Nutritional Medicine
“Nutritional Medicine” refers to vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutrients that are prescribed based on laboratory tests and physical exams. Nutritional Medicine is as effective as allopathic medication without the many harmful side effects that synthetic drugs can cause.
The supplementation formulas the Institute uses are prescribed and regulated based upon your exams. Vitamins and minerals play an essential role in the body’s normal metabolism, growth, and development. When essential nutrients are not at optimal levels; disease, general well-being and unhealthy aging become prevalent.
For example, while a vitamin is not a source of energy by itself, it can provide the key the body needs to unlock energy stored in food. Some vitamins and minerals work together, such as the mineral zinc and vitamin A. Zinc enables the body to use vitamin A to promote good vision. Not getting enough vitamin A may lead to night blindness, a condition in which the eyes have trouble adjusting to darkness. Zinc supplementation may help prevent this condition by helping the body use vitamin A. Another example is calcium and vitamin D. Calcium, which is very important in bone and heart health, is more readily absorbed if vitamin D is also present.
In addition to correcting deficiencies with the help of regulated supplementation, we help educate and guide patients on healthy diet plans, regular exercise, and a positive mental attitude. We firmly believe in empowering the patient with knowledge to increase their health and vitality.
Research continues to find more about how individual nutrients can help prevent and treat disease, are also discovering what whole foods may allow nutrients to work together. For example, antioxidants like beta carotene, selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C, appear to protect against the development of heart disease, cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases.
Our relationship between our metabolism of food and the process of breathing was discovered in the 18th century by a French chemist named Lavoisier. By the early 20th century, scientists found prevention of diseases such as beri beri, rickets, scurvy and pellagra with intake of certain food groups. By 1912, the Polish chemist Casmir Funk had found a substance (vitamin B1) that actually prevented beri beri and named it “vitamine.” Soon after it was discovered that these diseases were caused by the lack of specific nutrients – vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin B3 (niacin).
Today we now know through studies that nutrients can help prevent and treat disease. In addition we are learning when nutrients are combined and work together they can prevent heart disease, cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases.
By knowing your current state of health through laboratory examinations and prescribed nutritional medicine, you are taking an important step to keep yourself healthy and prevent disease.