Food and health are connected to health and wellbeing, which led to the saying, “You are what you eat.” With that in mind, medical researchers have frequently explored the connection between nutrition and disease prevention. Medical research clearly indicates that cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes are among the chronic diseases linked to eating processed foods. By eating more nutritious foods—and replacing sugary and salty foods—you can improve your diet, which may enhance your health outcomes.
Diet vs. Dieting
What’s the difference between diet and dieting? Your diet entails what you eat and drink, while dieting is a method of controlling that intake—usually with the goal of losing weight. At Infinity Medical Clinic, Dr. Stemmerman prefers enhancing the nutrients in your diet as a lifestyle change rather than dieting, which is temporary and often fails. Plus, cutting out foods completely, as is the case with certain fad diets, rarely results in long-term success.
With a focus on nutrient-dense foods to replace processed foods, most people will feel fuller on fewer calories. The added fiber of a diet heavy on vegetables and fruits can naturally help with weight loss as well as reducing inflammation—another factor associated with chronic diseases. A nutrient-dense diet can be customized to you and your tastes.
Benefits of a Nutrition-First Approach
Whatever your current health picture looks like, what you eat can result in feeling better and losing weight. A nutrition-first approach can also enhance:
- Gut health & microbiome
- Hair & skin
- Mental health
- Joint mobility
As you might guess, improving your nutrition entails more than eating—much more! Enhancing your diet is a lifestyle change that involves when you eat, how you prepare food, and what food you buy. Lifestyle changes like diet modification can be challenging without guidance, which is why Dr. Stemmerman provides physician-assisted nutrition programs and medical weight loss, when appropriate. Based on medical tests and risk assessments for disease factors, she makes personalized plans to help prioritize nutrition in your diet. As an independent physician, she can offer a patient-centric approach that is unique to you.
To learn more about the connection between nutrition and disease prevention, contact Infinity Medical Clinic for an appointment.
