When to see a nutritionist

Do you know when you should see a nutritionist? With varying degrees of regularity, we all seek out a healthcare professional, be it an ophthalmologist, gynaecologist, dentist, physiotherapist, osteopath, among others. However, when we talk about nutrition, the majority of the population only remembers to consult a professional in the field when the intention is to lose weight.

But the demand for the services of a nutritionist doesn't have to happen just at these times or when we feel some problem related to a specific food or group of foods.

Nutritionists are professionals with a degree in Nutritional Sciences, an area of health that integrates all types of approaches with a direct or indirect impact on food and nutrition. Whether it's in the area of Collective Food and Catering (e.g. catering companies, advisory, consultancy and auditing services), Food and Nutrition Research (e.g. research centres, universities and polytechnics), Clinical Nutrition (e.g. hospital and health centres, private clinics, pharmacies, non-profit associations), Sports Nutrition and Supplementation (e.g. sports clubs, gyms, companies selling food). Community Nutrition and Public Health (e.g. town halls, public and public schools, community social solidarity centres, non-governmental organisations), Food Technology, Innovation and Marketing (e.g. food industry, development of new technological tools in the field of nutrition, food trade companies, setting up your own company) Senior Health Technician - Nutrition Branch.

Diet has a decisive impact on each of our health and quality of life.“The way Portuguese people eat is one of the main determinants of their state of health. Today, it is known that dietary habits have considerable effects on mortality: around 14% of deaths in Portugal are associated with dietary risks, including low consumption of fruit and vegetables and high intake of sugar and salt.” Alexandra Bento, President of the Order of Nutritionists

The latest National Food and Physical Activity Survey (2015) revealed that, in Portugal, the deficit in the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and legumes continues to be insufficient compared to the World Health Organization's dietary recommendations (e.g., Portuguese fruit and vegetable consumption is approximately 284g/day, when the recommended daily consumption is at least 400g).

My role as a healthcare professional in the field of clinical nutrition involves promoting health and well-being, preventing and treating illness, and prescribing and monitoring personalised dietary plans that are suitable for each individual's needs and food preferences. In every consultation, I aim to maintain a holistic and functional approach to ensure the utmost effectiveness in addressing everyone's needs.

Enriching one's diet with vegetables, as recommended by the Mediterranean Diet, with a predominance of fruit and horticultural products, is essential for reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and certain types of cancer. These diseases are increasingly prevalent in our country, and a large proportion of them are preventable. Ensuring that these diseases, which currently cause the most deaths and disabilities among the population, and all those directly or indirectly related to poor eating habits, is the daily challenge we face in consultation. Knowing today that dietary trends over the years demonstrate that consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of health through diet, could not be more gratifying for all of us as nutritionists.

Following what is considered the biggest pandemic of the 21st century, obesity, the Integrated Strategy for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (EIPAS) was launched. This strategy was launched in 2017 and aims to encourage adequate food consumption and the consequent improvement of citizens“ nutritional status, with a direct impact on the prevention and control of chronic diseases –“This is a cross-cutting approach to all areas of governance («health in all policies») in the field of nutrition in Portugal, seeking to achieve synergies, avoid negative impacts, improve the health of the population, and strengthen health equity. This strategy places Portugal in a leading position in Europe for the promotion of healthy eating.”(OMS)

At Integrativa, we want you to feel well; we work multidisciplinarily with professionals from various fields. In a nutrition consultation, your well-being is my main objective. Each person is unique in their bio-social-cultural-spiritual dimension and, as such, has specific characteristics and needs. Although I support all types of clinical cases, I have particular specialisms in the following areas:

• Overweight and Obesity;
• Nutritional Oncology;
• Autoimmune Diseases;
• Diabetes and Metabolism;
• Menopause;
• Eating Disorders;
• Maternal and child health (antenatal and postnatal, school-age feeding);
• Nutrition and Sport;

Eating healthily, re-educating eating habits, setting realistic goals and supporting each patient in a personalised way are some of the main foundations that guide my clinical practice. Helping you to eat well, find pleasure in healthy meals, discover new foods adapted especially to you and your eating preferences is our mission! The word “Diet” stays outside the consulting room because what we will work on together is not the weight of a diet, it is something designed precisely to be as light and feasible as possible, as I often say in consultations “the goal is not for the patient to adapt to my meal plan, on the contrary, I am the one who has to create and adapt a meal plan for you”.

Have you ever consulted a nutritionist? As you can see, a nutrition consultation goes beyond diets. If you'd like to know more about our approach, Clinical and Functional Nutrition, ask us in the comments or consult our website or send us an email to info@integrativa.pt.

Inês Onofre Domingues Dietitian

Nutritionist's Licence 1677N | Order of Nutritionists