Recently it was NAIDOC week and it presents a good opportunity to raise awareness about the nutrition related challenges facing Indigenous people. For a long time, the serious health problems facing Indigenous Australians went unrecognised. Unfortunately there has been a rise in lifestyle related diseases and conditions in Indigenous people including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and renal disease. Such chronic diseases are common … [Read more...]
What to eat when you travel frequently
I often see people who have to travel frequently for work and therefore find it difficult to eat well. Meals will usually be eaten at restaurants, cafes, or will consist of takeaway items/ room service. Whilst this is ok for the odd trip, it becomes difficult to manage weight and overall health if it is happening often and for a week here and a week there. However, all hope is not lost! There are ways to get around it and to make better … [Read more...]
Superfoods or clever marketing?
Superfoods are everywhere and it seems like they will be sticking around for a while. They boast of their many wonderful nutritional properties and benefits to health. However, all these wonderful claims come with a price tag to match. The real questions is, are superfoods really that exceptional, or do they just have a very clever marketing team? Firstly, what is a “superfood” The term “superfood” is not actually regulated in any way. This … [Read more...]
How to broach the issue of weight
Weight can be a difficult topic to discuss with someone you care about, be it a child, sibling, parent or partner. It can even be difficult for health practitioners to broach the subject with their patients. You are concerned about their wellbeing and want the best for them, yet you do not want to offend or upset them. If not handled in a sensitive manner, you may find the discussion can even have the opposite effect to what you want and can … [Read more...]
Setting SMART Goals for healthy lifestyle changes
Making healthy lifestyle changes can be really difficult. We form habits that become ingrained in our daily routines and we depend upon them to maintain our mood and functioning. For example, many people depend on their morning coffee in order to feel as though they can function at work. Similarly, it may affect your mood and functioning if you miss your afternoon “treat” – a common occurrence to combat that afternoon slump. We all say we will … [Read more...]
Eggs and dietary cholesterol
Should I avoid eggs because of their cholesterol content? It’s a question I get asked a lot: "Should I avoid eggs because of their cholesterol content?" or: "How many eggs can I safely have in a week?". It was once thought that eggs, because they contain some cholesterol, would negatively impact cholesterol levels and that they should be limited or avoided. Unfortunately this is quite an outdated opinion that has managed to stick in people’s … [Read more...]
Nutritional Risk Factors For The Aged Care Population
There are numerous factors that place the aged care population at nutritional risk. Adequate nutrition is integral to maintaining good general health yet it is something that often gets neglected. This blog will discuss some of the more common concerns and how they impact nutrition/health and can lead to malnutrition. Poor dentition A significant number of elderly people will have had tooth extractions and therefore require dentures. This poses … [Read more...]
Easter nutrition tips!
It seems like Christmas has just passed and we’re finally getting on track with healthy dietary patterns when Easter appears out of nowhere – another opportunity for over indulging for 4 or so days! In fact, the indulgences will likely draw out over coming weeks due to the abundance of chocolates received and the need to ‘get them out of the house’ as quick as possible which results in the consumption of copious amounts in short time … [Read more...]
Sugar and Fibre in Cereal
Choosing a nutritious cereal can be tougher than it seems. Many of them are marketed to sound as if they are extremely healthy choices – focusing on the positive aspects only and neglecting the less desirable qualities. Unfortunately, the majority of cereals out there have had sugar added and it’s not always noticeable. Many people are shocked to find out the sugar content of some common, seemingly harmless cereals. Sugar isn’t the only aspect … [Read more...]
Portion Sizes
It can be difficult to know what portion sizes are appropriate if you have never seen/been told what the measurements are for different foods. The government website ‘Eat for Health’ provides information on what one portion size a range of foods is considered to be. They also outline the number of serves of each food group you are recommended to meet based on age and gender. This can be a useful guide in ensuring people are not significantly … [Read more...]
