ORTHOMOLECULAR NUTRITION
What is orthomolecular nutrition?
The idea behind orthomolecular nutrition is that nutrients provided by food and assimilated during digestion enter the chemical composition of the body’s cells and take part in chemical reactions, playing a key role in maintaining optimal health. In this sense, orthomolecular nutrition considers that the treatment of many diseases involves varying the concentration of certain nutrients at the cellular level. Thus, if each cell of the organism receives the optimal nutrients to function, the internal environment will be able to control the appearance of certain diseases.
It is considered by the scientific community as a pseudoscience, since there is no scientific evidence that certifies its efficacy. Moreover, the fact that orthomolecular nutrition employs nutritional supplements to achieve high doses of required biomolecules has proven to be an ineffective therapy to prevent chronic diseases, and can cause hypervitaminosis, if the amounts of vitamins are exceeded.
Why is it performed?
Orthomolecular nutrition is used to help in the absorption of vitamins and nutrients by the body, and thus influence the healing of certain pathologies.
What does it consist of?
Orthomolecular nutrition works in two ways. On the one hand, it investigates the biochemical mechanisms by which essential nutrients are assimilated and metabolized, and how their deficiency causes disorders in the body. On the other hand, it implements therapeutic and preventive techniques, using substances that are normally present in the body, such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, essential fatty acids and phytochemicals, to treat diseases.
Preparation for orthomolecular nutrition
Although no prior preparation is necessary for orthomolecular nutrition, as it is not a scientifically endorsed discipline, it is always advisable to consult a physician. It is also advisable to consult a doctor expert in Nutrition and Dietetics, who will advise whether or not to apply orthomolecular nutrition.
Post-procedure care
No specific care is necessary after orthomolecular nutrition, but it is important to keep in mind that it is based on very high doses of certain vitamins, which can cause health problems in other aspects, so it is important to have an expert in Nutrition and Dietetics review the treatment.