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Holistic Doctor in New York

Diet and Lifestyle

The way we eat and the way we live have profound effects on our health. Often the root causes of disease are the chronic effects of a poor diet and of stress. Holistic doctors often recommend simple, targeted changes in our diet or lifestyle that can produce substantial improvements in health and well-being.

An example of a targeted dietary intervention often used by holistic doctors is the elimination of a food allergen. The gold standard test for food allergies is not in fact a laboratory test but an elimination diet, in which the most common food allergens are avoided to determine if this relieves symptoms. Another example of a targeted dietary intervention is a low glycemic diet. Foods that digest very quickly into blood sugar are eliminated or reduced. This can be very useful in conditions characterized by blood sugar imbalances such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

An example of a targeted lifestyle intervention could be as simple as getting enough sleep. Our hormonal balance is ultimately controlled by our daily cycle of activity and irregular or inadequate sleep cycles can contribute to poor health. This is also true for our eating habits. Eating meals at the same times each day allows your body to establish regular digestive and eliminative cycles. Holistic doctors often recommend an exercise routine or specific exercises as well as intentional stress reduction practices.

While these therapeutic measures are often quite simple, they address underlying issues in a way that a pill, whether a pharmaceutical drug or nutritional supplement, cannot.