Introduction
Nutritional Basics for the Acupuncturist
Instructor: Tara Kulikov, L.Ac, MTOM, MA Kinesiology
Introduction
Nutrition for health and wellness is an area of science that is still evolving. A lot of research has been conducted on the basic nutritional requirements for sedentary individuals, as well as for certain groups of athletes. However there is less science-based information on the nutritional requirements for specific patients in a clinical setting. It may appear through mainstream media that there is an abundance of nutritional research available for acupuncturists and their patients to reference, yet this is not the case. Moreover, the information that is available may not be science-based. This can lead acupuncturists to give patients dietary recommendations that do not support their specific nutritional demands.
It is important for acupuncturists to understand the basic caloric and macronutrient needs of their patients in order to provide nutritional guidance. Acupuncturists need to be well versed in aspects of western nutrition and then incorporate eastern nutrition guidelines in order to aid their patients in creating an optimal nutrition plan.
Insufficient calories and/or inappropriate daily intake of macronutrients based on percentage can lead to situations of slow healing and chronic fatigue. Too many calories can also lead to slow healing and chronic fatigue and more importantly increase a patient’s risk for numerous diseases including hyperlipidemia, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
A basic understanding of how to calculate caloric needs based on the Harris Benedict equation and the Basal Metabolic Rate formula along with knowledge of recommended macronutrient intake per day, will help acupuncturists to provide their patients with nutritional guidelines that can help to improve their health and well being.