The foundations, principles and philosophy behind holistic nutrition
29 May 2020
Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash.com
Thinking about seeing a nutritionist, and wondering about holistic nutrition? A holistic nutritionist is also sometimes called a nutritional medicine practitioner, a naturopathic nutritionist, a natural health / natural medicine practitioner or a clinical nutritionist. Let’s take a look at the foundations, principles and philosophy behind holistic nutrition – and natural medicine practice in general.
The foundations of nutrition practice
Science lies at the heart of nutrition. A good nutritionist has had thorough education and training in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and nutritional biochemistry, pathophysiology and symptomatology, pharmacology and pathology, health and lifestyle assessment, dietary analysis and planning, analysing scientific literature and evidence-based practice. These are the fundamentals of nutrition practice. However, a holistic nutritionist understands that achieving optimal health and wellbeing is not just about the science. There is a bigger picture to be considered.
The driving principles behind holistic nutrition and natural medicine
A holistic nutritionist / natural medicine practitioner observes the six principals of naturopathic medicine:
1. First, do no harm
A holistic nutritionist chooses the gentlest, most non-invasive way to assess and treat your health condition or achieve your health objectives. The practitioner chooses treatments that support the natural healing power of the body. The practitioner is educated and aware of potential safety issues such as interactions between a client’s medications and foods or nutritional supplements.
2. The healing power of nature
We each have a vital force within us that keeps us alive – an innate ability to grow and develop, respond to stimuli, reproduce and repair. A holistic nutritionist chooses treatments which stimulate and support this natural healing ability – or vitalism. The practitioner identifies and aims to remove obstacles to your health, whether they be internal or external, and reduce the risks for disease.
3. Identify and treat the causes
By conducting a 360° health assessment, including a thorough case history covering all the factors which influence health and wellbeing, a holistic nutritionist identifies linkages and patterns. The aim is to look deeper and uncover the original trigger or underlying drivers of your existing health issues, and any obstacles to your healing. A treatment plan is then developed to correct imbalances and deficiencies and support your body to heal itself.
4. Treat the whole person
Health and wellbeing – and disease – are the result of complex interactions between all aspects of a person. These aspects include your health history, family health history, nutritional status, diet, medications, lifestyle, work, relationships, life circumstances, genetics, environment, emotions, stress levels, spiritual beliefs and outlook on life. The way these aspects play out is unique for each person. A holistic nutritionist takes the necessary time to develop a thorough understanding of you as a whole person, and takes all these factors into account when conducting your holistic health assessment and developing your treatment plan.
5. Practitioner as teacher
Educating clients about the factors that influence health or create imbalances and disease is an important aspect of holistic nutrition. It is also important to explain why you may have ended up with a particular condition or symptoms and the changes you can make to improve your situation. This empowers you to make informed choices and take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing.
6. Health promotion and disease prevention
A holistic nutritionist’s role is to be proactive in improving and maintaining your health, not just reactive to your symptoms. It is to educate and support you in achieving a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is also to assess any risk factors you have for developing disease and develop a plan to minimise these risks. A holistic nutritionist will help give you control over your long-term health.
Food philosophy
For a holistic nutritionist, the central theme for the diet is wholeness – food should be eaten as close to its natural form as possible for optimal biological function. Refinement and processing results in the loss of essential vitamins, minerals and fibre, which we need in our diets. Processed foods also often contain chemical additives and preservatives which can act as toxins in the body and may interfere with the body’s internal processes. The same goes for chemical fertilisers and pesticides used in the growing of non-organic grains, fruits, vegetables and other crops, so organic is preferred wherever possible.
- World Naturopathic Federation. (2017). WNF White Paper: Naturopathic Philosophies, Principles and Theories. http://worldnaturopathicfederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WNF_White_Paper_June-2017.pdf
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