AI in Nutrition: How Technology is Revolutionising Nutritional Care
It was with this challenge in mind that the Verakis Foundation organised another session of its complementary training programme, Verakis Conecta. During the training, nutritionists discovered how to instantly analyse nutritional values, create personalised meal plans in minutes, and generate detailed reports with a click - transforming what once seemed like science fiction into practical reality.
AI as a Nutritionist's Ally
Technology is profoundly changing how we work, and nutrition is no exception. AI tools are creating new possibilities to optimise routine tasks, allowing professionals to focus on what truly makes a difference: personalised and humanised patient care.
Automated Nutritional Analysis
Nutritional composition analysis, which traditionally required manual consultation of tables and databases, can now be completed in seconds. AI can identify foods in photographs and provide detailed information about their nutritional composition, making monitoring more precise and efficient.
Intelligent Meal Planning
Creating meal plans, often a time-consuming task, can be significantly streamlined with AI assistance. Based on patient profiles - including age, weight, height, goals, and dietary restrictions - the technology suggests personalised plans that serve as a starting point for nutritionists to make necessary adjustments.
Educational Content Management
AI can assist in creating personalised educational materials, from infographics to comprehensive guides about healthy eating. This enables nutritionists to provide accurate and accessible information to their patients, promoting better understanding and adherence to nutritional plans.
Progress Monitoring
AI-based systems can track patient progress, identify patterns, and generate detailed reports. This deep analysis capability enables more informed decisions and precise adjustments to meal plans.
The Balance Between Technology and Professional Expertise
It's crucial to understand that AI doesn't replace the nutritionist - it's a tool to enhance their work. Technical knowledge, clinical experience, and especially the ability to establish human connections remain irreplaceable.
The true art lies in finding the balance: using technology to optimise processes and free up time to strengthen what no machine can replicate - empathy, contextual understanding, and truly personalised care.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is transforming nutrition practice, offering powerful tools to optimise the nutritionist's work. By embracing these technologies strategically, professionals can dedicate more time to what really matters: personalised patient care.
The key is seeing AI not as a replacement but as an ally that enables elevating the level of nutritional care. The future of nutrition lies in the intelligent combination of advanced technology and irreplaceable professional knowledge.
