Dietitian

Diet plays a critical role in digestion, prevention, and gastrointestinal disorder management. At Mirage Health in Chandler and Mesa, Arizona, board-certified gastroenterologist Rajiv Sharma, MD, and the team of registered dietitians (RDs) ease GI symptoms and effectively manage gastrointestinal disorders. Schedule an appointment with a dietitian by calling the office or booking a visit online today. Telehealth is also available. 

What is a dietitian?

A dietitian is a medical professional who specializes in customizing meal plans to your specific medical needs. They can help with many GI conditions.

Mirage Health has built an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) program with registered dietitians (RDs) to keep symptoms at bay and avoid GI-related complications. They offer affordable cash pay options and Care Credit for patients without insurance. 

Which gastrointestinal conditions can dietitians help manage?

RDs at Mirage Health can use diet, supplements, medical weight loss, and lifestyle changes to help you effectively manage the following conditions and more:

• Celiac disease
• IBS
• Food allergies
• Gluten sensitivity
• Pancreatitis 
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis 
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Diverticular disease
• Nutrient deficiencies 
• Lactose intolerance 
• Pancreatitis
• Liver disease, including fatty liver disease
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Other GI concerns
• Colorectal cancer
• Obesity

Your dietitian customizes a diet offering lasting relief, healthy weight management, and a better quality of life.

Which symptoms might indicate the need for diet changes?

The following symptoms might indicate a need for a specialized diet:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Stool changes
• Abdominal pain
• Belly cramping
• Bloating
• Gas
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Upset stomach
• Nausea

Altering your diet can ease unpleasant or embarrassing symptoms and help you feel more like yourself. 

What can I expect when working with a dietitian?

When meeting with a Mirage Health dietitian, they discuss your medical history, symptoms, usual diet, and other lifestyle habits. They evaluate your body mass index (BMI) and may order lab work to screen for food allergies, nutrient deficiencies, and other diet-related concerns.

Your dietitian customizes a diet plan just for you. You might need to eat more fiber, avoid certain foods (like those containing gluten or lactose), eat fewer calories, take a dietary supplement, or eliminate caffeine and food with additives. A low-FODMAP diet temporarily eliminates difficult-to-digest carbohydrates to determine which foods cause the most symptoms.

Your RD may ask you to keep a diary of what you eat, along with any symptoms, to learn which foods or eating habits may be causing discomfort. Mirage Health also offers medically supervised weight loss meal plans with peptides. 

You can follow up with your Mirage Health dietitian in person or virtually to ensure your eating plan works as designed. They alter your treatment when necessary and collaborate with your Mirage Health physician to optimize GI health and your well-being.

Schedule a nutrition evaluation with the dietitians at Mirage Health by calling the office or booking an in-person or telehealth appointment online today.