What is Nutritional Medicine?

: nutritional medicine is the science of using foods and nutrients, as medicine in order to prevent disease and promote optimal well-being.

Through a holistic approach, nutritional medicine investigates the relationship between the nutrients we eat, environmental factors and disease.  It focuses on using food as “medicine” to correct nutritional deficiencies, imbalances, inflammation or dysfunction and achieve optimal wellness.

Nutrients are the building blocks of our physical body. Although each person differs in terms of their genetics and physical makeup, we all require the correct balance of foods, macro and micronutrients to remain healthy. How well our body processes foods, absorbs nutrients, detoxifies and expel wastes is dependent upon how healthy we are.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” hearkens back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. This quote, though thousands of years old, acknowledges the importance of healthy eating and how the nutrients in various foods have healing properties".

Hippocrates 440BC

What are nutrients?

Nutrients are the basic materials we consume required to sustain life. Nutrients are involved in all bodily functions and processes and can be broken into:

Macro nutrients - protein, carbohydrates and fats, and
Micro nutrients including:

  • vitamins: which regulate metabolism and assist in processes to release energy from food,
  • enzymes: these micro nutrients are vital for our body’s processes and behave as activators and catalysts for the release of energy,
  • minerals: integral for the formation of blood, bone, healthy nerve function and bodily fluids,
  • amino acids: the building blocks of protein forming muscle, fats, enzymes, hydrocarbons and water. 80% of amino acids are produced by our liver while 20% are must be obtained from our diet, and
  • water accounts for approximately 70% of our body, is involved in all processes and essential for life.

Environmental Factors

In addition to the food we eat, our nutritional status is also impacted by environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to heavy metals, fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic chemicals such as pharmaceutical and recreational drugs.

Many people suffer from sensitivities, allergies and intolerances from food additives, preservatives and colourings and their impact on health and wellbeing needs to be investigated. Chronic bacterial and viral infections can disturb our internal environment as can exposure to mould. Disturbed sleep, psychological stress and social isolation can also reduce our ability to cope and lead to ill-health.

Exposure to these types of environmental pollutants and stresses causes excessive production of free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an unpaired electron. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other molecules, resulting in beneficial or harmful oxidation. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body and has been shown to be the root cause of over 70 chronic degenerative diseases.

ALL Naturopath uses a multi-faceted approach involving:

  • Optimising your diet so it provides an abundance of nutrients

  • Boosting your immune system

  • Improving your gut health

  • Reducing exposure to environmental toxins

  • Enhancing your body’s ability to perform detoxification and waste processes

  • Balancing your hormones

  • Treating any chronic viral and bacterial infections

  • Stress management

  • Improving sleep

  • Encouraging regular exercise

How can we help?

  • Naturopathy Consultation
  • Nutritional Medicine Consultation
  • Herbal Medicine Therapy
  • Dietary Analysis
  • Iridology Consultation and Report
  • Diagnostic Testing
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