Nutritional Assessment

Consider a nutritional assessment if you’re concerned about vitamin or mineral deficiencies. At Fairfield Family Health in Fairfield, Connecticut, the naturopathic doctors use nutritional assessments to identify potential health problems before they cause apparent symptoms. With proper supplementation, they can help you achieve optimal health. Call Fairfield Family Health or book an appointment online today to see if you can benefit from a nutritional assessment.

What is a nutritional assessment?

A nutritional assessment uses lab testing, preventive screenings, and a physical exam to diagnose nutrient deficiencies that increase your risk of more severe health problems.

You might eat a balanced diet, but that doesn’t mean you get all the minerals and antioxidants required to thrive. Routine nutritional assessments at Fairfield Family Health can alert you to underlying problems and improve your quality of life.

Who should schedule a nutritional assessment?

Request a nutritional assessment at Fairfield Family Health if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Brittle hair or nails
• Mouth ulcers
• Cracks or sores at the corners of your lips
• Bleeding gums
• Poor night vision
• Scaly patches and dandruff
• Shortness of breath
• Hair loss

If you’re iron deficient, you could also develop restless leg syndrome. This neurological condition causes tingling or cramping in your legs.

What happens during a nutritional assessment?

At Fairfield Family Health, a nutritional assessment takes 30-45 minutes.

Your provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started and if they’re worse at specific times of the day. They also ask about your lifestyle, including if you take prescription medication, how often you drink alcohol, and if you have any underlying health problems.

Your provider then orders lab tests, including bloodwork and urinalysis. Specifically, they request blood tests that check the number of red blood cells and the amount of B-12 and folate in your blood. The tests also look for the presence of antibodies that might indicate anemia.

They also order tests that analyze the levels of vitamins, minerals, and essential fats in your blood and assess the efficiency of your metabolic processes. It takes 24-48 hours to get the results of your tests. After Fairfield Family Health receives your results, they review them and make treatment recommendations.

How are vitamin and nutritional deficiencies treated?

At Fairfield Family Health, the holistic doctors take an integrative approach when treating vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. Usually, that includes healthy lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet and taking vitamins or nutritional supplements.

Many people find that exchanging meals and snacks high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats for healthier alternatives makes a significant difference. If your nutritional deficiencies continue, even with these changes, you might benefit from vitamins, supplements, or in rare cases, prescription medication.

Request a nutritional assessment at Fairfield Family Health today. Call the office to speak with a team member or use the online booking feature.