Nutrition is the area that advises and clarifies the principles of healthy eating. Healthy eating is understood as the eating habits that contribute to the proper functioning of the body. Nutrition also includes food supplementation, aimed at supporting specific therapies or in cases where food is not enough to cover needs, such as, for example, in chronic and degenerative diseases or in high-performance athletes.
Overweight and underweight, constipation and chronic diarrhoea, diabetes, eating disorders, and cardiovascular diseases are among the conditions that Nutrition aims to prevent and treat. In addition, child, juvenile and adult obesity are also targets of study in this area. Nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding, diets of athletes, diet of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux are other of the many focuses of Nutrition.
Cholesterol, a substance found in all cells of the human body, and which has important natural functions, tends to increase in concentration in the blood when there is arterial disease or liver dysfunctions, such as fatty liver disease. This silent condition (which does not produce symptoms) is called hypercholesterolemia and when there is a genetic predisposition to high levels of cholesterol in the blood, it is called familial hypercholesterolemia. The nutrition and meal plan recommended by the dietitian can help control blood cholesterol levels by addressing the root causes.
Another silent condition is hyperuricemia, or the excessive concentration of uric acid in the blood. Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for developing gout and other kidney diseases. It is common among people with kidney problems and people who regularly ingest high amounts of alcohol and sugars, as they may have difficulty eliminating this substance through the urine. Uric acid accumulates in the joints, tendons, and kidneys, until it causes acute crises, which can have long-term consequences on the mobility of patients. Hyperuricemia, too, can be improved with the help of a meal plan carefully elaborated by a dietician.
Dieticians thus plays an important role in the prevention of these and other eating disorders, which can contribute to the onset of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. To this end, dieticians craft meal plan, tailored to the context of each patient, in addition to promoting the necessary food education to understand and implement the nutrition plan.
At Joaquim Chaves Saúde, you will find an experienced team to help you design a balanced meal plan, taking into account your goals and personal context.
