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Metabolism — the biochemical process through which food is transformed into fuel and energy — is closely intertwined with nutrition. Your body needs a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins as well as various micronutrients in order to thrive and avoid disease. Too much of the needed substances, or too little, can lead to a myriad of health problems and illnesses.
Metabolic and nutritional medicine is a medical subspecialty that identifies biochemical processes that have broken down in the body and the diseases or illnesses that have occurred as a result. Doctors in this subspecialty, like Boston gastroenterologist Dr. Lynne Ahn, aim to restore optimal health by looking at the patient as a whole, taking into consideration genetics, medical history, lifestyle and environmental factors, rather than just the illness or symptoms at hand.
Dr. Ahn is board-certified in gastroenterology and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. She has extensive experience diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. Given this expertise, she brings a unique approach to her patient’s metabolic and gut health. Depending on your unique case, she may prescribe missing or deficient nutrients or hormones, and take into consideration lifestyle or environmental changes that can help restore balance.
Vitamin Deficiencies
One cause of metabolic disorders is vitamin deficiency, which can occur when you don’t eat enough of a vitamin or your body has trouble absorbing or processing a vitamin. Common vitamin deficiencies include vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Vitamin deficiencies can be addressed by making changes to your diet, supplements, IV therapy, injections and other strategies. Dr. Ahn can determine the best form of treatment through a variety of diagnostic tests and an evaluation of your medical history. Through specific diagnostic testing, Dr. Ahn can measure accurate levels of vitamins and minerals, as well as hormones, to identify where deficiencies may exist and why. From there, Dr. Ahn can recommend the appropriate levels of supplementation and best method for improving better absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
Detoxification Programs
Your body is exposed to harmful toxins every day. Fortunately, it has several processes to rid itself of naturally-occurring toxins. However, man-made chemicals and toxins may be harder for your body to eliminate. As these chemicals continue to exist in your body, they can cause an array of illnesses and symptoms that affect joint health, hormone balance, weight gain, and even mental function. While medications can treat symptoms, certain medications can introduce more toxins to the body.
Detoxification programs, when done safely and under the guidance of a medical professional, can be extremely beneficial. In addition to reducing toxins in the body, detoxification has been proven to improve energy, digestion, mood, weight loss and overall well-being, all of which can improve treatment of chronic illnesses.
Detoxifying programs may include a combination of dietary regimens and herbal/nutritional supplementation that support the body’s natural detoxification processes. These programs can be supplemented by IV therapy treatments and homeopathic and naturopathic treatments. Dr. Ahn will help guide you through a program that is right for you.
Medical Weight Loss Strategies
Medically supervised weight loss can involve an array of methods and strategies. Depending on your needs, Dr. Ahn may recommend any of the following:
- Medically-supervised diet
- Nutritional counseling
- Personalized eating plans
- Personalized exercise regimens
- Lifestyle and behavioral changes
- Stress management
Successful medical weight loss strategies require precise and personalized planning in order to address your specific needs and goals. Vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and other breakdowns in your body’s metabolic processes that may be preventing weight loss will be identified and addressed.
If you would like to learn more about metabolic and nutritional medicine as it pertains to your individual needs, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Lynne Ahn, a board-certified gastroenterologist and anti-aging regenerative medicine physician.
