The Role Of Diet For Good Health

There are various modes of treatment, each aimed at making patients disease-free. Over time, public preferences have shifted. For example, in Nepal, there's a history of requesting campaigns with Dhami and Jhakri to refer patients to hospitals when their treatments are not successful. Each method has its strengths and is often combined with others for the best patient outcomes, depending on illness and patient preferences.

 Similarly, today's hospitals and doctors have become the central powerhouse of patient care, but history shouldn’t repeat itself like in the past. Recognising the value of dietitians as an essential mode of treatment. Dietitians should be warmly welcomed as they offer specialised care, often more effective than medication for certain patients. Diet is much more than just fuel for bodies, we shouldn’t have to forget that it has the potential to act as medicine, preventing disease, treating various conditions, and the fact that consuming excessively leads to negative health impacts, just like clinical medicine. Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements fall under the expertise of dietitians, while medication prescriptions belong to doctors. The public may still be confused about who to consult for diet and supplements. The government and stakeholders must clarify this distinction and enforce strict regulations, ensuring that supplements are not consumed without a dietitian's prescription. The government should conduct campaign to make people aware of it.

Nutrition and medicine

In this rapidly changing world, the role of diet plays a vital role in modern medicine. The role of dietitian has evolved significantly from merely providing dietary advice to becoming integral members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams, shaping treatment plans, and driving better patient outcomes through personalised nutrition.

As the lifestyle of people is changing, modern medicine has to be preventive in approach rather than curative, as we all know prevention is better than cure. The eating habit is the main cause of many chronic and metabolic diseases. So if we can change the dietary habits of people, we can certainly lead to disease-free individuals, communities, and the nation. The kitchen needs to be changed, and the menu of orders needs to be changed in order to create a healthy family and society. Yes, we need to do it. We can do it. We have to do it.  

Just as clothes need to be tailored to fit each individual perfectly, so too should our diet plans be customised to suit each person's unique body and nutritional needs. Different people have different body structures—some may be thin with less body fat, while others may be obese with higher body fat. 

Therefore, a diet plan should be tailored to meet the specific demands of an individual’s body, just like a well-fitting suit. One of the most significant advancements in the field is the shift towards personalised nutrition. Dietitians are now employing advanced tools and technologies to tailor dietary recommendations to individual genetic profiles, lifestyle factors, and health conditions. This personalised approach ensures that dietary interventions are more effective and sustainable.

For instance, individuals with Type 2 diabetes can benefit from customised meal plans that consider their specific glucose response to different foods. Similarly, patients with heart disease may receive tailored advice on managing cholesterol levels through diet. We should be clear that illnesses brought on by an imbalance in food consumption cannot be cured by medication until and until diet and food adjustments are made. Emerging diseases related to lifestyle start with this.

It is long overdue for dietitians to become essential team members in hospitals under the current healthcare system. Dietitians create and carry out treatment regimens in conjunction with doctors, nurses, and other experts. Their knowledge is especially helpful when handling complicated instances where nutrition is important. A dietitian is a better healthcare provider for nutritional deficiencies. 

However, all illnesses are actually stored in a single therapy module basket. It is important to distinguish between diseases caused by infections and nutrient deficiencies. In the current healthcare system, nutritional therapy with proper medicine is necessary. 

Dietitians, for instance, assist cancer patients in oncology in navigating the difficulties of side effects from treatment and maintaining their nutritional status. 

In the realm of paediatrics, they work with families to ensure children with specific health conditions receive the right nutrients for optimal growth and development. Dietitians can help achieve the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic goals of our health care system.

Challenges and way forward

Despite the need and importance of dietitians, it is very challenging to utilise their knowledge, attitude, practices, and experiences in developing countries like ours, where basic health care facilities and basic needs are still difficult to fulfill. 

However, to develop our healthcare system and implement a preventive approach from the grassroots level, there is a need for greater integration of dietitians into primary care settings. This will ensure that nutrition is consistently addressed as part of routine healthcare. The government should also take this initiative, as these little changes can bring significant change in individual health status, preventive chronic metabolic disease, and the overall health care system. 

A small change in programme of the government, like ‘Diwa Khaja', which provides meals to students in government schools without any proper recommendations, could be greatly improved by incorporating dietitian input. This could bring about significant benefits and positive changes in student health. 

The government is spending a huge amount on nutrition programmes without involving nutritionists in the health sector. Right now, there are none, not even at the local or ministry of health level. The only entities that recognise the value of nutritionists and become involved in it are the NGOs and INGOs.

Early implementation of healthy dietary patterns, modification of diet, and tailored diet plan in patients with chronic diseases is encouraged, but an understanding of the mechanisms by which these patterns trigger cardiometabolic benefits remains incomplete. To overcome these challenges, a collaborative approach between dietitian and physician is essential. A proper diet plan is essential to treat diseases along with the course of medications.

In summary, a preventive approach to eating habits is crucial to building a community, culture, and nation free from disease. Although we eat to stay healthy, the truth is that most of the time our eating habits are doing more harm than good. We run the danger of getting sick and living shorter lives as a result of consuming different meals and fortifications. Thus, eating a healthy diet is essential to maintaining excellent health.

(Dr. Shrestha is a general physician.)