Archive for the ‘General’ Category

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Easter Eggs

Monday, April 25th, 2011

Easter time is here again and our thoughts turn to eggs. Here is some information on eggs of the healthier variety.

Eggs are a good source of protein and contain vitamins and minerals. They are also easy to prepare.

How many eggs?

There is no recommended limit on how many eggs people should eat. Eggs are a good choice as part of a healthy balanced diet. However, remember that it is important to eat a variety of foods each week to get the wide range of nutrients we need.

 

Eggs are a good source of:

  • protein
  • vitamin D
  • vitamin A
  • vitamin B2
  • iodine

 

Eggs can make a really healthy meal. Why not try one of these for your breakfast, lunch or evening meal:

  • Spanish omelettes served with steamed vegetables or a salad.
  • Poached or scrambled eggs and baked beans served on wholegrain toast.
  • Boiled eggs chopped into a summer salad.

 

Fried eggs are higher in fat than boiled, poached or scrambled eggs, but there is nothing wrong with having them occasionally. If you do want a fried egg, use oil that is high in unsaturated fat such as sunflower oil.

 

Eggs and cholesterol

Eggs contain cholesterol and high cholesterol levels in our blood increases our risk of heart disease.

However, the cholesterol we get from our food – and this includes eggs – has less effect on the amount of cholesterol in our blood than the amount of saturated fat we eat. So, if you are eating a balanced diet you only need to cut down on eggs if you have been told to do so by your GP or dietitian. If your GP has told you to watch your cholesterol levels, your priority should be cutting down on saturated fats.

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Go Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Do you usually wear green on St. Patrick’s Day? It is a fun tradition, but this year take it a step further and make an effort to eat green foods as well. It is easy to come up with some green foods to try but here are some ideas to get you started.

For breakfast prepare a spinach omelette, by scrambling eggs and added some fresh or thawed frozen spinach to it. Or maybe try some pancakes with some sliced of green apple or kiwi.


How about having a green salad for lunch? Add some chicken or ham and cheese to make it more filling.

For dinner, try some grilled chicken and potatoes with a big serving of steamed broccoli.

Why not keep the green theme for dessert? Try some green sugar free jelly or fruit salad made with mostly green fruit would be another great dessert idea.

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Fibre in your Diet

Monday, February 14th, 2011

Fibre is found in foods which originate from plants, such as cereals, grains, seeds, pulses, fruit and vegetables. To increase the amount of fibre you eat, you need to have more of these types of food as part of your diet.

There are two types of fibre: soluble and insoluble.  Most foods contain a mixture of both.

It is a good idea to try to eat more fibre because most people in Ireland don’t have enough fibre in their diets. Insoluble fibre helps prevent constipation, and soluble fibre may help to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

Wholegrain varieties of starchy foods, such as wholemeal bread, wholegrain breakfast cereals, brown rice and wholegrain pasta, are particularly good sources of insoluble fibre.

Brussels sprouts, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots are all good sources of fibre, and so are beans and pulses, such as red kidney beans, baked beans, broad beans, butter beans, green beans, chickpeas, green lentils and black-eyed beans. Dried fruit – such as figs, apricots, prunes and dates – are also a good choice. Or try eating pears, apples, cranberries, avocados, pomegranates and blackberries.

When you have plenty of fibre in your diet, you need to make sure that you drink plenty of fluids – at least six to eight glasses a day. It is especially important to have plenty of water if you are constipated because fluids will help to keep things moving! If you get constipated a lot, talk to your GP.

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What’s the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Many people find it difficult to tell the difference between what a dietitian and a nutritionist does. Nutritional Concepts was founded by Sabrina Doyle who is herself from the Carlow/Kilkenny area to provide the latest diet and nutrition information in a professional, friendly and innovative way. Nutritional Concepts hopes that this blog entry will explain the differences and help you to decide which service suits your dietary needs best.

Dietitian

Definition: A dietitian is a health professional who has university qualifications consisting of a 4-year Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or a 3-year Science Degree followed by a Master Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, including a certain period of practical training in different hospital and community settings. Some dietitians also further their knowledge and skills by pursuing various Specialist Dietetic qualifications. Dietitian is an expert in prescribing therapeutic nutrition.

Regulation: All qualified Dietitians should have met national/international standards for professional legislation. The title “Dietitian” is protected by law in many countries such as Canada, USA, Australia, UK and Ireland.

Work: Dietitians can translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food. They also have special skills in translating medical decisions related to food and health to inform the general public. Dietitians can work in both the hospital and community. They may work with people who have special dietary needs, inform the general public about nutrition, evaluate and improve treatments and educate clients, doctors, nurses, health professionals and community groups. They undertake the practical application of nutrition with both individuals and population groups to promote well-being and to prevent nutrition related problems. They are also involved in the diagnoses and dietary treatment of many diseases, such as food allergies, kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.

Your safety: Registered Dietitians are members of one or more professional bodies, and therefore they are held accountable for their conduct and the care they provide. Because of this, the reliability and safety of their professional advice and care are ensured.

Nutritionist

Definition and Regulation: A nutritionist is a non-accredited title that may apply to somebody who has done a short course in nutrition or who has given themselves this title. The term Nutritionist is not protected by law in almost all countries so people with different levels of and knowledge can call themselves a “Nutritionist”.

Work: There are also qualified nutritionists, who are people who have completed University Degrees in Food Science, Human Nutrition, Food and Nutrition, or Food Technology. They are also called Food Scientists. University qualified Nutritionists and Food Scientists normally work for food manufacturers, retailed businesses, in research and public health promotion. Some may work as Dietitian Assistants or Food Journalists. Nutritionists do not have any professional practical training, and therefore they should not be involved in the diagnosis and dietary treatment of any diseases.

Your safety: Since the title ‘nutritionist’ has been used by many unqualified people to describe their involvement in food and nutrition related practice, you should be careful when choosing a qualified nutritional professional.

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Shaping Up for the New Year

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Have you over indulged this Christmas? Although it is all part of the fun it usually leads to gaining a few extra pounds. Many people make the New Years resolution to start trying to lose weight and here are some tips to help you achieve this.

 

Where to start?

First of all, try not to be tempted by the fad diets that are out there. Even though you can lose weight on these short-term crash diets, the weight is less likely to stay off and you may end up putting on more weight than you started with. Instead look for small, simple changes you can make that will give slower results, but will last longer. In the end you will lose more weight, and even better, you will be able to keep it off.

• Try to limit the amount of foods that are high in fat and/or sugar and usually have few other nutrients.

• Make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and wholegrain foods, which are high in fibre. A high fibre diet helps you to lose weight and you need 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables everyday.

• Choose lean meat, fish and chicken and grill, boil or bake it instead of frying.

 

Exercise

Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It can help you to lose weight as well as helping to prevent diseases such as heart disease. We need about 30 minutes exercise, 5 days a week at a moderate intensity. This means you should feel warm and be breathing a little faster when you exercise (you should still be able to talk). Always remember to check with your doctor before you start an exercise program if you have not been active for some time or you are unwell.

 

Alcohol

Alcohol is high in calories and will make a big difference to your weight. Keep alcohol to sensible levels. Check out my blog entitled Alcohol and Units – What Does It All Mean? to recap what these limits are. However if you want to lose weight, drinking less than this will help.

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Why bother with breakfast?

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Breakfast means “breaking the fast”. After a nights rest, eating gives you energy to spark the body into life again.

Breakfast also cuts down on mid morning ‘snack attacks’.

 

No time for breakfast?

  • Set the alarm 5 minutes earlier.
  • Make the sandwich the night before, pop it in the fridge, and eat it when you get to school / work with a carton of orange juice.
  • A glass of milk and a banana are very quick and easy to eat.
  • Fruit can be eaten on the way to school / work. Try bananas, apples, pears, peaches, etc.

Cereal and Milk

  • Healthy choices – Shredded Wheat, Weetabix, Shreddies, Puffed Wheat, Fruit ‘n’ fibre, Porridge, Ready Brek, Rice Krispies, Cornflakes.
  • Try not to add sugar, have sliced banana or sprinkle raisins instead. If you can’t do without, sprinkle less sugar or try an artificial sweetener instead.
  • Sugar coated cereals may damage your teeth, so have these only as an occasional treat.

Toast, bread or muffins

  • Choose wholegrain, high fibre white or malted grain varieties.
  • Try peanut butter, sliced banana or just a thin scrape of jam or marmalade.
  • Easy to eat on the move or on the way to school / work.
  • Use only a thin scraping of butter, margarine or a low fat spread. 

Cooked breakfast

  • Can be healthy, but choose wisely.
  • Try grilled tomatoes and mushrooms or baked beans on toast.
  • Don’t fry your breakfast – try grilling bacon or low fat sausages and scrambling the egg.

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How much water should we be drinking?

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Water makes up about two-thirds of our body weight. Water is essential for the body to grow and maintain itself, as well as being involved in a number of bodily processes e.g. it helps get rid of waste and regulates temperature.

Water is lost from the body through urine and sweat. To stay healthy, you need to replace the fluids you lose by consuming them through your diet. If you don’t consume enough you can become dehydrated.

One of the first signs of dehydration is feeling thirsty. If you think you might not be getting enough fluids, check if you are showing any of these other common signs of dehydration:

  • headaches
  • confusion and irritability
  • lack of concentration and tiredness
  • dark coloured urine and not passing much when you go to the toilet

In climates such as Ireland, we should drink approximately 6 to 8 glasses of fluid every day to stop us getting dehydrated. In hotter climates the body needs more than this.

How to maintain fluid levels – 

  • Have a glass of water when you wake.
  • Regular drinks during the day – don’t forget that tea, coffee and juices can count.
  • Keep a bottle of water in your bag for convenience.
  • Get into the habit of having a glass of water with every meal.
  • The sensation of thirst is not triggered until you’re already dehydrated, so it’s important to drink before you get thirsty.
  • Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, as they too have a high water content.

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Supplements …. Too much of a good thing?

Monday, September 20th, 2010

In Ireland, one in four of us is taking a nutritional supplement (Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2008), often to make up for what we feel is a lack in our normal diet, or because we feel generally run down, or to help fight off colds in the winter. But can they really make a difference?

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements are needed for your body to work properly. However, that does not mean that taking a supplement is necessarily going to be beneficial.

There is a variety of reasons why taking supplements is not as effective as you have been lead to believe, these include the following:

  • Intakes of vitamins and minerals can be taken in much larger amounts in pill form than would ever be managed from food alone, potentially leading to an ‘over-dose’ of a particular vitamin or mineral.
  • In general supplements do not work as well as nutrients obtained from food as they are not as biologically active; that means the body cannot use them as efficiently.

So as much as certain companies would like you to believe the bottom line is….
If you have a balanced diet, for most of us it shouldn’t be necessary to have vitamin and mineral supplements.

However if you really want to take a supplement keep to a one-a-day vitamin and mineral that provides no more than the daily recommended amounts and avoid taking supplements of single vitamins or minerals.

There are as ever some exceptions where due to pregnancy, certain medical conditions, gut surgery or restricted diets that a supplement will be recommended.

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Alcohol and Units – What Does It All Mean?

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Dietitians may well encourage you to drink as little as possible, after all alcoholic drinks are usually full of calories, once you have one you tend to drink another and you can very quickly pile on the pounds!

However the official guidelines are -
Men are advised to drink no more than 3 to 4 units a day.
Women are advised to drink no more than 2 to 3 units a day.  

So what is a unit?  1 unit is equal to - 

  • ½ pint beer Alcohol
  • 1 glass wine
  • 1 measure of spirits

The government recommended safe limits are: 

  • Men 21 units per week
  • Women 14 units per week
   

The list below shows the number of units of alcohol in common drinks –  

A pint of ordinary strength lager 

(e.g. Heineken, Fosters) 

2 units 

A pint of strong lager 

(e.g. Stella Artois, Kronenbourg 1664) 

3 units 

A pint of ordinary strength cider 

(e.g. Bulmers, Cashels) 

2 units 

A pint of ordinary strength stout 

(e.g. Guiness, Murphys) 

2 units 

A 175ml glass of red or white wine 

Around 2 units 

A pub measure of spirits 

1 unit 

An alcopop 

(e.g. Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer, WKD) 

Around 1.5 units 

  

How do you change your drinking habits? 

  • Try to eat before you drink, so you won’t miss out on essential nutrients.
  • Try non-alcoholic drinks instead of alcohol.
  • Dilute alcoholic drinks with low calorie mixers or water.
  • Try drinking more slowly – take smaller sips and pace your drinking.
  • Refrain from drinking for 48 hours after a heavy drinking occasion.
  • Don’t snack while drinking alcohol, remember that eating crisps and nuts will add to the calories and fat you consume. Salty foods will make you thirstier.
  

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Why Eat More Fruit and Vegetables?

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Eating a variety of fruit and vegetables will give you plenty of vitamins and mi5adaynerals. For example, many are naturally high in folic acid, vitamin C and potassium. Fruit and vegetables are also a good source of fibre and other substances, such as antioxidants. All these nutrients are important for your health. Fruit and vegetables are generally low fat and low calorie foods. So eating fruit and vegetables instead of foods that are high in fat and added sugars may help you achieve or keep to a healthy weight.

 

Fruit and vegetables can help protect you from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Try to have at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. In fact, the more you eat the better! Fresh, frozen, chilled, canned in juice (not syrup), 100% fruit juice, and dried fruit and vegetables all count.

 

f&vCheck the table below to find out what counts as one portion. How many do you eat a day?

 

If you are not yet eating 5 a day, then build up to this amount (or more!).

 

Try to choose 5 different fruits and vegetables.

 

But what is a portion?

ONE portion = 80g = any of these
1 apple, banana, pear, orange or other similar sized fruit
2 plums or similar sized fruit
½ a grapefruit or avocado
1 slice of large fruit, such as melon or pineapple
3 heaped tablespoons of vegetables (raw, cooked, frozen or tinned)
3 heaped tablespoons of beans and pulses (however much you eat, beans and pulses count as a maximum of one portion a day)
3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad (fresh or tinned in fruit juice) or stewed fruit
1 heaped tablespoon of dried fruit (such as raisins and apricots)
1 handful of grapes, cherries or berries
a dessert bowl of salad
a glass (150ml) of fruit juice (however much you drink, fruit juice counts as a maximum of one portion a day)

Tips: a day’s worth might be: a banana and a glass of fruit juice with breakfast, salad and an apple with lunch, and carrots with your dinner.

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