During your last checkup, how much nutrition & health advice did your doctor give you? Chances are, little or even none!
Most appointments with Doctors last less than 15 minutes, which doesn’t leave time for a thorough Nutrition assessment. But that doesn’t mean that doctors shouldn’t discuss about the subject at all. In a checkup routine, I feel doctors should take at least 3 minutes to discuss Nutrition and dieting with patients.
However, medical doctors are not professionally trained in nutrition and diet. Hence, they have vague information to give you.
Here, we will tell you 10 things your doctor may not tell you about nutrition & health. We will give you some right information you need to know incase they don’t tell you.
10 Things Doctors May Not Tell You About Nutrition
1. Nutrition is Very Important.
To prevent the most common chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and certain cancers, eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are two of the most effective ways. People who already have these conditions, good nutrition will optimize treatment and reduce complications.
Yet, in addressing nutrition issues with patients, most physicians spend little to no time. Although doctors need to prioritize their time during frustratingly brief office visits, but giving food’s broad impact on health, spending just one to two minutes emphasizing nutrition and physical activity is feasible and much-deserved.
2. I Am Not Professionally Trained in Nutrition.
A survey conducted in 2010 shows that on average medical schools dedicate about 20 hours of student’s 4-year training to nutrition education. Much of that instruction focuses on biochemical pathways (shockingly, memorizing the steps in glucose metabolism isn’t all that useful when it comes to counseling patients on foods that can lower cholesterol).
Of recent, some organizations in the United States are now championing the issue of comprehensive nutrition education as part of doctors’ medical training. But these changes are happening way too slowly. Doctors must get up to speed on basic nutrition science and guidelines in order to offer the best care possible.
Read: Turmeric Health Benefits You May Not Know
3. There is no “Best” Diet!
Unbelievable but true! Some doctors advocate one particular diet because it has performed well in research studies or worked well for other patients (or even for themselves). They can be pretty rigid in their beliefs.
However, research shows that a multitude of different eating styles can be healthful. The one-size-fits-all-approach often backfires. Nutrition counseling should be individualized in order to make lifestyle changes sustainable.
4. Don’t Waste Your Money on that Multivitamin.
Most doctors breeze over the topic of supplements, but some may suggest taking a multivitamin as a way to fill in nutritional gaps. However, if you are a generally healthy person who eats a relatively varied diet, a multivitamin is unlikely to provide any benefit.
A growing body of research shows that a “prophylactic multivitamin” doesn’t reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, or other chronic disease in the general population.
Bottom line, when you eat good diet, fruits and vegetables daily, buying multivitamins is a waste of money.
5. Calories Is Not The Only Important Thing.
In the interest of efficiency, many physicians address nutrition and weight control using the simple mantra, “calories in, calories out.” Energy balance is indeed essential, but the quality of calories is just as important as quantity.
Choosing nutrient-dense, whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains will help you meet your micronutrient needs, improve digestive health, and feel full on fewer calories, among other benefits.
6. I Understand Losing Weight Is Not easy.
Lifestyle changes, whether losing weight, modifying eating habits, or incorporating a fitness routine, takes tremendous effort and discipline. There is no shortcut, despite how matter-of-fact your physician’s advice may be, and a little empathy from your doctor can go a long way towards building rapport and trust.
Physicians who realize the difficulties associated with healthy lifestyle and encourage and troubleshoot rather than scold their patients are more likely to achieve a better result.
7. We Need To Set Some Nutrition Goals For You.
Generally doctors may tell you to “eat more fruits and vegetables” or “eat less red meat” or “Eat less of packaged foods”, but blanket statements like that are easily forgotten or not taken serious.
A better approach is for the doctor to work with you to set 1 to 2 specific health goals to conquer before your next visit, for example, eat 3 cups of vegetables a day or swapping your afternoon snack for a heart-friendly handful of nuts. Setting a nutrition plan will be far more effective than “don’t take this” or “take that”.
8. You Should Eat More of X – Your Diet is Low in Y.
Maybe your doctor may tell you to eat more foods high in calcium, folate, iron, or fiber to help with a particular health condition. But many (understandably) don’t know which foods actually contain these nutrients in the highest amounts.
You might need to consult a reputable source or work with a registered dietitian or nutritionist to identify specific foods to increase in your diet.
Read: Benefits of Eating Fruits On Empty Stomach
9. Eating Healthy Will Improve Your Mental and Emotional Health.
Doctors tend to focus on the physiological benefits of a healthier diet, like lowering blood pressure or blood sugar. But the psychological rewards can be just as powerful.
Making smart & healthy food choices can boost mood, energy, and mental focus.
10. You Are Not Drinking Enough Water.
In serious and critical settings, doctors are laser-focused on patients’ hydration status, but they rarely ask about it during routine visits. Chronic, low-grade dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches and constipation. Also dehydration contribute to more serious problems like kidney stones and kidney disease. So make sure you’re sipping enough water and other low-cal liquids like Nozie Tea lol 😂 to produce pale, straw-colored urine.
Read: How to Flatten Pot Belly in One Week
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author
