Changes of pace, changes of season or simply the wear and tear of life can alter our energy, mood and lifestyle! It is also possible that our bodies are deficient in some of the substances that keep us balanced at all levels. There are several medicines that can fill these gaps, but have you heard of micronutrition? This unique preventive method of nutrition is entirely tailored to the patient and his or her lifestyle.

The relationship between health and nutrition is well established. However, it can be difficult to find out which of all the different dietary trends is best for us. Eating a balanced and seasonal diet is an important basis for a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Furthermore, we are all unique and our bodies do not necessarily have the same needs. We do not have the same metabolism or the same genetic predisposition. This is where the importance of personalising a diet programme comes in, offered by our nutritionist Cathy Morghese offers.

What is the discipline of micro nutrition?

Micro nutrition studies the impact of micronutrients on our body with the aim of optimising our choice of food to gain an optimal level of health. This medical discipline consists of precisely tackling the various micro-deficiencies in our diet. Micro nutrition is primarily concerned with the functional value, as well as the nutritional value.

To better understand what micronutrients are, we can start by understanding what we eat. It is possible to divide our food into three main categories:

• Macronutrients: which are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, etc.
• Micronutrients: which are products necessary for health that we take in minute quantities, and which must be present in the numerous chemical reactions that our body carries out. These are amino acids, trace elements, vitamins, etc.
• Modulators of the intestinal microbiota: that is, probiotics or prebiotics

Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, play a role in the fight against free radicals, which are ageing factors. They are essential for several important functions of your body and are obtained through consumption of food. Vitamins and minerals can be divided into four categories: water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, macrominerals and trace elements.

Regardless of the type, vitamins and minerals are absorbed in a similar way by your body and interact in many processes.

What are the fields of application of micro nutrition?

In everyday life, this discipline helps patients with chronic illnesses and pain. Therefore, micronutrition can be beneficial to the patient’s overall quality of life and helps to correct disturbances such as fatigue, weight or mood disorders.

Micronutrition can therefore greatly reduce consultations concerning: sleep disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, digestive function disorders (including comfort and intestinal transit, intolerances or intestinal permeability problems).

In addition, micronutrition is a great help to overweight people in achieving their goal of weight loss, as well as for people who want to stop smoking. This medicinal method will also optimise the performance of sports people.

Last but not least, micronutrition is a preventive medicine. It fights degenerative diseases and ageing, prevents metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, and prevents frailty and osteoporosis.

When and who to consult?

This medicine is intended for everyone, regardless of age or health status. Generally, a patient comes to see a doctor when he or she has one of the symptoms listed above and so-called "traditional" medicine does not work.

To find a doctor, you should check that he or she is trained in micronutrition. This specialty cannot be performed by just any health professional.

What does a micronutrition session consist of?

During the first session, your micronutrition specialist will ask you questions in order to understand your needs, your expectations and your lifestyle. Then, he or she will assess your dietary imbalances and micronutrient deficiencies by studying your personal information.

Several specific tools are used to screen for a problem, such as nutritional biology explorations or dietary questionnaires.

Based on this assessment, a second session will be devoted to the action plan to correct the various disturbances observed. The specialist will suggest to the patient dietary patterns that are scientifically relevant to his or her body.

Follow-up visits will allow your micronutrition doctor to evaluate the results, making it possible to judge the benefits provided and adjust the advice. Everything is based on a thorough personalisation of each case.