Maintaining health and longevity through the use of tools and evaluation to direct diet and necessary vitamin/mineral supplements throughout life. More about Nutrition, Nutrition Video

Nutrition Practitioners

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More About Nutrition

NUTRITION & FOOD
Practitioners on our site, focus their work around nutrition on maintaining health and longevity through the use of tools and evaluation. They can then direct clients in applicable dietary changes and advise them on any necessary vitamin/mineral supplements they should take, to benefit their overall health & wellbeing.

What is Nutrition?
Nutrition is the provision to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (food!) to support life. Providing each cell and cellular structure with the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need for optimal function. Common health problems can be prevented or eased through effective nutrition.
Diet – Refers to what an organism eats. Dietitians specialize in human nutrition, economics, food preparation & planning etc. They are trained to provide safe dietary advice and management that is based upon scientific evidence, to both individuals and institutions (such as schools).

A diet low in certain vitamins and minerals can result in diseases related directly to poor nutrition and deficiencies, such as scurvy and beriberi. Poor diet can also cause health-threatening illnesses like obesity, anorexia, metabolic syndrome and systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteopororis.

It has been proven, that eating a wide variety of fresh, whole unprocessed foods, is favorable vs. eating a monotonous diet based on processed foods. Better management of cell growth, maintenance and cell division can be achieved by the consumption of ‘whole’ plant foods, as they slow digestion and provide higher amounts and a better balance of essential nutrient per calorie.
It is important also, to have regularly scheduled meals every few hours, rather than haphazard infrequent ones.

Nutrients
There are seven main classes of nutrients, each of which can be further broken down into macronutrients (needed in fairly large amounts) and micronutrients (needed in much smaller quantities). The seven classes are: carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, proteins, vitamins and water.

Types of Diets
There are many types of diets advocated today – including Macrobiotic diet, Mediterranean diet and the raw food diet (to name but a few). Brief details on each of the above diets are shown below:

Macrobiotic Diet
The macrobiotic diet is part of the Far Eastern philosophy of macrobiotics meaning “great life”. The food guidelines for the macrobiotic diet have continued to evolve, but basically are as follows:

- 50% whole grains
- 25% seasonal vegetables, raw or cooked
- 10% protein foods – including fish & legumes
- 5% sea vegetables
- 5% soups
- 5% nuts, fruit & seeds

Those following a macrobiotic diet should choose organic foods that should be eaten when fresh (you should not use frozen foods if possible), and the diet also governs how the food should be prepared. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner (this should apply to all types of diets – not purely the macrobiotic diet – it enables your stomach and digestive processes to better digest the food as you masticate and swallow it!). Microwaves should not be used either. Foods that have been excluded from the macrobiotic diet include eggs, meat, cheese, alcohol, spices and sugars.

The Mediterranean Diet
The mediterranean diet is advocated as a an option that is ‘heart-healthy’, a 2007 study in the US showed that both men and women who consumed a mediterranean diet reduced their risk of both cancer and heart disease. The mediterranean diet focuses on healthy eating, with some flavorful olive oil and an occassional splash (or glass) of red wine. You should include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains and limit unhealthy fats or excessive amounts of sugar. The main components of a mediterranean diet include:


- Eating generous amounts of vegetables & fruit
- Eating small portions of nuts
- Drinking red wine (in moderation)
- Eating fish on a regular basis
- Eating very little red meat
- Consuming healthy fats such as canola and olive oil

Breads, pastas & grains / rice also form a regular component of a mediterraean diet, but the breads (for example) are rarely eaten with either butter or margarine, which contain saturated or trans fats. It is important to note also, that grains in the mediterranean diet are often whole grains.

The Raw Diet (Rawism or Raw Foodism)
This is a lifestyle characterized by the consumption of between 60%-100% raw food. People advocating a raw food diet generally believe that the more raw food in your diet, the healthier the individual will become. Some raw foodists consume only non-meat products (vegetarian) while others also advocate the consumption of both raw meat and fish. Many people who are not raw foodists, enjoy sushi or Steak Tartare, both of which are wholly raw.

Raw food diets may include a selection of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, meat and non-pasteurized or non-homogenized dairy products (such as raw yogurt, raw cheese and raw milk). Many individuals believe that the consumption of raw food encourages both weight loss, and prevents and heals many ailments, sicknesses and chronic diseases. Some medical studies have indicated that some raw food diets lead to health problems, while other studies have shown positive health outcomes with this approach.

As with any change in diet, please consult your physician before changing your dietary intake.