Nutrition Specialist

Why is good nutrition so important?

Good nutrition ensures that your body gets all of the vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients it needs through the foods you eat. Ideally, if you follow a well-balanced diet, you’ll be able to meet your body’s nutritional needs through food alone. Having a well-balanced diet that includes good nutrient-dense foods can:

• Help stabilize your weight
• Give you more energy
• Improve your digestion
• Make it easier to recover from an illness
• Lower your cholesterol
• Reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases
• Lower your blood pressure
• Lessen your chances of getting sick

How can my family physician help me with nutrition?

As your family physician, Dr. Lafferty can help you with your entire family’s diet. After all, it can be tricky to prep meals when one person has celiac disease, while another one is a vegetarian. It’s important for every member of your family to be eating the right amount of servings from each food group. Plus if you or someone in your family has a dietary restriction, he can guide you to alternative foods, so you’re not missing out on the nutrients that you need.

Should I take dietary supplements?

Possibly. But don’t rely on over-the-counter dietary supplements as your primary sources of vitamins and minerals. Supplements, such as daily multivitamins, should only fill in gaps when you might be missing nutrients in your diet. If you have iron-deficiency anemia, for instance, you may certainly need iron and vitamin C supplements.

Because even the most seemingly harmless dietary supplement might interact with your prescription medications, though, talk with Dr. Lafferty about everything you’re taking. Sometimes it’s helpful to bring in all the bottles or make a list of them before going in for your appointment.

What if I have difficulty chewing certain foods?

Difficulty chewing is nothing to be taken lightly. Nor do you have to feel like you are limited to only a few foods. If chewing is inhibiting your nutrition intake, Dr. Lafferty can help you get to the root of the problem and get you treated. He can also provide dietary guidance to help you find other foods -- and cooking methods -- that you’ll be able to tolerate.