Happy New Year!
2019 was an exciting year for me as I launched TrueNutritionRD. What better way to start 2020 than with a countdown of my own! Over the next few weeks I will be looking back at my top 10 posts of the year based on your likes!
WHAT IS A DIETITIAN?
To start things off is a very important blog post from the very beginning of the year: What is a dietitian?
There are three things to know:
Dietitians are passionate about food and helping people with disease management and general dietary concerns.
They undergo extensive education and training in order to provide science-based information that is safe for the public, and individually caters to the needs of their patients.
Dietitian is a protected term, meaning that not just anyone can call themselves a dietitian, and they can differ significantly from a nutritionist.
Click here to read my full post and learn more about what a registered dietitian is.
NEW CANADA'S FOOD GUIDE
An exciting event in the dietitian world was the release of the new Canada’s Food Guide in January 2019.
What’s different?
Focuses on developing healthier eating patterns by getting the right proportion of protein sources, whole grains, vegetables and fruits at every meal
Emphasizes eating plant-based foods to reduce your intake of fat, sodium, and sugars
Goes beyond what to eat with information on how to eat mindfully, with enjoyment, and in the presence of others
Remember that this is just a guide! Speak to a Registered Dietitian to get advice that is tailored to your specific needs.
KETOGENIC DIET
One of my most controversial posts of 2019 was my review of the ketogenic diet.
The ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate diet that was developed to reduce the number of seizures in children with epilepsy, but has since gained popularity as a diet for quick weight loss.
Glucose, a product of carbohydrate metabolism, fuels the brain and body. In the absence of carbs, fat is broken down, creating ketones to fuel the body instead. The source of fat is from the foods you eat, instead of your body’s fat stores. Weight loss is, however, common but attributable to water weight since glucose is stored with water in the body, a calorie deficit caused by cutting out several food groups, and prolonged satiety from eating high-fat foods. Many studies indicate that the weight is gained back long term.
The ketogenic diet is very restrictive, which may cause constipation, decreased bone quality, loss of muscle mass, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to a lack of whole grains, fruits, many vegetables, and some milk products. It must be strictly followed since the body readily switches back to using carbs as an energy source. This can be difficult to sustain since this diet can be expensive and socially isolating, and you may experience the keto flu in the first few weeks since the body is craving glucose.
If you are interested in trialing the ketogenic diet, speak to a dietitian to help you reach your goals safely and ensure you meet your nutritional needs.
WHY I BECAME AN RD
In case you missed it (#ICYMI), last year I shared the reason why I became a dietitian.
Lots of people get into dietetics to help someone close to them. The person that I wanted to help was myself! I was a very picky eater as a child and well into my teens, and wanted to learn how to conquer my food phobias and help others overcome their nutrition issues.
Click here for the the full story!
F&V TIP
The next popular post from 2019 came from my top five tips for a healthy and happy new year series. The tip is to eat more fruits and vegetables!
Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, and can reduce your risk of many chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Maximize the benefits of this food group by choosing a wide variety of colours throughout the day and filling half your plate at every meal.
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