Interview with a Nutritionist, Part One

Q- We would like to explore some of the specifics about unhealthy
eating and nutrition. If you had to define nutrition what is it?

A- Well in general terms it’s going to probably depend on the
individual. Through the years I have developed this concept: one
level nutrition doesn’t work for everyone. We come from different
backgrounds and different genealogical makeup or whatever you
want to call it. You might find that works well for one individual may
not work for another individual.

There is a set of guidelines that the government publishes for 20 or
so different vitamins and minerals and nutrient and the
carbohydrates and those values or based on population studies
where they go out and look at the health and consider what people
consume on a regular basis.

Q- Would it be safe to say that nutrition is based on certain food
stuffs?

A- If you wanted to generalize it I would say that it would be just
getting all the right balance of nutrients necessary for good health.

Q- What is the difference between nutrients and food stuffs?

A- Basically none. You can look at anything that provides nutrients to
the body like carbohydrates, protein, minerals and vitamins. They
are the vitamins and minerals that everyone knows about and then
there are the ones like micronutrients like selenium, chromium and
zinc and some of those that aren’t so talked about. But food in
general is just a carrier for nutrients. You can take a loaf of bread
it…has starch in it and protein and non-fat dry milk, the non-fat dry
milk will contain lactose. It will contain a high amount of minerals
usually. The non-fat dry milk will contain casing, which is a non-fat
dry milk protein. You break down the constituents in the food and
each one of those provides nutrients for the body.

Q- How does one go about breaking years and years of bad eating
habits? And we are going to talk more about eating and diet a little bit
later but what would be the start point for someone?

A- It gets pretty interesting and I have written some articles on the
subject. If there were an easy answer to the question we wouldn’t
have the problems we have today like obesity. You know right now
in the US 60% of the population has a weight problem. “Morbidly
Obese” is clinically defined as being 100 pounds or more
overweight. In our population, the number of people being
morbidly obese is increasing year after year.

People with just such a weight problem are continuing to increase
every year. I personally think that there is a root for that problem
and one of those is that in our culture today there is an over
abundance of food available. You know, on every corner there is
fast food and billboards and everywhere you turn there is an
advertisement for fast food. You know starting almost from infancy
where you have two working parents they get home from their job
and they are more likely to park there kids in front of the TV.

One of the things that I have noticed is the amount and length of
the ads seem to be increasing: More and more year after year the
cable companies seem to be just filled with everything you can
imagine and not very nutritious food. You get exposed to that and it
gets ingrained in your thinking about food and, if you will do the
research on it, many of those ads are geared toward influencing
children. When they go back and do the research on the influence
what mom and pop pick off the grocery shelf, they find that the
children have a tremendous influence. So they target those ads at
the children knowing that they are going to put the pressure on the
parents to buy them.

I don’t know if I am getting off track but what you can do to change
a person’s perception of food starts at such an early age. You can
show a person in black and white what foods are good for them and
what isn’t and it pretty much comes down to a conscious decision if
they want to consume healthy foods or not.

And it certainly would be a value to have a mentor or life coach or
fitness trainer or just a friend where there is some kind of
relationship when it comes to dealing with eating healthy.
The fact is that you need support and one of the reasons there are
so many weight loss programs is that they do something a little
different they have meetings and people get together and support
each other.

You know I mentioned Optifast and there is Atkins and when you
gauge how much weight people have lost and whether they keep it
off, all of those people probably within a 5 year period have gained
all that weight back because they have lost their support group. It
speaks volumes to me that if people are going to lose weight and
keep it off they need a support group. It has to be approached that
you are not on a diet to lose weight you are trying to make a
lifestyle change. It is going to be a new way of eating and new
habits even your daily activities it is something that you are going
to do for the rest of your life.

Q- What I think is very sad is generational obesity. You can be out
shopping or eating in a restaurant and where you see overweight
parents you are going to see overweight children. Why do you think
this happens?

A- In a way it is endorsement to the children that their eating habits
and lifestyle habits are acceptable. Just like any of us what better
role models than your parents. If they snack and eat unhealthy
then the children will as well.
You know what is interesting is that everyone is trying to answer
the question, “why are people getting fatter and fatter,” and even
Jay Leno makes jokes about people getting fat. You know the
notion out there is that it isn’t something that people can change
it’s just that people are genetically predisposed to getting fat. And
there is a genetic factor to it but you know that Dr. Phil responds to
it like you may be predisposed to it but you don’t have to succumb
to it.

Q- Do you think that much of those habits are linked to emotions?

A- Sure. Emotions and stress all those things get factored into it. I was
going to finish one point on the genetic side of it. Genetics will
change in a thousand years but not in the last ten years. You can
factor the genetic side of it almost entirely out of it. Everybody has
times of emotional needs.

You know I am almost 60 years old and I work out several times a
week and I can still keep up with people half my age. I am not
bragging but I am saying that just knowing what to eat and how
much to eat and what is healthy and maintaining enough sleep all
factor into just having a healthy lifestyle.