Optimum Nutrition for Optimum Health

Optimum health is more than just the absence of disease or ill health. It is a state of profound wellbeing, physically, mentally and emotionally. Many diseases are linked, at least in part, to poor nutrition. In order for our bodies and minds to function optimally we have to provide them with the correct nutrients. Just as we choose the correct type of fuel for our cars, we should choose the best fuel for out bodies. Most of us realise that a ‘good diet’ is important for our health. But just what is a ‘good diet’

There is no ‘one fits all’ diet. We all have individual requirements for nutrients, based on our genetic make-up, our environment and our lifestyles. The aim of nutritional therapy is to establish these requirements, and to identify and correct biochemical imbalances in our bodies which may lead to ill health. Nutritional therapy can help you increase your energy levels, enhance your physical and mental performance, and boost your immunity. Conditions which respond well to nutritional therapy include irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders, skin conditions such as eczema and acne, PMS, mood swings, depression, headaches/migraines and poor weight control.

Written by Dr Karin Elgar

Following a long-term interest in the ways that our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing can be affected by the food we eat, Karin completed a three year course in nutritional therapy at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. Prior to becoming a nutritional therapist, she completed a PhD in physiology and then worked in the healthcare industry for eight years. Through this she gained an in-depth understanding of the biochemical processes involved in our bodies’ functioning and in the development of disease. She is registered with the British Association for Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and is available for consultations at the Body & Mind Therapy Centre, Mossley, Tel 01457 835491