A therapeutic diet is a meal plan that controls the intake of certain foods or nutrients. It is part of the treatment of a medical condition and are normally prescribed by a physician and planned by a dietician. A therapeutic diet is usually a modification of a regular diet. It is modified or tailored to fit the nutrition needs of a particular person.
How medical nutrition therapy works.
MNT is based on decades of medical research on the relationship between diet, nutrition, and health outcomes. It’s vastly different from nutrition education, which provides basic nutrition information to the general public and isn’t intended to treat medical conditions. On the other hand, MNT instructs individuals how to use their diet to best support their medical conditions. It not only addresses existing medical conditions but also attempts to lower the risk of new complications.
Steps and scope
To start this therapy, an RDN first performs a comprehensive nutrition assessment for an individual. They then develop a nutritional diagnosis, goal, and care plan, as well as specific nutrition interventions to help the person better manage or treat their condition.