And what are the biggest challenges for you ?
Gut health is not a perfect science – it ’ s a very young science , so we don ' t have definitive tests for things like food intolerances . The symptoms are quite individual to each patient as well , so it requires a good deal of detective work . You really need to listen very intently and have a lot of patience . It ’ s important to convey that to the patients , so they know you could be going on a bit of a journey together to try and fix their symptoms . The other thing to overlay with that is the whole gut-brain connection , which can add another dimension to the cause of gut symptoms .
What do you see as the opportunities for dietitians working in the gut health space ?
There ' s a few that really excite me :
1
Clarifying misinformation . There ' s a tonne of it online , and it leads people down a slippery , unscientific , expensive slope . Dietitians can heighten their voice in this space by dispelling some of those myths and misinformation . They can lean into the science and convey evidence-based messages clearly and simply with confidence through myth busting posts on social media or tutorials in consultations .
2Empowering clients to make healthy gut choices on their own through close support and mentoring .
So much can influence the gut , but food is one of the few things people can influence themselves to make a big difference to their gut health .
Try swapping … For this ...
Potato chips
Whole grain crackers
3Optimising gut health with simple but effective food swaps .
It ' s not just about clients with symptoms , it ' s about optimising a healthy gut in everyone .
Sandwich meats Hummus dip
© Dietitian Connection 15 Infuse | February 2023