Practice
Dr Proesmans

My approach goes back to the basics of medicine. Healthy food is and remains the best medicine to become and stay healthy. The proper nutrition is and remains the best prevention against cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia, fatigue, depression, rheumatism and so on. Getting the right nutrients in the right amount is also an absolute basic requirement optimally healthy to be. That is the principle of the nutritional medicine, or 'medicine through nutrition', usually called orthomolecular medicine. The power of nutritional medicine is that it encourages you to... take your health into your own hands by choosing the right diet, possibly supplemented with vitamins and mineral supplements, and only using conventional medicines as a last resort. In my practice I help and advise my patients to get as many nutrients as possible through healthy, unprocessed food and to supplement any proven (based on blood tests) deficiencies with nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, plant extracts).

Medicines are important remedies, but are only prescribed when the body's self-healing power – supported if necessary by orthomolecular remedies – is no longer effective. Classical medicines, such as antibiotics, are valuable but have strict indications. In addition to their effect, they always have side effects that cause long-term damage to the body, unlike orthomolecular agents that cause no damage at all.

'The groundwork of all happiness is health'

The term 'orthomolecular' was first used in 1968 by Professor Linus Pauling. Orthos comes from the Greek and means: correct, straight or healthy, and molecular stands for molecules. In orthomolecular medicine, the aim is to ensure that the body is always supplied with the right natural substances to function optimally.

Centuries ago it was already known that food can have a medicinal effect. For example, Hippocrates (460-377 BC) mentions the medicinal effect of food several times.

His saying was: 'Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food'
Maimonides (1135-1204)

Whole food, a healthy mind and exercise are the basis of health. These three pillars are absolute prerequisites for preventing diseases, but also for treating existing conditions. This means that you have to take responsibility for your own health to a very important extent.

“The greatest medicine of all is to teach people how not to need it.”

We start with one for each patient extensive questionnaire about his/her dietary habits and correct poor dietary habits where necessary. Possible nutritional intolerances are traced. What is very healthy for one person may be sickening for another.

In addition, a extensive blood tests done. In addition to the classic blood tests (red and white blood cells, kidney function, liver tests, cholesterol, etc.), specific tests are performed in the context of the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and aging processes (oxidative stress, oxidized DNA, determination of minerals in the cell such as selenium, DHEA, melatonin, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, urine test to determine the risk of premenopausal breast cancer).
In anti-aging therapy (see Therapies) the hormonal determinations in 24-hour urine are important.