What is Diet Therapy?
As the saying goes, "You are what you eat." Diet therapy takes this saying to heart and provides people with the right diet for their needs. Diet therapy has been known to improve the symptoms of many ailments--whether the illness is acute, chronic or critical--and is used to promote better health in general, even if a person isn't technically sick. Diet therapy is often considered a complementary form of alternative medicine, though you don't necessarily need a doctor to help you eat well.
Function
Naturally, when a person is sick, she should consume only food that promotes healing and lessens discomfort. Diet therapy is an effective method of healing, especially when utilized as a complementary method of care. Diet therapy is used for people who are trying to increase or decrease their body weight, have a sensitive digestion system that may be prone to allergies, who may not be able to digest certain foods, are trying to produce specific effects in their body (like regulating blood sugar), or are trying to overcome vitamin or mineral deficiencies. For instance, an anemic person will be advised to eat a diet high in iron. A medical practitioner will outline which foods are high in iron and make sure the patient is eating an adequate amount of these foods a day.
Types
Diet therapy can be as basic as outlining which foods to eat and avoid, or it may follow a prescribed method, like following an Ayurvedic or macrobiotic diet. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian practice that works to prevent disease and rejuvenate the body. Ayurvedic principles treat every part of the body, mentally and physically, through diet and meditation. Another diet, called macrobiotics, is often recommended for people suffering from cancer or other chronic diseases because it emphasizes eating low-fat, high-fiber food that is wholesome and minimally processed. In general, diet therapy stresses that patients eat food that is fresh, natural and balanced with a variety of vegetables, whole grains and fruit.
Prevention/Solution
The National Cancer Institute conducted a study showing that 90 percent of cancer in humans can be attributed to environmental causes. Food may be one of these causes. To prevent illness and boost the immune system, eat a diet containing plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Reduce consumption of saturated and unsaturated fats and ditch caffeine and alcohol as much as possible.
Effects
Food has a direct effect on well-being. For instance, studies published in such scientific publications as The Lancet and Science have found a link between children eating a diet high in chemically processed foods and having lowered attention spans. Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) are encouraged to eat a natural diet and abstain from petroleum-based additives and food containing artificial food coloring.
To combat depression, patients are encouraged to eat one serving of pasta a day, seek foods high in essential fatty acids, and limit fat to 30 percent of the daily diet. Caffeine, refined sugar and alcohol have been known to contribute to depression and should be avoided.
History
Since ancient times, people realized that food changes the body's ecology. Certain food remedies were devised to treat a host of problems. Limes were used to prevent scurvy, yogurt was used to prevent thrush and yeast infections, and warm milk was used to promote sleep. Even though humans have come a long way with technology, there is no substitute for a good diet and many of these ancient remedies are still used today.
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