Holistic and Biomedical Nutrition: An Introduction

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We’re pleased to welcome Roni Enten, MS, CNS to the Live in the Now team of expert writers! She specializes in holistic and biomedical nutrition. Read on to learn about her health philosophy.

It’s tough not to notice that we are living in an age of rampant chronic disease — and the conventional allopathic medical approach to health is no longer sufficient to keep these major killers at bay. The longstanding approach of “treating the symptoms” has not been enough to keep us truly well and as a result, a new approach which seeks out the root of chronic diseases and focuses on wellness has entered our collective health consciousness. It is my personal belief that this holistic approach will not only lead to better outcomes and lower overall health care costs, but that it is a big piece of the path to a happier life.

Why Holistic and Biomedical Nutrition?

For me, the concept of holistic health is simple: it is about treating the whole person, body, mind and spirit, as a unique individual. Optimal health and wellness are best achieved by treating all of the person and by respecting the biochemical uniqueness of each individual. I help my clients attain wellness through a healthy lifestyle (not pursuing perfection!), and focusing on what is most comfortable for the person so to achieve the best long-term results. I firmly believe that there is no one healthy diet that is good for everyone, and that no one diet that will remain optimal for a person for his or her whole life.

My holistic nutrition practice is based upon whole, unrefined foods such as grains and legumes, vegetables and fruits, and nuts and seeds at the foundation, and animal foods sparingly. Nutritional supplements are used, when necessary, to nourish, rebuild and balance the complete person.

Holistic nutrition also includes an awareness of how our dietary choices are connected with the current condition of the body, which is the result of our emotions and environment with a focus is on prevention as the best way to maintain health and wellness long-term. Tools such as stool, urine and blood testing can be used to assess a person’s biochemical imbalances, which are often the deeper clues to where the root causes lie. Special diets and supplements are also utilized and integrated as needed to meet the unique needs of the individual.

The Gastro-Intestinal Tract as the Seat of Health

I believe that in most cases, the seat of good health begins with a vital and healthy digestive tract. More often than not, clients come to me with digestion and absorption that are significantly compromised; it is known that a gut with compromised integrity or with imbalanced flora can allow for the growth of intestinal pathogens, causing poor digestion & absorption, and contribute to inflammation, and other symptoms, such as compromised body detoxification pathways.

My young autistic spectrum clients are some of the greatest examples of the role of the GI tract in overall health. Though many people are not aware that digestive problems are prevalent in young people with autism, GI problems are often the first and biggest hurdle in their recovery. Many ASD children who come to me have never had a normal bowel movement in their life, having always suffered from diarrhea or constipation or both, and been told by their doctors that it would go away as they grew. In fact, lab testing often reveals a disturbance of intestinal flora, overgrowth of parasites, yeast and bacteria, and high levels of inflammation and incredibly, I often find that once we tackle these digestive problems and heal the gut, many of the symptoms that we call autistic are dramatically reduced.

Or take the example of an adult with chronic digestive problems, such as alternating constipation with diarrhea. While many gastrointestinal doctors will diagnose the aforementioned symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and prescribe a drug to treat it, I often find that these symptoms can be resolved by addressing food allergens or sensitivities or through the rebalancing of the gut flora. Emotional issues are also a common contributor to digestive disturbances and are a great sign for many of us to take a step back and assess not only our physical health, but our emotional and spiritual health, as well.

The Role of Nutritional Supplements

If whole foods and a healthy gut are the basics of my health philosophy, nutritional supplementation surely comes next. One of the questions I am often asked is whether it is necessary to take vitamins and other nutritional supplements, even if one eats a balanced diet. The truth is that while the notion that our food can provide us with the nutrition we require may be correct in theory, the intake of optimal nutrition extends well beyond the consumption of a nutritious breakfast, packing a balanced lunch for work and serving a wholesome dinner in the evening.

Even if we manage to overcome the hurdles of food preparation within an extraordinarily busy lifestyle, it is also important to look at some other factors in optimal nutrition. For example, take a look at the source of your food. Where was it grown? Has it been sprayed with pesticides? Has it been fed growth hormones? Picked before ripening and shipped for 10 days across the country? Has it been pre-cut and left out for days? Was it grown in soil that’s been long devoid of trace minerals? All of these questions are key points when considering our nutritional intake from a healthy diet.

Another point to consider is if we can truly know what our nutritional requirements are at any given time. Exposure to environmental toxins, internal inflammation and genetic differences all alter our individual nutritional needs and the results of individual biochemical testing often serve as a real eye opener for our true needs.

Finally, I often ask my clients if they are eating mindfully. Taking the time to tune in to our body’s true desires for food, such as the type of food, and when to start and stop eating makes a big difference in health and wellness. As you can see, although supplements may not be necessary for everyone all the time, most people do need some extra help in the nutrition department, and supplements are often great tools for detoxifying and rebalancing an unbalanced biochemistry — all critical to great health and wellness.

For more information on holistic health or to schedule an appointment, visit www.ronienten.com.

Tags: digestive health, holistic nutrition, natural alternatives, natural heath