Nutrition is an
important part of health maintenance. It affects the prevention and
treatment of many conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, high
blood pressure, diabetes and cirrhosis. Nutrition therapy also plays a
significant role in the medical management of high-risk pregnancies,
gastrointestinal diseases and hyperlipidemia, to name a few.
Prescribed nutrition therapy is provided by registered dietitians qualified by education, experience and expertise. A registered dietitian will assess your nutrition status and tailor nutrition recommendations to your individual eating habits, lifestyle, budget and nutrient needs required by your diagnosis.
Who can benefit from nutrition counseling? People with the following concerns or conditions:
Heart disease and elevated cholesterol levels
High blood pressure
Celiac disease/gluten intolerance
Kidney disease
Gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis or Crohn’s disease
Nutrition during pregnancy and lactation
Unintentional weight loss
General healthy eating
Prediabetes
Diabetes
Food allergies
Sports nutrition
Eating disorders
Eating nutritious meals can result in increased energy levels, strong bones, sharper mental focus and weight moderation.
Download the Balanced Plate Guide
Risks of Poor Nutrition: A diet lacking proper nutrition has many risks. The physical implications can include weight gain, excessive weight loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, tooth decay, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and some cancers. In addition to the physical symptoms, poor nutrition can also contribute to depression and other mood disorders, slowed problem solving, inability to concentrate and irritability.
Inpatient Nutrition Services
Memorial Food and Nutrition Services and registered dietitian
nutritionists provide personalized nutritional care for your recovery
during a hospital stay at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Registered dietitians
provide medical nutrition therapy and education for in-house patients.
Heading home with a specific diet to follow? Our clinical dietitians
educate patients and their families about heart disease, diabetes,
cancer and gastrointestinal concerns, as well as specialty diets
including low-sodium and gluten-free.
Outpatient Nutrition
Nutritional counseling and monitoring by registered dietitians and
certified diabetes educators is available on an outpatient basis through
Memorial Wellness Center.
Services may include:
Diabetes education
General healthy eating and nutrition education sessions
Nutrition counseling sessions to develop an individualized meal plan
Cooking classes
Grocery store tours