Unconventional approaches to nutritional medicine

Abstract

Although nutrition, as a science, has always been part of conventional medicine, physicians are not taught, and therefore often do not practice, much in the way of nutritional therapeutics. In conventional settings, dieticians tend to work with particular groups of patients—such as those with diabetes, obesity, digestive or swallowing problems, or cardiovascular risk factors. Apart from the treatment of gross nutritional deficiencies and rare metabolic disorders, other nutritional interventions generally are not part of conventional medical practice. Therefore, they are more commonly described as complementary medicine. Table 1 Examples of nutritional supplementation High-dose vitamin C for cancer Zinc for the common cold High-dose vitamins for learning disabilities (“orthomolecular” therapy) Evening primrose oil for atopic dermatitis Evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome Vitamin B6 for morning sickness Vitamin B6 for premenstrual syndrome Garlic for lowering cardiovascular risk Multivitamins for improvement in general health View it in a separate window Table 2 Diets claimed to improve general health Hay diet — Separates consumption of proteins and carbohydrates Raw foods diet — Avoids cooked foods Stone Age diet — Avoids grains, legumes, and other products of the agricultural revolution Macrobiotic diet — Chooses foods, mostly grains and vegetables, and balances them in accordance with traditional oriental principles such as yin and yang Veganism — Avoids all animal products View it in a separate window