March is “National Nutrition Month.” While most people understand that eating right is good for you, the nutrition experts at National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) go one step further. These physicians view a proper diet as an essential tool in promoting healing and preventing disease in their patients.

“Nutrition can be used to augment whatever medical treatment you currently receive,” says Dr. Anna Jurik, who is both a registered dietician and chiropractic physician. Dr. Jurik coordinates the nutritional counseling center within the NUHS Whole Health Center in Lombard, Illinois.

“Whether you suffer from a chronic disease, or are under the care of a physician to manage an injury or illness, a nutritional analysis can help you improve your prognosis for recovery,” says Dr. Jurik. “Even if you are currently taking medication and seeing good results, the right diet and right supplements can work synergistically to improve those results.”

For example, patients with arthritis can often benefit by removing inflammatory foods from their diet, and increasing consumption of anti-inflammatory foods such as Omega-3 rich fish. Those suffering with migraines can work with an NUHS clinician to identify food triggers that may be causing the headaches. Someone with a recent bone or joint injury may benefit from extra supplements to aid the body in rebuilding and repairing tissue. Those who find they pick up every cold and flu that goes around can learn what to eat to support their immune system and which foods suppress immune activity.

“Likewise, nutrition can be your best weapon in safeguarding your current good health and preventing future problems. If your family’s medical history shows a pattern of specific health issues, such as heart disease or cancer, the right nutritional approach may increase your odds of avoiding them,” says Dr. Jurik.

NUHS offers professional degrees in chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and oriental medicine, and undergraduate programs in biomedical science and massage therapy. “All of our programs incorporate nutritional education into their curriculum,” says Dr. Daniel Richardson, an assistant dean at NUHS who holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology. “In fact, our evening bachelor’s completion program offers an emphasis in nutrition with seven nutrition related courses.”

For more information on how a nutritional analysis and nutritional counseling can help you, or to make an appointment with a whole health physician trained in nutritional intervention, call NUHS at 1-630-629-9664.