In order to function to its optimum capacity, the body needs to absorb essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins, and various vitamins. These ensure healthy digestion, metabolizing and excreting which, in turn, leads to homeostasis. This refers to the body’s ability to regulate its inner environment to ensure stability as it responds to changes in the external environment. Poor diets that include foods rich in sugars and processed foods may contribute to other health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

With factors such as diet, exercise, rest and hereditary issues affecting optimum body functioning, chiropractors will consider a patient’s medical history, past injuries, present symptoms, and postural analysis. Further physical, neurological and orthopedic examinations may be included and, dependent on the findings, patients may be referred to other health practitioners for additional consultation.

Persistent nutritional deficiencies are commonplace in the world today. As such, nutritional therapy has evolved and grown to include specialized treatments. Preventative health care aims to address stressful environments and the lack of essential nutrients in one's daily diet.