Conflicting nutrition advice – how to separate fact from fiction
By Sheri Taylor, Dietitian/Nutritionist
There is a wealth of free information available on the internet, so why would anyone pay to see a dietitian/nutritionist? While some people love to scour the internet for hours and come up with their own DIY nutrition plan, other people would rather hire a professional to do the research for them so they get the results they want in the shortest time possible. It can be incredibly difficult to sort through page after page of conflicting information and know how to apply that information to your everyday life. Should you eat coconut oil, butter or vegetable oil? High carb or low carb? Having a medical condition can make it even more difficult to know which information applies to you, and when. If you are struggling with: excess weight, type 2 diabetes, Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohns, Ulcerative Colitis, or fibromyalgia, what you eat can have a huge affect on your symptoms.
Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a medical condition, if you are feeling anything less than 100% and you don’t know why, an objective review of the situation can sometimes highlight things you weren’t aware of. As a dietitian/nutritionist, I can review your diet to see if it is contributing to the problem, ask your GP to do certain blood tests, and/or refer you to other health professionals if required. You won’t just get a diet sheet and be sent on your way. We will negotiate a bespoke meal plan based on your likes, dislikes and life circumstances (such as whether your job takes you on the road a lot). You will leaving knowing exactly what you need to do when you get home, without feeling like you have to eat a bunch of stuff you don’t even like.
If you decide to have an assessment, you will be asked to write down what you eat and drink for a minimum of three days before your appointment. This saves time during the consultation so that we can spend most of the time figuring out what the problem is and coming up with an action plan (including mix-and-match meal and snack ideas). You will also be asked about your medical history and any medication you may be taking to make sure the advice is appropriate for your medical condition. I may also ask about sleep, stress levels, physical activity, caffeine intake, alcohol, smoking, fluid intake and blood test results. When it comes to health, so many variables are interconnected that it is important to be assessed holistically. For example, did you know there is a link between depression and chronic inflammation? Sometimes the solution to your problem can be something you hadn’t even considered.
Nutrition is a very complicated, ever-changing area. Every website you go to may say something different, and every person you speak to has their own story of what has worked for them. If you are feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice, I can help you figure out which advice is most likely to give you the results you want. To book an appointment, contact the reception staff at Core by calling: 01926 801 111.
