Nutrition is more than just a means of energy for the body. Nutrition can serve as medicine to the body. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Improved nutrition through knowledge and healthy food choices can give the body the tools it needs to heal. Nutritional interventions afford fewer complications and side effects than some pharmaceutical treatments and are often more beneficial.
Nutrition is a cornerstone of naturopathic healing. What we put into our mouths has a profound effect on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” Naturopathic doctors receive extensive training in clinical nutrition. They understand that proper nutrition is the basis of health. Sometimes changing one’s diet can be enough to improve one’s health status. Other times it is necessary to supplement those dietary changes by providing nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and other co-factors. Some people require supplementation because of difficulties absorbing nutrients, lack of enzymes to properly digest and break down the foods, hereditary factors, or simply increased need of certain nutrients due to disease status. Clinical nutrition involves using vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to help heal and prevent disease. Nutrients can be given as oral preparations, such as capsules or tablets, as well as in injectible forms, such as IV’s or intramuscular injections.
Dr Jen Gentry can assist you in identifying food allergies and sensitivities, balancing blood sugar problems, and using nutrition to address many health concerns, including weight loss, anxiety and chronic illnesses. Nutrition, through diet, supplementation, and even intravenous therapies, can have a significant impact on your current health, today and long-term. She will also create an individual plan with specific dietary recommendations. She is skilled in teaching you about foods and specific diets such as elimination diets, cleansing diets, anti-inflammatory diets, gluten-free diets, along with safe and effective fasting programs.
Intravenous and Vitamin Therapy
Nutrition levels can be affected by stress, diet, chemical exposure, alcohol, prescription drugs and impaired circulation. Even when a person feels perfectly healthy, their tissues and organs may be depleted of his/her required nutrient levels. Nutritional deficiencies cause disease and illness. Many people are not receiving the optimal nutrient intake to live a healthy and balanced life.
In addition to eating a well balanced diet, nutrients can be used therapeutically in the form of nutritional supplements, as well as, used intravenously or injected into the muscle for quick absorption. The administration of nutrients directly into the bloodstream bypasses the digestive system for rapid absorption of nutrients into your body allowing the cells to more efficiently detoxify and regenerate all of the tissues, organs and glands of your body. The therapy can restore and improve health performance; improve circulation, the metabolism and the immune system, and naturally relax and detoxify the body.
For example, studies show, vitamin B12 injected into the muscle can be helpful for fatigue and neuropathy. Intramuscular Vitamin B6 in commonly used for treatment of morning sickness. A vitamin cocktail, know as a “Meyers Cocktail” can be used for adrenal fatigue, anxiety, and to improve immune function. During Intravenous Vitamin C Therapy, high doses of Vitamin C are introduced into the blood stream. Research indicates that increasing Vitamin C levels can lead to anabolic processes, organ function improvement, and immune system enhancement.
The application of the nutrients for therapeutic purposes in determined by your Naturopathic physician. This type of therapy can provide safe and effective treatment of many disorders.