People often ask dietitians 'what is the best diet for losing weight?', and we end up disappointing them by explaining that there is no perfect diet. What really works for long-term weight loss are the lifestyle changes a person makes. It is also essential to understand the importance of a balanced diet. Following an overly restrictive diet can lead to disordered eating patterns and nutritional deficiencies. Medical management of obesity There … [Read more...]
Dietary management of hypertension
What is hypertension? Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, and according to the Heart foundation, approximately 4 in 10 adults are experiencing hypertension which is a cause for concern. What is blood pressure? We often hear this term but may not fully comprehend what it means. The heart pumps blood throughout the body through blood vessels knows as arteries. The force with which the blood is pumped is known as blood pressure. … [Read more...]
Alcohol
What is alcohol? Alcohol is formed by yeast fermentation of different foods. Wine, for example, is made from the sugar in grapes and beer comes from the sugar in malted barley. Through this fermentation process, ethanol is produced as a by product. The strength of the alcohol is dependent on the length of the fermentation process. Spirits, for example, have a higher alcohol content than beer or wine. How much should you consume? The … [Read more...]
Nutrition during Pregnancy
Pregnant women often use the phrase 'now I'm eating for two'. There is an increase in the calorie intake for pregnant women as the child is relying on the mother's diet for nutrition. However, eating for two does not mean simply doubling the calories. The extra need for calories should not be a license to consume empty calories from high fat, high sugar foods or sugar sweetened beverages. Instead, calories should come from a variety of food … [Read more...]
How to stay healthy as a shift worker
What is shift work? Shift work involves working on a schedule outside the standard 9-5 day (e.g. early morning and night shifts). How does shift work have an impact on our health? Our body works around a circadian rhythm. This refers to the body's internal clock. Shift work, especially night shifts tend to disrupt the circadian rhythm, making it difficult for a shift worker to have a regular eating and sleeping pattern. The irregular … [Read more...]
Tips on how-to lose weight without extreme diets
Weight loss takes place when there is a deficit created between the energy intake and energy expenditure. There are a couple of different routes that can be taken to achieve weight loss but as a dietitian, I would never recommend cutting out entire food groups to achieve this deficit, as this can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Here are a few dietary patterns that have proven to result in weight loss . 1. Higher protein, … [Read more...]
4 Healthy tips on deciding what to order while eating out
When it comes to eating out, there are always ways to be mindful and choose wisely so that your weekly meal while eating out will not sabotage all the efforts you make to stay healthy. Here are 4 healthy tips on deciding what to order while eating out 1. Vegetables Whenever possible, choose a dish that includes vegetables. For example, stir-fries, salads, vegetarian pizzas. 2. Healthier side dishes Choose healthier sides such as … [Read more...]
How to avoid going for seconds
Some people often feel that they cannot fill up on small amounts of food and they find themselves going for second and third servings. These excess calories exceed energy requirements and cause people to gain weight. Most people tend to blame themselves for having poor self-control but more often than not, our erratic meal patterns and lifestyles are the reason for overeating and not the lack of self-care. Here are a couple of tips that can … [Read more...]
5 tips to consider for people with hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, is a condition where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland has a number of important roles such as, regulating the body's metabolic rate and the heart and digestive function. Here are 5 tips for people with hypothyroidism Iodine, is required by the body to synthesize the thyroid hormone. Sources of iodine can be found in oysters, seaweed and … [Read more...]
Healthy alternatives with a Indian diet
The Indian diet has earned the reputation of being high in fat and carbohydrates due to the greasy naan breads and the butter chicken people usually go for at restaurants. This paints the picture that an Indian diet is not for the health conscious person. This however is not true. Although the Indian dietary pattern can include calorie dense foods, there is a plethora of healthy Indian meals one can include in their diet. There are options for … [Read more...]
