Nutrition - principles of a health program menu. No visit to SPA, or treatment or recovery spa program wouldn't be complete if we didn't include the nutritherapy part - or food therapy.

Because like it or not, food influences health. And the right diet can speed up healing or improve some conditions. In this article, we'll talk about the principles behind a menu in a spa, medical or rehabilitation program. In general, these programs involve a series of therapies or procedures that are designed to:

• detox,
• relief of certain conditions or
• improving certain body processes and functions.

Proper nutrition can go a long way in helping you achieve such goals. Here are the principles that such a menu should follow:

Low-calorie principle

When we eat less, our body will put less effort into digesting food. So we will have higher energy levels. Rigorous scientific studies on mice and monkeys show that a low-calorie diet prolongs lifespan. Mice and monkeys given a low-calorie diet lived about 50% longer than animals in control groups given a 'normal' ration.

They also had an immune response 3 times stronger than animals in control groups. Of course, in humans this method worked as well. It is one of the few scientifically proven methods that:

• extend their lifespan,
• speed up the healing process and
• stimulates metabolism.

High calorie intake at a single meal fatigues the liver and slows metabolism. This is why such a program should include more frequent meals (3 main meals and 2 snacks), but which are reduced in calories.

Nutrition: The principle of variety in a health program menu:

Each day is designed so that there is a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals and colors. A complete program involves consuming a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and seeds each week. Approximately 27-30 different fruits and vegetables (total) per week to cover all the body's vitamin and mineral needs. There is no point eating just one healthy food over and over again. Because however healthy it is, it can cause other deficiencies. The human body needs about 40 nutrients. Nutrients are called essential nutrients if they cannot be synthesized by the human body:

• essential amino acids and essential fatty acids;
• proteins, carbohydrates and lipids,

are basic constituents of our diet.

Trophology principle

It's how you combine foods. Proteins, acids, starches have different needs in terms of their digestion. That's why, if they are combined incorrectly, the stomach will have to work hard to secrete different gastric juices for each food. Not to mention the toxins that accumulate in the body, or the fact that some foods can't even be digested and simply rot.

So it's better not to combine:

• protein with protein,
• proteins with carbohydrates,
• proteins with sugars,
• proteins with acids,
• starch and sugars,
• starch with acids.

Desserts or sugars must necessarily be eaten before meals, as they are digested directly in the small intestine, otherwise they will ferment in the stomach.

Nutrition: Calorie intake principle - menu in a health program:

The caloric needs should be covered with 13 - 18% from proteins, 30 - 50% from lipids and 50 - 55% from carbohydrates.

You should also take into account the blood type of the participants, or different food intolerances they may have. Of course, taste is also important in such a menu, as food with a pleasant look and taste will lead to a much better metabolic response.

Very many hotel spas, wellness center or seaside resorts around the world offer specially designed nutrition programs that are tailored to different health programs or even customized nutrition programs for each individual client. It's time that in Romania too, we give nutrition its due importance and realize that we need to approach problems holistically. Let's not put all our hopes only in a therapy or a miracle drug, but let's try, let's make a change in our thinking and lifestyle on all levels.

This is the only way to achieve the desired results.

These principles are not just some principles to follow in 2 weeks of treatment, but constitute a wellness lifestyle. 

Read here more articles about proper hydration and naturist nutrition

Alexandra Iliuta

Wellness Advisor