How Optimal Nutrition Supports Improved Health and Sustainable Weight Loss

Most of us generally understand the link between good nutrition and good health: Our bodies need an array of nutrients to stay healthy and functional. But far fewer of us really grasp the importance of optimal nutrition when it comes to staying healthy and fit.

At STL Medical Weight Loss, Joseph Moleski, DO, and Margaurette Walsh, PA-C, help patients in Chesterfield, Missouri, and McKinney, Texas, improve their eating habits and wellness with tailored nutrition plans focused on each person’s needs, lifestyles, and goals. In this post, learn why optimizing your nutrition is vital for your health and wellness goals.

Surprising facts about nutritional deficiencies

Food is everywhere — at grocery stores, restaurants, and even gas stations. And with a plethora of delivery services, getting food is easier than ever. But just because we have plenty of options when it comes to getting the foods we want, that doesn’t mean we’re getting the foods — or nutrients — we need to stay healthy.

In fact, Americans suffer from a wide array of nutritional deficiencies, largely due to poor eating habits. However, nutritional intake can also be affected by underlying health issues. For instance, chronic stress can affect digestion, affecting how the body absorbs and uses nutrients. Other conditions can also affect how your digestive system works, limiting absorption.

The CDC notes that many Americans are deficient in vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E, as well as zinc, calcium, folate, and iron. Because every cell in your body depends on specific nutrients to function, even a small decline in a single nutrient can impact your health and wellness. 

The impact of nutritional deficiencies

Over time, deficiencies can take a toll on your energy levels and your quality of life, as well as increase your risks of serious health problems, like:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Atherosclerosis
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension

You can also increase your risk of developing certain cancers without proper nutrition.

Poor nutrition can also make losing weight and maintaining weight-loss results harder. That’s because when your nutrition isn’t optimized, you can wind up with food cravings and unhealthy eating patterns, including overeating and binging on foods full of unhealthy ingredients and “empty” calories.

Furthermore, nutritional needs can vary based on age, lifestyle, and gender. These differences can make it especially challenging to ensure you get the nutrients needed to stay healthy.

How our team can help

Optimizing your nutrition is about more than simply eating a healthy diet. You need a plan tailored to your specific needs and goals to reap all the health and wellness benefits. 

During a nutrition evaluation, our team reviews your current eating habits, dietary preferences, and lifestyle, along with your physical health. We may order lab testing to look for deficiencies or underlying health issues that could be interfering with weight management or taking a toll on your diet and nutrition in other ways.

Then, we work with you to develop a healthy eating plan that’s based on your health needs, schedule and habits, and even food preferences. We also offer lifestyle suggestions and strategies to help optimize your health and your weight management goals. In some instances, we recommend nutritional supplements or weight-loss medications, like semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Custom nutrition for your unique goals

Eating right is one of the most important ways to improve your health and manage your weight, but it isn’t easy to do it alone. Our team can help you achieve your goals with a custom nutrition plan designed just for you.

To learn how we can develop a nutrition plan for your needs, call or book an appointment online with STL Medical Weight Loss at our locations in Chesterfield, Missouri, or McKinney, Texas, today.