-partum or Are Thinking of Becoming Pregnant

It is essential to make sure you adequately nourished before, during, and after pregnancy.

The foods we eat play such an essential role in our health, from birth through adulthood. It is never too late to make lifestyle changes to improve not only your physical health but also your mental health. Make an appointment to see a Registered Dietitian to start the year 2020 off right.

Make a Healthy Change Today!

To schedule an appointment with a Registered Dietitian, call (805) 737-5788.

Services include:

• Nutrition Therapy
• Weight Management
• Diabetes Management
• Diabetes Prevention
• Anti-inflammatory Diet
• Nutrition support
• Oncology Nutrition
• And more