There is nothing to worry about seeing a nutritionist. Nutrition counselling may never be like having a massage, but it doesn't have to be torture as well. A good nutrition consultation should not make you feel like a simple lecture about what you should be exactly doing. It should not make you think that you are being judged or scolded about your eating habits. You only need to listen carefully and understand where you are right now regarding your diet and lifestyle and how to work on it to achieve your goal. Nutritional counselling can be done by a certified nutrition expert or a registered RD, or a dietitian. Both of them are qualified to create action plans that help individuals adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Who can Benefit from Nutritional Counseling?
Several people can benefit from talking with a certified nutritionist for a lot of reasons. Some of these benefits include a complete diet overhaul, looking for ways to manage a medical condition, getting inspiration for healthy recipes, and fine-tuning food choices. It's a better idea to schedule a consultation with a nutritionist or dietitian after a check-up with your primary healthcare provider. It can help you identify if certain conditions can be addressed with proper nutrition, such as blood pressure issues or elevated cholesterol or blood sugar.
Some patients consider a nutrition consultation to learn more about their choices for food and how it affects their overall health. Others end up in nutritional counseling to get expert's suggestions. Below are some of the conditions that can benefit you specifically from dietary purposes.
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Allergies
- Diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Celiac disease
- Obesity or overweight
- Pregnancy
What to Expect During Your First Appointment
In nutritional counseling, mostly you will talk about your goals, reasons, and objectives for wanting to see a dietitian or nutritionist. This professional will review your medical history first, including the supplements and medications you are currently taking. Then they would want to know your lifestyle to identify a sense of your stress levels, energy levels, gastrointestinal function, sleep patterns, and exercise. It's useful for you to write down everything you ate 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. With that guidance, the nutritionist can start discussing the dietary options, cooking habits, eating trouble spots like late-night snacking or skipping breakfast. Based on this information, they can develop an initial action plan to help you begin eating healthier meals.
How Much Will it Cost
The cost of nutritional counseling depends on where you live, but the typical cost per session runs about $125. More often, the services are not covered by health insurance, but it's worth talking to your insurance provider to see whether nutritional counseling can be included in your plan. This procedure can be a very cost-effective investment in your long-term health goals. So, no matter how much it will cost you, it will be a great advantage on your part by improving your health and lifestyle.
