How Nutritional Counseling Can Help Guide You

Learning about health and nutrition can help prevent you from becoming a "medical statistic," one of the more than 93 million Americans at risk for health problems stemming from overweight and obesity. Those medical issues include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, low energy and lethargy, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and some types of cancer.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, nearly 40 percent of Americans were considered obese in 2015-2016. Although there are variations based on age, ethnicity, and socio-economic status, overweight and obesity are considered a growing national crisis that also represents a financial drain for individuals and the health-care system.

Eating well and supplementing a diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins, and minerals with the proper amount of exercise and sleep are lifestyle habits that are viewed by medical experts as an antidote to the sobering statistics.

The importance of good nutrition

Many of the chronic diseases that plague about half of Americans are related to poor diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lifestyle balance comes from eating properly, keeping active, maintaining an upbeat attitude, and lowering the risk of disease and other medical issues. Our team helps clients through an individualized personal assessment and ongoing nutritional counseling, but the basics of nutrition are easy to master.

Nova Physician Wellness Center, with locations in both Fairfax and Ashburn, Virginia, is dedicated to helping patients "think twice" about the importance of nutrition and other factors that contribute to lifelong health. 

A comprehensive wellness plan will lead to increased energy, healthy weight and disposition, fewer medical complaints, better resistance to disease and chronic health issues, and lasting well-being. 

Basic nutritional guidelines

The MyPlate tips developed by USDA emphasize the need for a healthy balance of fruits and vegetables, protein, fat, and fiber. Guidelines are based on the 2015-2020 recommendations developed every five years that are based on updated scientific research. 

Obesity puts millions of people throughout the world at risk for both physical and mental problems. But even people who maintain normal weight sometimes do not eat the right foods in the right amounts for optimum health.

Current guidelines include:

• Making fruits and vegetables half your daily food intake, with a focus on whole fruits and varied, deep-colored vegetable for maximum nutritional value;
• Making sure that whole grains constitute half your total grain consumption;
• Learning to love low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt;
• Varying the protein you eat;
• Lowering sodium, saturated fat and added sugar consumption.

The recommendations are designed as a guide to lifelong eating habits rather than as a path to quick weight loss. 

While there are some safe diet regimens to jump-start weight loss, yo-yo dieting is, in itself, a form of destructive behavior that has inherent risks. It is better to change eating habit slowly and learn the benefits of eating well rather than simply looking at the numbers on the scale.

Start now — we're here to help

To begin your journey to a better, more productive, healthier future, simply complete the online form to schedule a consultation. We're ready to help you get started on the right path!