(732) 222-2219

Clinical Nutrition

Our team of clinicians collaborates to develop personalized, evidence-based nutritional protocols to overcome specific challenges and help you restore and maintain your good health.

Dr. Coetzee leads the clinical nutrition programs at Natural Healthcare Center

What Is Clinical Nutrition?

Clinical nutrition is the scientific study of the nutrients your body needs to function and how the food you eat impacts your health and overall well-being. A clinical nutritionist analyzes not only the amount of nutrients you consume, but how the body processes, stores, and eliminates these nutrients. 

At Natural Healthcare Center, we follow a functional medicine approach to clinical nutrition, an evidence-based model of care that addresses the root causes of disease, which are often complex and different for each individual.

The bad news is that the American diet is largely inflammatory and toxic. Poor dietary choices, and poor lifestyle choices in general, have led to the chronic illness epidemic in our country. The good news is that conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease can be prevented or even reversed to improve your quality of life. 

A Collaborative Team Approach to Clinical Nutrition

At Natural Healthcare Center, you’ll benefit from the collective knowledge of our team of doctors and nutritionists and a process closely resembling that of a major research hospital. 

You’ll meet with a nutritionist for 60 minutes to discuss your diet, symptoms, health history, health goals, and any concerns you may have. We’ll also review any medications and lab work from a nutritional perspective and perform a dietary analysis, a nutritionally focused physical exam, and body composition testing and analysis. Functional testing is recommended if necessary to assess gut microbiome health, nutrition status, neurocognitive health, and nutrigenomics (how nutrients and diet affect gene expression). At the same time, we’ll research the latest scientific literature related to your condition.

We will analyze:

  • How your body rids itself of toxins
  • Regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters
  • Immune system function
  • Inflammatory responses
  • Digestion and absorption of nutrients
  • The health of the digestive tract
  • Structural integrity
  • Psychological and spiritual equilibrium
  • How you produce energy

Based on all data gathered through testing and research, our team will develop a personalized, evidence-based treatment protocol designed to help you achieve your short-term and long-term health goals. This information will be explained in layman’s terms so you understand what we’re recommending and why. You’ll also receive individualized nutritional counseling and educational resources as we monitor your progress and support you on your journey. 

We go through this process for every single individual.

This is what we mean by a collaborative team approach to nutrition. Rather than having a single nutritionist recommending standard protocols, you’ll have an entire team in your corner, working together to care for you as an individual and achieve the best possible outcome.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Clinical Nutrition?

In a perfect world, disease prevention through proper nutrition would be the focus. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize how food affects their health until something bad happens. The key is to make permanent lifestyle changes that allow you to restore and maintain balance and feel your best. Here is a small sampling of conditions that can be treated with clinical nutrition.

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Chronic musculoskeletal pain
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Intestinal permeability
  • Celiac disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Microscopic and ulcerative colitis
  • Eating disorders
  • Immune system disorders
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Women’s health issues
  • Pregnancy issues
  • Recovery from surgery
  • Autism, ADD and ADHD
  • Mental health disorders

How Does Clinical Nutrition Fit into Our Integrative Model of Care?

Developed by Natural Healthcare Center Clinical Director Dr. James Proodian, DC, CCSP and Director of Clinical Nutrition Dr. Oscar Coetzee, PhD, the clinical nutrition program follows the functional medicine model and addresses the whole person. Patients who are treated at Natural Healthcare Center are often referred to the clinical nutrition department to determine how food, supplements, medication, and genetics are affecting their health.

In fact, patients who haven’t been able to get answers about their condition after seeing multiple doctors and specialists regularly come to Natural Healthcare Center. Our team is often able to connect the dots in ways the traditional medical establishment cannot.

Did You Know…

Many historians believe the scientific study of nutrition began in the 18th century when Antoine Lavoisier, the French chemist who gave oxygen its name and is widely considered the father of modern chemistry, suggested there was a link between food and metabolism.

Thiamine, part of the B complex family, was the first vitamin to be isolated and chemically defined in 1926. This led to a half century of research that focused on single nutrient deficiency diseases.

Recommended Dietary Allowances were introduced in the 1940s and listed the minimum amount of a nutrient you need each day to prevent a deficiency. They were later replaced with Dietary Reference Intakes, which list the minimum amount you need to stay healthy and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you want to get answers about a chronic condition, or you just want to know which foods and supplements you should be consuming to stay healthy, contact Natural Healthcare Center today. You can schedule an appointment with our clinical nutrition department, or you can meet with Dr. James Proodian for a complimentary consultation, which includes a review of your health records, discussion of your health history, and recommendations to address your specific condition. 

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Locations
Flagship Office

10 West End Court
Long Branch, NJ 07740
P: (732) 222-2219
F:
(732) 229-8863
Monday: 8AM-7PM
Tuesday: 8AM–7PM
Wednesday: 8AM–7PM
Thursday: 9AM–3PM
Friday: 8AM–7PM
Saturday: 9AM–1PM
Sunday: Closed

Middletown Office

9 Leonardville Rd
Middletown, NJ 07748
P: (732) 671-9005
F:
(732) 671-9006
Monday: 9AM–8PM
Tuesday: 10-3PM
Wednesday: 9AM–8PM
Thursday: 9AM–8PM
Friday: 9AM–6PM
Saturday: 10AM–1PM
Sunday: Closed