Are you confused by the contradicting advice given by misinformed journalists in the media? Not all studies are well-conducted or well-designed, which allows misinformation to seep in via magazines, blogs, and your favorite TV shows.
If you want to take the guessing out of the equation when creating a diet plan that supports your health goals, we can help. Our experts at Bethel Family Medicine explain how nutritional counseling is key when planning to get healthier and slimmer.
Weight gain is caused by eating more calories than the body can burn. This is why it’s so important to have a specialist on your side who is able to calculate how many calories you need to function optimally.
However, not everyone — even those of the same height, weight, age, and gender — burns calories at the same rate.
Some people have slower metabolisms than others, and hormones can significantly impact metabolic rate.
Insulin is the main fat-storing hormone. When your cells become insulin resistant, a condition often caused by excess sugar consumption, your insulin levels rise, increasing the rate at which your body stores fat.
You can prevent excess insulin secretion by focusing on foods with a low glycemic index. Protein and fat have a minimal effect on insulin, and carbohydrates spike insulin the most.
Often referred to as superfoods, nutrient-dense foods have a lot of vitamins and minerals that support the normal functioning of the body.
However, just because a food is nutrient-dense on paper doesn’t necessarily mean your body is capable of absorbing all the nutrients in that food. Bioavailability refers to how much of the nutrients present in a certain food are absorbed.
For example, spinach is high in calcium, but the bioavailability of the calcium in spinach is low. The human body absorbs only 5% of the calcium in spinach due to the presence of a phytochemical called oxalic acid.
Learning more about nutrition will enable you to inform yourself about both the nutrient density and bioavailability of common foods. As a result, you can avoid having to rely on expensive supplements for vitamins and minerals.
Dieting can become cumbersome when you have to juggle chronic conditions and weight loss. Our specialists can put together personalized diet plans that account for other comorbidities you may have. For example, if you suffer from kidney stones, you may be advised to avoid foods high in oxalates (e.g., spinach, beans, beets, rhubarb, dark chocolate, and beer), as these can further damage your kidneys.
Losing weight isn’t easy, especially when most processed products found in the grocery store are made to be hyper-palatable, meaning manufacturers use a specific combination of sugar, salt, and fat to make their foods as addictive as possible.
Our team at Bethel Family Medicine is aware of all of the obstacles people face when attempting to lose weight. If you want to make a lifestyle change and become healthier, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our team is more than happy to discuss your goals and create a personalized diet plan that’s filled with foods that are both nutritious and tasty.
