“You are what you eat” is far from a quaint adage—it turns out that it has scientific truth as well.
What we eat impacts our mental health, and the reverse is true, too.
At In Touch Counseling Services, our knowledgeable and compassionate providers, Janelle Adams, MA, LMFT, ATR, and Brittany Butler, Certified Nutritionist, believe that nutrition is integral to mental well-being. That's why we offer nutrition counseling. Whether this is the only treatment you seek or it’s combined with our other offerings, shifting what you eat every day can bring about significant physical and emotional healing.
We noted that there is a definitive link between diet and mood, but let’s explore some deeper details.
First, it’s important to understand what nutrition counseling involves.
When you see Brittany Butler for nutrition counseling, she closely assesses your current diet. An hour-long nutrition assessment is part of our standard initial evaluation for all clients.
We consider the particulars of your current diet, genetic factors that influence your health and metabolism, and the influence of environmental factors on your nutrition.
Since we focus on highly personalized, patient-centered care, every nutrition plan we formulate is completely tailored to your nutritional needs and the specific mental and physical challenges you're facing.
When we talk to clients about why we embrace nutrition counseling, we outline several sound reasons.
We know that your diet can help or hurt your physical and emotional well-being.
Eating a balanced, nutrient-dense diet helps prevent or manage serious health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
Your nutrition counselor’s recommendations can also address anxiety and depression, help you improve your ability to focus, and actually support your brain’s healthy functioning.
If you’re struggling with losing unwanted pounds, you’re not alone — according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over 30% of Americans are overweight, and over 42% are obese. This increases your risk for many health emergencies, from cancer to stroke.
Engaging in nutrition counseling can help you set and achieve your weight loss goals so you can lower your risk for serious health conditions, feel better, and look fabulous (in addition to the health benefits of weight loss, your self-confidence can soar when you’re at a healthy weight).
Getting professional guidance for weight loss—instead of following a crash diet or the latest nutritional fad—is the way to go.
We can’t underestimate the importance of having an ally as you set out to become more nutritionally aware and change your diet for the better. Continuous help with tracking your goals and staying mindful about them is crucial.
Together with your In Touch Counseling Service provider, you can discuss your evaluation and what areas you want to address with your diet. They’re not only a nutritional expert in the clinical sense, they’re your biggest cheerleader.
We realize that changing how you eat is no small task, and we’re with you every step of your journey to wellness.
We’re not kidding when we say that what you eat affects so many parts of your life and health. Here are just a few:
Additionally, we offer food sensitivity testing, which helps your provider better fine-tune your nutritional plan so you can avoid foods that are problematic to you specifically.
Excellent nutrition is a key building block of a strong immune system.
If your diet is rich in micronutrients (such as vitamins and minerals), fiber, and antioxidants, for example, your body will be much more prepared to fight disease than if you’re not focusing enough on fruits and veggies, lean proteins, nuts and seeds, and other healthy options.
In other words, if you’re hitting the drive-thru or relying on frozen food most nights, your immune response won’t be as sharp as it could be.
We’re dedicated to helping you find the ideal nutrition plan and make informed choices. Armed with these tools, your body can perform and function at its best, and your mental health can flourish despite the inevitable challenges that life throws at us.
Contact our Camas office at 360-953-8740 to schedule your nutritional evaluation, or request online.
