Frequently Asked Questions
What does a dietitian do?Is a dietitian and nutritionist the same thing? The main difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist is that a dietitian has undertaken complex and extensive studies under supervision involving clinical nutrition, human nutrition, food service management and medical nutrition therapy.1 As a result of their substantial studies, a dietitian is considered a dietitian and a nutritionist, however a nutritionist without a degree in dietetics cannot practice as a dietitian.1 Does a dietitian only help with weight loss? No, a dietitian is trained in many areas of human nutrition and assists people in understanding the relationship between diet and disease. A dietitian can provide you advice on a wide range of topics including but not limited to:
Do dietitians put people on ‘Diets’? No, a dietitian helps you to implement healthy lifestyle choices and works with you to ensure their recommendations fit in with your likes/dislikes and more importantly your life!! Is a dietitian going to ask me to make a lot of changes all at once? No, a dietitian works with you to make a series of small changes over a period of time. They may even ask you to do only 1 thing per week!! It is important to make sure you tell the dietitian if you are having trouble implementing a change as they can provide you with the support to make healthy choices easier choices. Do all dietitians have a perfect diet, free from all unhealthy foods? No, they still have taste buds!! The reason most dietitians have chosen their profession is because they have a love for food! They believe in moderation and incorporating a wide variety of foods into the diet (yes including chocolate and wine!) along with an active lifestyle.  |
Healthy Eating
Do carbohydrate’s cause weight gain? Carbohydrate’s are an important part of a healthy diet as they provide fuel for your body and brain to use.2 They also contain fibre which ensures a healthy gut.2 There is no scientific evidence that supports the avoidance of carbohydrates from your diet for weight loss.2 In fact due to their fibre content carbohydrate’s can help you to feel fuller for longer.2 Therefore, by cutting these foods out of your diet you may find yourself eating more as you are hungry! The key to weight loss is to implement a healthy lifestyle including a healthy eating plan and regular exercise. A Simply Nutrition Dietitian can assist you in making a healthy eating plan that suits you! To make an appointment contact us today. More information - Are carbohydrates fattening? - Carbs. in a healthy diet.pdf Are artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame) bad for you? While there is a lot of debate in the media about the safety of artificial sweeteners including aspartame, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and other governing bodies throughout the world have approved artificial sweeteners for use.3 Extensive short term and long term studies have been conducted on aspartame in both rats/mice and humans, which have shown that it is safe for use.3 Several artificial sweeteners have Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI’s) recommended which also have a safety margin built into them.4 For example, Aspartame has a ADI of 40mg/kg of body weight per day.4 This means that a 60kg person could have 12 cans of diet soft drink containing Aspartame a day!!4 For more information refer to www.foodstandards.gov.au. Are organic foods better for me? Organic foods are those grown without the use of chemicals.5 In Australia, tests have shown little difference between foods grown the conventional way and those grown organically.5 Therefore both organic and conventionally grown foods can provide your body with the nutrients it requires.5 FSANZ carefully monitor the use of chemicals and the chemical residue allowed in foods to ensure all foods eaten in Australia are safe to eat regardless whether they are organic or not.5 Should I take a multivitamin? Multivitamins should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet, as a healthy diet is the best way for your body to get all the nutrients it needs from food.6 Not only does food provide your body with vitamins and minerals, a well-balanced diet provides your body with carbohydrate, healthy fats, protein and fibre! Specific vitamin and mineral supplements may be needed for people who are unable to meet their recommended dietary intakes through food. For example, a vegan may need to take an iron supplement if their blood tests show low iron. Is butter better for my health than margarine? Butter contains 50% saturated fat, which is the ‘bad’ fat, that increases our cholesterol levels and can increase our risk of heart disease and stroke by contributing to the build up of fatty material on the inside of blood vessels.7 Margarine is a much healthier choice because it is made up of mostly ‘good’ unsaturated fats and only contains 20% saturated fat.7 These healthy fats can reduce the bad cholesterol in your blood produced by bad fats.7 By replacing margarine for butter, you can maintain a healthier cardiovascular system.7 Remember that just because it is considered ‘natural’ it does not mean that it is good for your health.8 Several so-called ‘natural foods’ such as sea salt, palm oil and coconut oil/cream, are not good for your health!!8 |
References:
1. Dietitians Association of Australia. Becoming a Dietitian. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19] Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?pageID=2145833487
2. Dietitians Association of Australia. Smart Eating for you- Frequently Asked Questions. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834526
3. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Aspartame. 2011. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/aspartame.cfm
4. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Diabetes Centre. Healthy Eating and Diabetes: Sweeteners (2007).
5. Dietitians Association of Australia. Organic Food. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834490
6. Dietitians Association of Australia. I don’t eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, should I take a supplement instead? 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145864660
7. Heart Foundation of Australia. Understanding Fats and Cholesterol. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/HealthyEating/understandingfatsandcholesterol/Pages/default.aspx
8. Heart Foundation of Australia. FAQ’s Butter vs Margarine. 2010 [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/HealthyEating/understandingfatsandcholesterol/Pages/FAQsButtervsMargarine.aspx
1. Dietitians Association of Australia. Becoming a Dietitian. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19] Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?pageID=2145833487
2. Dietitians Association of Australia. Smart Eating for you- Frequently Asked Questions. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834526
3. Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Aspartame. 2011. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/aspartame.cfm
4. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Diabetes Centre. Healthy Eating and Diabetes: Sweeteners (2007).
5. Dietitians Association of Australia. Organic Food. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145834490
6. Dietitians Association of Australia. I don’t eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, should I take a supplement instead? 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.daa.asn.au/index.asp?PageID=2145864660
7. Heart Foundation of Australia. Understanding Fats and Cholesterol. 2010. [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/HealthyEating/understandingfatsandcholesterol/Pages/default.aspx
8. Heart Foundation of Australia. FAQ’s Butter vs Margarine. 2010 [cited 2011 January 19]. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/sites/HealthyEating/understandingfatsandcholesterol/Pages/FAQsButtervsMargarine.aspx
