NTA Therapeutic Diets & Protocols 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client recovering from cancer treatment is following a therapeutic nutrition protocol. Which dietary pattern has the strongest evidence for reducing cancer recurrence risk?
- High-sugar diet to fuel immune cells
- Plant-rich diet low in processed foods and refined sugars (Correct answer)
- Carnivore diet to maximize protein intake
- Very low-calorie diet for all cancer types
Correct answer: Plant-rich diet low in processed foods and refined sugars
A whole-food, plant-rich diet low in refined sugars and processed foods reduces insulin-like growth factor and inflammatory markers associated with cancer recurrence.
Question 2: The MIND diet protocol was specifically designed to reduce risk of which condition?
- Type 2 diabetes
- Neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's (Correct answer)
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular disease
Correct answer: Neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's
The MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) emphasizes berries, leafy greens, and omega-3 rich foods to protect brain health and reduce Alzheimer's risk.
Question 3: In a therapeutic protocol for managing Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which food sensitivity should be investigated FIRST due to molecular mimicry with thyroid tissue?
- Nightshades
- Gluten (Correct answer)
- Citrus fruits
- Cruciferous vegetables
Correct answer: Gluten
Gluten peptides can trigger molecular mimicry where the immune system attacks thyroid tissue due to structural similarity, making gluten removal a priority in Hashimoto's protocols.
Question 4: A practitioner implementing a therapeutic protocol for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) would MOST likely recommend:
- High-glycemic diet to support energy levels
- Low-glycemic, insulin-sensitizing dietary approach (Correct answer)
- Very high-fat ketogenic diet for all clients
- Calorie restriction regardless of food quality
Correct answer: Low-glycemic, insulin-sensitizing dietary approach
Insulin resistance underlies most PCOS cases, making a low-glycemic approach that stabilizes blood sugar and reduces insulin levels a cornerstone of PCOS nutritional therapy.
Question 5: Which therapeutic protocol uses bone broth as a cornerstone food due to its gut-healing properties?
- Low-FODMAP diet
- GAPS diet (Correct answer)
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet
- Mediterranean diet
Correct answer: GAPS diet
The GAPS protocol emphasizes bone broth as a primary healing food because its gelatin, collagen, glycine, and proline support intestinal lining repair and reduce gut permeability.
Question 6: A client on a therapeutic raw food protocol must be counseled that this approach carries increased risk of deficiency in which nutrient?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12 (Correct answer)
- Beta-carotene
- Potassium
Correct answer: Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products, and a raw vegan diet provides no reliable dietary B12, creating significant deficiency risk requiring supplementation.
Question 7: In NTA nutritional therapy, when a client has both food sensitivities AND gut dysbiosis, what is the recommended ORDER of therapeutic intervention?
- Supplement with probiotics first, then address diet
- Begin with dietary elimination while simultaneously supporting gut healing (Correct answer)
- Address all health conditions simultaneously without priority
- Wait for gut testing results before starting any dietary changes
Correct answer: Begin with dietary elimination while simultaneously supporting gut healing
NTA protocols recommend beginning dietary elimination to reduce antigenic load while simultaneously using gut-supportive nutrients, as diet is the foundation upon which other interventions build.
NTA Therapeutic Diets & Protocols 5
A client recovering from cancer treatment is following a therapeutic nutrition protocol.
Which dietary pattern has the strongest evidence for reducing cancer recurrence risk?