Out of all the tools we use in our programs, from FLT to detox programs, the least well-understood is the medical food component. Exercise, supplements, and diet are all rather well known in terms of what they aim to accomplish in a weight loss or wellness program.
–Medical foods are intended to provide support for the nutritional management of a specific disease or condition that has distinct and established nutritional requirements.
-Medical food is not to be used without the supervision of a physician.
-A physician may recommend the use of medical food to support those who may have trouble digesting and absorbing food and certain nutrients and cannot nutritionally manage their condition through diet modification alone.
In contrast, supplements are intended to provide nutritional support to already generally healthy people, bolstering nutrients or dietary ingredients intended to maintain normal human function.
“Medical foods are designed to restore function during early phases of declining health by managing the nutritional deficiencies affected by a specific condition or disorder.”
There are 4 key differences that you will find in medical food by Metagenics compared to other companies.
A completely vegan protein blend, with added free amino acids that are easily digestible and absorbable.
Designer carbohydrates
Specialized types of prebiotic carbohydrates that are well tolerated and provide therapeutic benefit for the nutritional management of specific conditions.
Balanced-ratio micronutrients
Strategic blends in specific combinations to help manage nutritional deficiencies and imbalances that affect disease management.
Specific blends of fats which are easily absorbed by the body and utilized for energy.
Below, we will go even further in-depth on three of the most prescribed medical foods within our practice, which may help you understand why Dr. Chien has chosen that medical food for you.
Due to the prevalence of pre-diabetes and type-2 diabetes in the past few decades, this formula is one of the most prescribed. UGC’s key ingredient is called UCAN SuperStarch, which has been clinically shown to reduce the severity of the blood glucose spike after a meal. It is this rapid rise in blood glucose that, when occurring chronically within the body, leads to the progression of diabetic complications like cardiovascular disease. The UCAN SuperStarch will give you the energy you need over a longer period, rather than causing your energy levels to surge and then plummet. Furthermore, the UGC formula contains a specific macronutrient ratio of proteins to increase satiety, so that you feel fuller.
Our second most prescribed formula is the UltraMeal Cardio 360, which provides support for the management of dyslipidemia. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2006), over half of American adults have dyslipidemia or an abnormal level of blood lipids. Whether this condition is expressed by elevated levels of LDL cholesterols or triglycerides or lower levels of HDL cholesterols, UltraMeal Cardio 360 has been clinically shown to reduce dyslipidemia by up to 24% within a single month. It is important to note that the UltraMeal Cardio 360 formula, while impressive, cannot solve the problem of dyslipidemia on its own. Like all medical foods, success will come when used in conjunction with a proper food plan.
The UltraInflamX Plus 360 formula provides advanced support for the management of compromised gut function in cases of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). This medical food contains a patented blend of curcumin and fenugreek, which has been clinically studied to be 45 times more bioavailable than standard curcumin extract. If you are unfamiliar with curcumin, it is a yellow pigment found in turmeric, which is a flowering plant of the ginger family and commonly used in curries. Additionally, it is well documented to have reliable anti-inflammatory properties.
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