Five reasons to see a dietitian
There is a common misconception that the only reason to see a dietitian is to lose weight, however, dietitians are able to help with a range of issues and health goals. Here are our top five reasons for checking in with an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
1/ You’re sick of yo’yo dieting
Most dietitians will focus on helping you develop healthy eating habits you can sustain long-term, instead of prescribing very restrictive diets that may help you lose weight short-term. Fad dieting and yo’yo dieting is not only frustrating but also very harmful for your health with research showing that it is linked with a shortened life-expectancy, an increased risk of chronic diseases and a wide range of negative health consequences such as binge-eating, disordered eating, nutritional deficiencies, low mood and poor self-esteem. Plus we know that fad diets don’t work long-term with research showing that <5% of people who lose weight through a diet are likely to keep it off long-term.
2/ You’re confused about all the conflicting information on nutrition and diets
1 in 2 adults find it difficult to find reliable information when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating. Everyday we are inundated with hundreds of conflicting messages about food whether it’s online bloggers, inta-famous influencers or the latest edition of New Idea magazine. It's not just the media who are confusing people, everybody eats, therefore everybody considers themselves an expert when it comes to food. Just walk into the lunch room at work, or the change room at the gym and you’ll hear Jenny from finance talking about how she feels fantastic on her new keto diet and carbohydrates are pure evil. Dietitians are nutrition scientists and can help you separate fact from fiction based on the latest scientific research. Confused about whether butter or margarine is better? Or maybe what types of carbohydrates are best? Or how many eggs are safe to eat per week? Ask an Accredited Practising dietitian!
3/ You have a medical condition you’d like to better manage
An Accredited Practising Dietitian can help you better understand your medical condition and how the foods you eat may be affecting it. Diet is extremely powerful when it comes to preventing and managing a wide range diseases including type two diabetes, osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease and even things like depression and dementia. You may be able to reduce your reliance on prescription medication or slowly eliminate it by working with a dietitian. There is a role for diet when it comes to most medical conditions.
4/ You want to optimise your gut health
Gut health is very topical at the moment, and rightly so with research now showing how important our gut health is when it comes to our overall health. The health of your gut has been linked to numerous things such as your weight, mood, sleep, immune system and risk of developing chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, type two diabetes, colorectal cancer, heart disease, inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and even depression. It is also estimated that 1 in 5 Australians will experience symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) throughout their life. There is a lot of misinformation when it comes to gut health, from expensive (and inaccurate) food intolerance tests to gut healing powders. Save yourself the money and stress, and book in with an Accredited Practising Dietitian who can help you optimise your gut health but educating you about things like fibre, prebiotics, probiotics, plant-diversity and fermented foods and help you properly diagnose and manage any gut issues.
5/ You want some reassurance that you’re doing your best
Many people today are extremely proactive with their health and simply book in with a dietitian to ensure that they are ticking all the important boxes. If you’re generally a healthy eater but want to know that you’re getting all the key nutrients your body needs then a dietitian can help. For those who also like to exercise regularly a sports dietitian can help with making sure that you’re fuelling your body correctly before and after exercise to help you get the most out of your workout and support you if you have any body composition goals such as gaining muscle. An Accredited Practising Dietitian can also help with guiding you around what supplements may be of benefit for you and which ones are a waste of time and money.
Eatsense has a team of dietitians based on the NSW Central Coast who offer one on one consultations over four different practice locations. If you would like to make an appointment visit our site at eatsense.com.au and book online.
Also, our premade meals are perfect for those who want to eat healthy but don't have the time or energy to cook from scratch. All of our meals are prepared using fresh, wholesome ingredients and are free from artificial preservatives, colours or flavours. We also have a range of vegan, diabetic friendly, dairy free meals and more. You can view our full menu here.
