Reliable, trustworthy information on food, diets and good nutrition, proudly serving White Rock and South Surrey, BC and the Vancouver area.
Reliable, Trustworthy Information on Food & Diets
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Diet and Nutrition Advice
Nutrition Questions?
Nutrition information at your fingertips. This site contains, reliable, trustworthy and up to date information on good nutrition, nutrition related problems, losing weight and food in general. We aim to keep you informed and improve your knowledge, without overwhelming you. Looking for something else or need to know more? - Ask a question via our contact page, look up additional info on the Health web sites we link to on the services page under "helpful web sites" or check out and bookmark our blog.
Providing Solutions
You have a problem - we have the plan! We find solutions to your diet dilemmas - it could be as simple as a few quick diet fixes or a mini-diet makeover, or maybe you need a comprehensive diet plan? Perhaps menu planning or a strategy to lower cholesterol? We listen, assess, and make a plan with you to help you reach your health goals. Email us to make an appointment to discuss your nutriton issues.
Help Getting Started
Latest research suggests that some 50% of Canadians know what they should eat, but not how to put it into practise. We often hear that people are so confused by conflicting information that they end up doing nothing! We help you put your plan into practise and give you tips on how to stick to your plan that suit your lifestyle. We follow along with you to keep you on track. You know what to do - let us show you how!
Common Problems
we can help you with:
- Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis
Definition: Presence of diverticula (sacs and pouches) in the colon walls.
Complications: Pain, altered bowel habits and most seriously “diverticulitis” – inflammation of the diverticula, (usually caused by infection) which causes severe pain, diarrhea and may require surgical intervention.
Recommended Dietary Changes: When inflammation absent, increase dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber by eating more fruits, vegetables and legumes. Advance meal planning very effective - we’ll show you how to make the best changes.
- Diabetes - Type 2
Diabetes - Type 2
Definition: A disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterized by inadequate insulin and/or insulin resistance, resulting in higher than normal levels of sugar (glucose) circulating in the blood.
Complications: Vascular and nerve damage which can result in blindness, loss of sensitivity in extremities and Kidney damage. Associated with higher risk of heart disease.
Recommended Dietary Changes: Diet and lifestyle changes are essential for good management of the condition. Diet recommendations are very individual and specific, taking onto account other medical conditions, lab results, insulin levels and insulin resistance. Our Dietitian has experience working with Diabetes patients.
- Hypertension
Hypertension
Definition: High blood pressure, BP greater than 140/90 mm Hq.
Complications: Arteriosclerosis. CAD, MI, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and Renal Failure.
Recommended Dietary Changes The DASH diet - Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension - has proven to be very successful: Lowering salt and sodium intake essential. A Dietitian can give ideas to expand your options without limiting taste.
- Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease
Definition: Genetically based allergy to the proteins gliadin and glutenin in gluten.
Complications Prior to diagnosis sensitivity to gluten causes mal absorption of nutrients, diarrhea and fatigue. In turn these leads to nutrition deficiencies, anemia, protein malnutrition and possibly osteoporosis later in life.
Recommended Dietary Changes Gluten free diet – a total and lifetime avoidance of gluten. A Dietitian can help with balancing the diet so that you still get all your required nutrients from other non gluten containing foods.
- Constipation
Constipation
Defitition: Infrequent bowel movements involving small, hard stools which are difficult and often painful to pass.
Complications: Hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, build up of toxins and carcinogens.
Recommended Dietary Changes: Increasing fiber to more than 25g a day from a variety of foods, works for most cases, but often sufferers find it hard to consistently achieve this. We work on a meal plan with you using foods you enjoy to increase your fiber intake.
- High Cholesterol
High Cholesterol
Definiition: Elevated concentration of cholesterol = > 5.2 mmol/ L in the blood and usually LDL cholesterol levels elevated too.
Complications: Blocked or narrowed arteries, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, increased risk heart attack, stroke, thrombosis.
Recommended Dietary Changes: Lowering saturated animal fat intake, particularly trans and hydrogenated fats and replacing saturated fat with mono and poly- unsaturated fats. Eating more soluble fiber lis also known to lowers LDL levels. We can help you put knowledge into practice with meal ideas.
- Food Addiction
Food Addiction
Definition: Psychological and/or physical dependence on food.
Complications: Weight gain leading to other complications such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, high cholesterol and unhealthy body state due to imbalance of nutrients.
Recommended Dietary Changes Balancing the diet and nutrient intake essential as food omissions can often be the cause. Refer to a psychologist or counsellor if necessary.
- Overeating
Overeating
Definition: Eating more food than required for activity level, eating when not physically hungry, or inability to stop eating once one has started eating.
Overeating: Weight gain and weight related health problems. Depression common.
Recommended Dietary Changes: Retraining the brain to enjoy smaller amounts food. Diet planning and follow up by Dietitian essential and Psychologist may be needed.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Definition Recurring spastic type abdominal pain, accompanied by constipation, diarrhea or both. Often associated with stress, anxiety or infection of intestine.
Complications: Quality of life affected, sometimes extensively.
Recommended dietary changes: Dietitian needed to assess diet and recommended changes, as remedy is very personal to suffers syptoms. Increasing the soluble type fiber can be beneficial.
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Definition: Loss of bone tissue resulting in weak and brittle bones which are prone to fractures. Osteopenia, weakened bones, precedes osteoporosis.
Complications: Frequent fractures, leading to pain and hospitalization and surgery. Residual mobility and functional problems long after the bone heal.
Recommended Dietary Changes: Adequate Calcium, Protein, and Vitamin D- to help prevent further deterioration of the bones and also maximise bone density in the bone forming years. First a diet review and analysis will determine dietary intake and then a menu plan and supplement recommendations can follow.
- Anemia
Anemia
Definition Reduction in hemoglobin levels: various causes.
Complications: Fatigue, excessive tiredness and breathlessness on exertion. Linked also to poor resistance to infections.
Recommended Action and Dietary Changes: Investigations to establish the cause, using family and medical history, lab work and diet recall. When cause and type of anemia known remedial action can be taken in form of diet plan and list of recommend foods.
Why Use a Dietitian
"I trust the Diet and Nutrition information I receive from Sarah. It is important to me as an MD to have reliable and accurate information and to know that the advice is coming from a qualified, trained Health Care Professional". Christopher Rush, M.D., C.M., F.R.C.P (C)
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