The nutrition goals may include: Nutrition is a lifestyle factor that can play a major role in maintaining health and preventing disease or the worsening of an existing health condition. Both Eastern and Western medicine traditions for thousands of years have included food as a keystone for health (“Let food be your medicine” Hippocrates, 400BC).

Our body cells and tissues need good nutrition for optimal functioning. With the development of nutrition as a science many specific components have been found to serve specific functions in the body and to aid in preventing or treating specific diseases.  Many studies have shown the health benefits of reducing saturated fat and trans fats, increasing dietary fiber intakes, vegetable and fruit intakes and whole grains.  A healthy diet and exercise can reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in people at high risk for developing the disease. This means 58 people out of 100 who could have developed type 2 diabetes would be disease-free.  Consuming low glycemic index foods rather than high glycemic index foods can help to avoid the highs and lows in blood glucose and can improve the management of blood glucose in people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.  This can improve quality of life by reducing diabetes complications. Reducing blood glucose in people with or without diabetes has been observed to reduce cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) and this can save lives. 

A multitude of studies have shown that improving cholesterol levels or reducing high blood pressure can significantly reduce the chance of developing a heart attack or a stroke.  Foods and food components have now been identified to have cholesterol-reducing properties such as soy protein, nuts and viscous fiber.  

Overweight and obesity are major risk factors of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.  Many dietary approaches have been shown effective results in reducing body weight in the short term, very few in the long term and the changes are often difficult to maintain unless tailored to the individual’s needs. 

Often it is key dietary changes that can be maintained over time which can make the difference.  Small changes in dietary and lifestyle habits can often lead a long way, bring much health and increase disease-free years.  Ask our nutritionist how you can incorporate these changes to your diet making your diet healthier but also manageable and tailored to your needs and working schedule.  You can also ask how you can make your favorite recipes healthier.