Why should you hire a nutritionist?

As you know, there is an abundance of information out there about what we should and shouldn't do when it comes to feeding our bodies. With all of this conflicting information found on the internet, it can become difficult to know which direction is the right one to choose. This is where nutritionists or dietitians can come in to help. They simplify the concept of dieting by accurately assessing your needs and providing you with professional recommendations based on your specific needs.

The first thing you should know when hiring a dietitian or nutritionist is that you'll go far beyond fad diets (like keto, sugar-free diets, etc.). Something you may not expect is that dietitians and nutritionists won't recommend the popular diets or new trends you see on the internet. They are health professionals, backed up by evidence-based science, here to help you make lifelong, sustainable changes that won't include diet cycling.

Along with exercise, nutrition can have a significant impact on one's health status, including; weight loss, weight gain, heart health, muscle building, mobility and joint health, digestion, and much more.

Here are a few reasons why you should hire a nutritionist:

You are looking for a personalized and sustainable nutrition program

A dietitian or nutritionist won't provide you with a cookie-cutter program. They will make sure to understand your needs and goals, then provide an individualized plan that works for you. They will take the time to review this with you and set follow-ups to make sure that these changes feel realistic and sustainable for you. They will also make any adjustments along the way and consider your health situation at all times. Their goal is for you to make lifelong, realistic changes to your health. They don't want you to fall into the diet cycling trap - which is why they won't try to sell you the trendy diets you keep hearing about time.

You are looking to gain a better relationship with food

If you are telling yourself: "I shouldn't be eating this", "I'll be better tomorrow", "I can't control myself when I have junk food in the house", "I should exercise, I ate way too much today". Then perhaps you need to take a closer look at your relationship with food. Dietitians and nutritionists are here to help you regain a healthy relationship with food so you can stop the negative self-talk. They will explain how to properly nourish your body and help you understand how to obtain what your body is asking for. No restrictions, no binging, no food guilt involved. If this sounds like something you've been struggling with, reach out to your doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian for help.

You are looking to prevent health problems in the future

Food is our principal source of fuel. It provides us with the appropriate amount of energy we require to work, think, play, move, and everything in between. If you are feeling low energy, or simply want to adopt a healthier lifestyle, adjusting your eating habits can have a significant impact. Seeking a dietitian or nutritionist could benefit you by adopting healthy habits into your daily routine and even preventing illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, osteoporosis (bone health), diverticulitis, colitis, etc. If you want to maximize your health, you can do so by seeking out to a dietitian or nutritionist.

You are looking to become more active and lose or gain weight.

We all know that a big part of losing or gaining weight is how you eat. How we nourish our bodies can sometimes be overbearing and cause weight loss/gain or in other serious instances, eating disorders. Over-eating or under-eating can both have significant negative impacts on our bodies. It is important to note that losing or gaining weight can be extremely sensitive and difficult to achieve for certain individuals. Every person has different needs and these should be assessed on a case by case basis by a health professional. It is important that if you choose to become more active with a specific goal in mind to gain or lose weight, to seek advice from a dietitian or nutritionist along with a certified personal trainer to help you attain your physical goals.