Nutritional Therapy: Why Food Comes First in a Natural Approach to Health

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When it comes to taking a natural approach to your health, it can be tempting to look for a quick solution. But nutritional therapy begins with something much more fundamental: the food you eat and the way your body is able to use it.

In Using Natural Medicine, Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD explains that nutritional therapy is about much more than simply eating well. It considers the relationship between food, nutrients, digestion and absorption, while recognising that supplements have a supporting rather than a replacement role.

 

What is nutritional therapy?

 

Nutritional therapy takes a broader view of nutrition. Rather than looking only at what is on your plate, it considers whether your body is receiving the nutrients it needs and how effectively those nutrients can be absorbed and used.

Dr Glenville describes food as having a powerful influence on the biochemical processes of the body. Within this approach, nutritional therapy includes looking at vitamin and mineral deficiencies, digestive function, absorption and the way different nutrients work together.

This is part of the wider philosophy of natural medicine, which encourages you to take responsibility for your health by looking at areas such as what you eat, your lifestyle, exercise and stress levels. These changes require commitment, but the approach is centred on building strong foundations rather than relying on shortcuts.

 

Why food comes first

 

One of the most important messages in the e-book is that supplements should remain what their name suggests: supplemental, or extra. They are not intended to replace healthy food or a well-balanced diet.

This distinction is important. Taking supplements does not make up for an otherwise poor diet. Nutritional therapy therefore starts with the foundations of nutrition rather than treating supplements as a substitute for the food you eat.

The e-book also explains that vitamins and minerals work in harmony within the body, with many depending on one another to work efficiently. This highlights why nutrition is best considered as a whole rather than focusing on individual nutrients in isolation.

 

It is not only about what you eat

 

There is another important part of nutritional therapy: what your body is able to absorb.

Dr Glenville points out that digestive function is an important consideration because nutrition is not simply about what you consume. It is also about what your body is able to absorb. This means that the quality of your nutritional intake and the body's ability to process and absorb it are both relevant when considering your overall approach to nutrition.

The e-book therefore presents nutritional therapy as a more complete process. It includes looking at food and nutrients while also considering digestion, absorption and individual nutritional needs.

 

Where do supplements fit in?

 

Supplements can have a place within a nutritional programme, but the e-book makes their supporting role clear. They are described as additional nutrients rather than a replacement for a healthy diet.

Dr Glenville recommends that, when supplements are used, a multivitamin and mineral can form the foundation of a programme, with additional supplements considered according to individual needs and recommendations. The emphasis is on using supplements as part of a broader nutritional approach rather than relying on them alone.

The e-book also discusses the importance of considering the quality and form of supplements. It recommends paying attention to labels and explains that the form in which a mineral is provided can affect how readily it is assimilated.

For example, the e-book discusses minerals such as calcium and distinguishes between different forms. It also describes chelation, where a mineral is linked to an amino acid, as another way minerals may be made more digestible.

 

Why absorption matters

 

If you are already taking vitamins or minerals, the e-book places emphasis on absorption. It recommends taking vitamins and minerals with food, with the aim of helping them to be absorbed as part of the diet.

The book also includes an absorption test involving warm vinegar. Dr Glenville presents this as a simple way of considering how well a supplement dissolves, although this is a method described within the e-book rather than a clinical assessment of nutritional status.

The broader message is perhaps more useful: choosing a supplement is not simply about selecting a list of ingredients. The quality, form and ability of the body to process the supplement also matter within the nutritional approach described by Dr Glenville.

 

A whole-person approach to nutrition

 

Nutritional therapy also fits into the wider philosophy of natural medicine presented in the e-book. Natural medicine aims to look at the person as a whole rather than treating different parts of the body as completely separate.

This whole-person perspective means that food and nutrition are considered alongside lifestyle, exercise and stress. The e-book also emphasises personal responsibility and the importance of making positive changes that can become part of everyday life.

It is not about finding one perfect food or one supplement that does everything. Instead, the approach is about building strong foundations and recognising that each person is individual.

 

Building your nutritional foundations

 

If you are interested in taking a natural approach to nutrition, the principles in Dr Glenville's e-book offer a straightforward place to begin:

• Start with healthy food and a well-balanced diet rather than relying on supplements.
• Consider the quality of the food you eat as part of your overall approach to nutrition.
• Remember that nutrition involves both what you eat and what your body is able to absorb.
• Consider vitamins and minerals as working together rather than viewing individual nutrients in isolation.
• If you use supplements, remember that they are supplemental and should form part of a wider nutritional approach.
• Read supplement labels and consider the form and quality of the product.
• Take vitamins and minerals with food, as recommended in the e-book.
• Remember that nutritional choices are only one part of a wider approach that also considers lifestyle, exercise and stress.

Making nutrition part of your everyday health routine

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A natural approach to health does not have to begin with a complicated routine. According to Dr Glenville's approach, the foundations matter. Eating well, considering your nutritional needs and paying attention to digestion and absorption can all form part of a thoughtful nutritional strategy.

Supplements may have a supporting role, but they should not take the place of healthy food and a balanced diet. By starting with the foundations, you can take a more considered approach to your nutrition and make choices that fit into your wider approach to health and wellbeing.

It is also worth remembering that nutritional recommendations are not necessarily identical for everyone. The e-book explains that people are individual and may require different approaches. If you have ongoing health concerns or your situation has not improved, it recommends seeking individual guidance from a qualified practitioner.

This article is for information only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor or health practitioner before making changes to your diet or supplement routine.

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