Question

Describe what is meant by Holistic Health supporting your description with a professional resource. do this exercise, Nutrition, provide a 300-400 words description of it's importance in holistic health and how might you use it in your professional and or personal practice.

Answer 1

Holistic Health is an integrated health care that treats not only the disease and the symptoms but a person as a whole. It believes that the mind and body are integrated and inseperable. It considers the physical, emotional, social, economical and spiritual needs, response to and illness and the effect of the illness on an individual.

Nutrition plays an important role in Holistic health. It focuses on a natural approach to a healthy diet and lifestyle. This type of approach incorporates emotional, spiritual and physical health to reach optimum health. It encourages education on basic nutrition that includes natural and organic foods, natural supplements and dietary treatment for illness.

The fundamental principle is that the foods included should provide energy needed to function properly and supplies the nutrients needed to build bones, regenerate the muscles, fat and blood. There are mainly three components in holistic nutrition. They are:

• Macronutrients: Carbohydrates, proteins, fats
• Micronutrients: Vitamins, minerals
• Fibers

A proper balance of protein, vitamins and other important nutrients helps an individual to meet optimum energy levels, emotional well-being and will have the ability to fight infections. Following all the above mentioned principles the individual can prevent most of the diseases like heart problems, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Some of the foods that are included in holistic nutrition are: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, beans, nuts, herbs, spices, sea salt, virgin olive oil, unrefined vegetable oil.Herbal teas, spring water,soy milk, rice milk and fruit juices can be included in the diet in place of caffeinated drinks.

The benefits of holistic nutrition are to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, asthma, reduce tumor growth, strengthens bones, regenerates blood, muscles and vital organs such as heart, liver, stomach and intestines. It also strenghtens the psychological well-being such as relieves stress, memory loss and other psychological conditions. It also heals the body, enriches the mind and cleanses the soul which helps the individual to reach the ultimate health life.