What is Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)?    

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is the science of proper diet, lifestyle strategies and therapeutic nutrient intervention to correct nutritional insufficiencies, promote optimal health, and prevent, manage, or correct medical problems. Medical nutrition therapy optimizes nutritional health in order to enhance medical care and treatment. Functional lab testing is often a part of medical nutrition therapy and is helpful in determining nutrient insufficiencies. This treatment can range from changes in diet to providing specialized therapies such as intravenous or tube feeding.

What health conditions can be helped with Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Many medical conditions and illnesses can be managed, improved, and even corrected by a specific diet. Medical Nutrition Therapy can enhance the medical treatment of certain health conditions and diseases. For instance, people undergoing surgery can recover sooner if they have the adequate nutritional support for healing. MNT is not a cure for terminal illness but in some cases can contribute to the success of the medical treatment and the quality of life for the terminally ill.

For health conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension or high blood pressure, and non-insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus most physicians will recommend that the individual try to reverse the problem with diet and lifestyle changes before prescribing medication or other forms of treatment. There are situations where an individual is unable to make dietary changes necessary to manage their condition or the illness is caused by genetic inheritance or injury. In these cases dietary management alone is not sufficient to correct the damaging effects of the illness. These cases require medication or other medical intervention to control the problem. Always consult with a medical specialist for the healthiest treatment options available.

Why is Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) important?

As you know carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fluids are all vital to organ function and maintaining life. Because the modern convenience diet tends to be "unhealthy", learning the real facts from a registered dietitian/nutritionist can provide the knowledge you need to make the right food choices and maintain optimal health.

Many health care experts recommend that people follow a healthy diet, maintain an ideal bodyweight, and exercise to help prevent the onset or progression of disease, disorders or syndromes.

If you have a personal or family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and/or if you are concerned about your overall health, then you may want to learn more about ways medical nutrition therapy can meet your health needs.

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