Happy #NutritionMonth2021!!
Food & healthy habits not only improve Quality of our lives but also the Longevity.
Food has both Preventive & Curative qualities.
Since years, I come across people who think, Nutrition is a branch that is mainly related to Culinary skills & cooking food.
Dietitian's/Nutritionist's Job is all about prescribing weight management diets(dieting) just to maintain healthy weights & body in shape.
Contrary to this, Nutrition is a branch of Alternative Medicine in Modern urbanized world that has plenty of scope of utilization, research & modifications in wellness arena.
Majority of times we can safeguard ourselves from most diseases by just having Healthy foods & Lifestyles.
Combination or exclusion of foods play a vital role in improving our health.
Earlier elderly people in our homes were as efficient as a Nutritionists. They used to provide us with enduring guidance.
Now a day, due to urbanization, many of us are deprived of such guidance. We need counseling during our special needs.
An efficient person should always keep on updating knowledge regarding environment.
As different organs of Body, collectively define health of a person. The specific macro & micro nutrients of food items present in our diet collectively define the food intake can be termed as "Healthy" or not.
Food plays optimal role in our lives-
Certain foods act as Preventive medicines whilst others with curative qualities act as Therapy for diseases.
Why do we need Diet Consultancy or Diet Counseling?
We humans undergo a life cycle starting from birth... During the life cycle our nutrient requirement changes according to the different stages of body's growth & maintenance. Our life includes stages like-
Pregnancy,
Post Partum periods,
Lactation,
Infancy,
Weaning periods,
Childhood (Toddlers)
Adolescence,
Adulthood
Menopause
Old age. (Geriatric care)
Meanwhile, as adults if our immune system is weakened because of lack of healthy nutrients in our daily diet specially imbalance in Macro & Micro nutrients.
We may encounter certain deficiency diseases or diseases due to external factors like pathogens etc.
A Dietician's role is not to replace your diet with a foreign diet but to plan a healthy plate keeping in mind-
-Food preferences,
-Specific diseases & requirements,
-Restrictions,
-Cultural fads,
-Age & Sex
-Activity levels.
-Emergency needs (trauma or stress)
Whilst planning a healthy diet, a sensible Dietitian takes into consideration of all Internal & external factors influencing one's day to day life. For that the patient or the client need counseling.
Follow up, plays important role in effectiveness of Diet Plans.
Unlike medicines Food takes little longer to express its positive impact on ones body.
But once a Healthy Lifestyle & diet sets in order. It’s very much sure that there are minimal chances of repetitions of ailment.
A Nutritionist needs to focus on Diet modification not Replacement.
Dietitian’s Job is more focused on Preventive medicine (preventive foods).
Therapeutic diets & modified diets are also required during Chronic diseases like Diabetes, Liver malfunctions, Hepatic diseases, Thyroid disorders, Food Intolerances, Hypertension & Cardio Vascular diseases etc. Special diets Post partum period, Post surgery, during or convalescence in Geriatrics.
Diet plays role in Detoxification- removal of toxins from the body.
An efficient diet counseling session is one when Dietician can notice, that a patient not only knows what he or she has to eat during the day but also understands the underlying logical reasoning related to modifications done to his /her diet.
Patients must know what the actual condition is, what disorder or why that disorder is. What are the requirement, why is it required, what would be the metabolism & absorption.
As a Dietitian my Motto is to educate the client to improve his/her lifestyle.
Dietitian’s duty includes:-
-Educating community about healthy food practices.
-Updating knowledge about recent researches related to Food fads.
-Also telling about foods that harm & foods that heal.
-Removing the misconceptions & myths regarding Ailments & food intake.
-Telling about Drug & their Interactions with food.
-Culinary skill development to improve food acceptance.
-Use seasonal or cultural foods.
-Reducing food & energy wastage.
-Cost reduction during food preparations.
-Advising Healthy cooking practices.
Unveiling the fact that Indian foods & food practices are best. Every food fad/practice has logical reasoning behind it.
Most important of all above is Medicine (Drug) & Food interaction.
We often hear doctors prescribing Medicines & recommending that have it before meal, Post meal or in between meals... Have milk with a medicine or avoid it.
Drug & food chemical interaction plays a vital role in determining the level of side effects or efficiency of a Drug/Medicine.
So, for an efficient Diet consultation one must provide the Nutritionist with accurate Medicinal intake information.
By cumulatively applying my acquired knowledge about Food & Nutrition, Yog, Healthy lifestyles, & Nature Cure.
I'll try to share blogs, with you all.
So, together we may dream of Healthy Individual..Healthy family...Healthy community & Healthy Nation!!
