From a Naturopaths Point of View Part 2

Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND

Third Party Consultations

One of the things we almost always mention is how you can call Invite for a consultation with a qualified nutritionist. You can even go to the website and schedule a consult for a time that’s best for you. However, there is one part of consultations that can be confusing. And that is the concept of third party consultations. To start with what exactly does the term third party consultation mean? Well it’s basically a consultation that is between a nutritionist and an induvial regarding someone else. In simple terms it’s when someone calls and asks questions about someone else’s health. Sometimes this is appropriate. However in many cases’ this is not appropriate and not something that is encouraged. Why exactly is it not appropriate? And just when is it ok? Well these are things that I’ll be addressing in this blog!

To start with when is it appropriate to do a third party consultation? For a minor child it is absolutely appropriate and even expected for a parent or legal guardian to call for them. Legal guardians are those who have both custody of the child and the authority to make decisions about the child’s health. (1) Very often grandparents will call with questions about what their grandchild should take.  Unfortunately, since they are often not the legal guardian it is not appropriate for an Invite nutritionist to give medical advice regarding the child in question.

The next situation where a third party consult is appropriate is in the case of power of attorney where an induvial has been given the right to make medical decisions regarding another person. (2) One example would be if you’re the parent of an adult who is special needs. Another common example is a child whose parents are suffering from dementia. I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what if I need a translator because English isn’t my 1^st language? Having a translator is fine as long as the person who needs the consult is involved in the conversation.

But why is it inappropriate and to be blunt dangerous to do third party consultations? To start with there is the concern that any supplements may interact with medications.  In some case’s supplements can increase a medications effects. For example fish oil and blood thinners. In other case’s supplements can decrease the effects of certain medications, for example Vitamin K and Coumadin. And in some case’s supplements may have harmful or dangerous interactions with medications. As you can see this can be very dangerous. Remember just because someone is a close friend or even family it doesn’t mean you know all the medications they are on. On a similar note you may not know every single aspect of a friend’s medical history. In some cases depending on someone’s past medical history certain supplements may be inappropriate. For example for anyone with a history of seizures certain brain stimulating supplements would not only be inappropriate but in fact dangerous. Allergies are another concern that can lead to dangerous complications. It can be dangerous to assume you now everything a person is allergic to.

Lastly there is also HIPPA. Everyone is entitled to privacy. (4)  Overall as you can see third party consultations, except in certain situations are both inappropriate and possibly dangerous.  If you know someone who needs a consult feel to pass along Invite’s contact information!

Now for your pleasure – here’s some fun ways to use supplements!

• Blueberry overnight protein oats! Let’s talk about overnight oats, shall we? Overnight oats are a great way to meal prep a healthy breakfast! So I usually make 4 at a time. In 4 bowls or even cups add 1/2 cup oatmeal. Add ½ cup milk of choice. Mix! Then add 1 scoop of Whey Protein Isolate or Plant Protein. Add in 1 scoop Collagen Hx. Add in 1 scoop of Reds Hx. Finally add in ¼ cup yogurt and mix, mix, mix! To the top add in blueberries and honey if desired! If you want it warm feel free to warm it up the next day. For variation Cocoa Hx can be used in place of Reds Hx.
• Another breakfast idea is eggs! To start with start by cooking some vegetables you like. For example onions, mushrooms and zucchini make a great mix. Mix some eggs and add 2 capsules of Bio-Curcumin and 1 capsule of Aged Garlic. Add the eggs to the vegetables and place them all in a pan and cook. You can then cut them into multiple servings. I typically recommend 1 egg for every serving you’d like to make.
• To a ½ cup of cottage cheese or yogurt add in 1 scoop of Cocoa Hx. To the top add in nuts of choice. Add in any berries of your choice for a delicious desert!

Let’s talk about Alcar with Ala – the new capsule form!

Sources

1. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/custody3
2. https://www.lawdistrict.com/power-of-attorney/medical/
3. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science/how-medications-and-supplements-can-interact/introduction
4. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html