March is National Nutrition Month – How to Get Started

Podcast Transcript

Announcer:

Welcome to Love Your Heart, brought to you by Cleveland Clinic Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute. These podcasts will help you learn more about your heart, thoracic and vascular systems, ways to stay healthy and information about diseases and treatment options. Enjoy.

Julia Zumpano, RD, LD:

Hello, my name is Julia Zumpano. I'm a registered dietician with the Department of Preventive Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. March is National Nutrition Month. It's a great time to take a look at what goals you may have set for the new year and take a look at where you stand with some of those goals. Specifically seeking out a health professional, such as a registered dietician, to help you further enhance and meet those goals.

Julia Zumpano, RD, LD:

Here at the Cleveland Clinic, we're definitely dedicated to helping you in your health and nutrition goals. I often get asked if and when you would need to see a registered dietician or a registered dietician nutritionist. And in my opinion, I think almost anyone can benefit from support in improving their nutrition and health goals.

Julia Zumpano, RD, LD:

The first step would be to reach out to your primary care or a healthcare provider to see if they feel that that would be beneficial. Some insurances do require referral, so that's where you would gain that referral. And then reach out to your insurance company to see which registered dieticians are covered within your insurance plan. And that would be a great place to start. A registered dietician can really make an individualized plan just for you. She tailors all your wants and needs and health goals into a meal plan, specific for you.

Julia Zumpano, RD, LD:

I think registered dieticians can be very helpful for many reasons, for disease management, weight loss and just general healthy eating. Also can help make sure you get a nice balanced diet or you're meeting all your nutrient needs. Also can help make suggestions on how to get some of those needs and help with meal planning tips and recipes and grocery shopping.

Julia Zumpano, RD, LD:

So begin by reaching out to your primary care physician or your healthcare provider and your insurance company to get started.

Announcer:

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