Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an important part of comprehensive health care, enabling better treatment and management of a wide range of conditions contributing to improved health and overall wellness. Treating the body as a whole, licensed nutritionists and dietitians seek to address lifestyle and dietary behaviors that promote health and prevent and/or manage an existing condition. Nutrition therapy is a systematic approach based on scientific evidence and proven best practice methods.
Many diseases and conditions can be managed, delayed, or even prevented with a proper diet, tailored to an individual’s needs based on genetic history, medical history, physical examination, assessment of lifestyle behaviors, and dietary history. Some conditions can be caused by poor diet, either through nutrient deficiencies, such as malnutrition, or through excessive exposure to risky dietary behaviors, which interact with certain metabolic factors to cause disease and/or poor health and a reduced quality of life. Nutrition therapy is effective and helpful in managing an array of health conditions and disease states.
