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Early Interest in Health
& Nutrition
I've
always had an interest in health and nutrition. As a child in San Diego, I
was fortunate to have grown up in a home that emphasized whole,
fresh foods and avoided processed foods. It set a good example to follow,
and, excluding those misguided college years, I've tried my best to
do so.
A
few years ago I observed a couple of changes, one external and one
personal, which further convinced me of nutrition's importance and
led me to change my career focus to helping others in this
area.
External
Change
In
my prior work as a self-employed business consultant to high-tech
companies, I, of course, paid for my own health insurance. The premiums regularly
increased by 15-20% each year, and that was for a high-deductible
policy intended for healthy people. I thought to myself that
there's no way these cost increases can continue if health care is
to remain affordable.
As
I looked at the issue more closely, it became clear that there are
several other significant trends that call into question the future
of health care.
On the demand side, there's:
- An aging population with increasing health care needs
- An increasing incidence of chronic disease, especially among
younger populations
- And an increasing rate of environmental contamination and
related illnesses
On the supply side, in addition to the
insurance cost increases, there's:
- A decline in the medical coverage offered by many health
plans
- A rapid increase in health care costs
- And a health care system with a focus on
break/fix
Undoubtedly,
without a greater focus on preventive care, the system can't sustain
itself. The demands, in terms of both use and cost, will just
be too great.
Many
practitioners acknowledge the critical importance of nutrition in
preventing and managing chronic disease. Yet, for the most
part, the current traditional medical system, constrained by a lack
of nutritional training, short duration patient visits, and an
emphasis on pharmacologic drugs, does not effectively implement
nutritional concepts in practice.
Even
though modifiable non-genetic factors, such as diet,
exercise, and environmental exposures, are responsible for an
estimated 70-90% of deaths in the U.S.[1], an emphasis on nutrition
remains elusive in traditional medical training and
care. A recent survey of nutrition training in medical
schools revealed only 30% of schools require a separate nutrition
course, with students overall receiving less than 24 hours of
nutrition education during medical school.[2] Clearly, this
situation presents both challenges and opportunities.
Personal
Change
At about
the same time as I was looking at the external health care changes,
I began noticing some changes in my own health, including chronic
fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, eczema, hair loss,
increased blood pressure, and more.
Fortunately,
I read an article in the local newspaper about mercury poisoning
caused by high fish consumption. The signs and symptoms
discussed in the article closely matched those that I was
experiencing. The similarities made sense, as I had increased
my fish consumption in recent years. I quickly stopped that,
researched the different available treatment options, and put
together a recovery plan.
Nutrition, along with safely removing existing heavy metals,
played a key role in the recovery process. As a result of the efforts,
all of the poisoning symptoms nearly resolved or entirely
disappeared.
Needless
to say, this personal health experience reinforced for me the
importance of nutrition and highlighted the significance of
environmental toxins in chronic disease. The firsthand
experience and recovery helps me to better empathize with others and
to understand the challenges that they face dealing with their own
complex health conditions.
Looking
Ahead
With both
the external changes and personal health experience in mind, I
decided to pursue a Master of Science degree in nutrition with the
University of Bridgeport. The program, which I completed
in 2005, provided a solid foundation in science- and evidence-based
nutrition concepts.
I truly
believe that nutrition is the key to helping restore and maintain
optimal health, and that this training and ongoing learning in the
field will allow me to help others to understand and benefit from
the ways in which nutrition can make a difference in their own
lives. With all
of the changes occurring in the health care system, the importance
of knowledge, self-empowerment, and preventive care have never been
greater.
I
look forward to helping you to take control of your
health.
Read more
about Marc's: Approach
Read more
about Marc's: Services
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[1]
Textbook of Functional Medicine - Jones DS, Quinn S, 2005, p.
15
[2]
"Status of Nutrition Education in Medical Schools" - Adams KM,
Lindell KC, Kohlmeier M, Zeisel SH, American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Vol. 83, No. 4, April 2006 |
