Dietetics
A dietitian is a specialist who helps healthy and ill people develop appropriate nutritional habits.
In which cases should we consult a dietitian?
It is worth visiting a dietitian in the following life situations or diseases:
- Diabetes, insulin resistance, reduced glucose tolerance
- PCOS, i.e. polycystic ovary syndrome
- Overweight or malnutrition
- Cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, high cholesterol)
- Food allergy and intolerance
- Gluten-related diseases
- Complaints caused by milk consumption (milk protein allergy, lactose sensitivity, etc.)
- Histamine intolerance
- SIBO, i.e. small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Diseases of the stomach (e.g. gastric ulcer, reflux disease)
- Intestinal diseases (e.g. Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
- Other digestive complaints (bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea)
- Planning a diet in pregnancy
- Pancreatic diseases
- Liver dieases
- Bile diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Cancerous diseases
Currently, we do not deal with sports dietetics or dietary care for children.
The work of dietetians involves many different specialties, therefore the doctors who refer you to a dietetitian can also work in many fields, including: surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, diabetology, endocrinology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, cardiorology, nephrology, gynecology, proctology, rheumatology.
What happens during a dietary consultation?
- Taking a nutritional anamnesis: we ask the patient about their lifestyle, habits, illnesses, and current complaints.
- Anthropometric tests: height and weight measurement, BMI calculation, body fat percentage measurement.
- Dietary diary analysis: it is very useful if patients bring a dietary diary of at least three to five days, or even longer in the case of gastroenterological complaints, where the symptoms are also written down. Even in the absence of this, we go through eating patterns and habits, but a diary gives a much more accurate picture.
- Advice on the recommended diet: selection of raw materials, cooking technologies, food ordering, food supplements, exercise, discussion of other lifestyle habits – cosidering the client’s circumstances to make the transition as smooth as possible.
What should be included in the dietary diary?
- Time of the meal
- Name of food (as far as we can, accurately describe the ingredients)
- Amount of food (if we know, we can measure it, if not, we can write it down, for example, the size of a large plate, the size of a fist, etc.)
- Who prepared the given food (homemade or ordered, etc.)
- Symptoms (if you have any complaints, describe their date, type, strength)