Is My Food Hurting My Health?
Contributed by Elisa Marley, RD, CD
Did you know that what you eat matters in your overall health, appearance, and longevity? Many ailments that plague us can be alleviated to some extent with modifications to our diets. Prioritizing your eating is prioritizing your health. However, with so many diet fads and rumors about what to eat or avoid changing all the time, it is extremely difficult for many of us to know exactly what we should be eating in our daily lives to address our own personal goals. But what if you could work directly with an expert that could personalize your diet plan and have it covered by insurance? That would certainly take the guess work out of it, and Starling Physicians has that expert available for you.
Starling’s registered dietitian Elisa Marley, RD CD works with directly with individuals to assist with a wide range of medical concerns and lifestyle issues. She assists her clients with a variety of matters including managing diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, digestive complaints, improving sports performance and supporting a healthy pregnancy-just to name a few.
Many believe that visiting with a dietitian will cost a lot of money or is something that only a select few can have access to. That is a myth. Nutritional counseling, because its importance is increasingly recognized, is much more commonly covered by insurance today. It is often a benefit that clients are not even aware is available to them. It is important to check with your insurance provider to verify your personal coverage, but you may be surprised that with a referral this type of support may actually be covered.
Where to begin? Speak with your medical provider about your dietary concerns and ask for a referral to Starling’s dietitian. Not a Starling patient? Not a problem. You do not need to be a current Starling patient to visit Elisa! Your insurance coverage will be confirmed before your appointment. If everything checks out, you will start with an initial 60-minute consultation to explain your concerns and develop a plan. Follow-up appointments are generally 30 minutes, and phone or virtual consultations are also an option.
Elisa emphasizes that setting realistic goals that can be sustained over time is very important. Healthy eating is a long-term commitment, not a short-term fix, so working with the right person to keep you focused and motivated is pivotal for on-going success.
To learn more about Elisa, visit Welcome Elisa A. Marley, RD, CD – Starling Physicians or call 860-246-6647 x2072.
Be sure to check our Healthy In, Healthy Out segments or our website starlingphysicians.com regularly for delicious, healthy recipes right from Elisa!