Nutrition
Do you have questions about what to eat?
If you are looking for information on the best way to manage weight, optimize sports performance or just feel comfortable with food, make an appointment with our Nutrition Consultant and Registered Dietitian, Lisa Van Dusen, MS,RD,LDN, by calling Health Services at 508-793-2276.
What is normal eating?
- Normal eating is being able to eat when you are hungry and to continue eating until you are satisfied.
- Normal eating is being able to chose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it-and not just stop eating because you think you should.
- Normal eating is being able to use moderate constraint in your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive you miss out on pleasurable foods.
- Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad, bored, or just because eating feels good.
- Normal eating is three meals per day or it can be choosing to munch along.
- Normal eating is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some tomorrow or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh.
- Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also under-eating at times and wishing you had more.
- Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating.
- Normal eating takes up some time and attention, but it keeps its place as only one important area of your life.
In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger, and your proximity to food.
Reference:
- Satter, Ellyn, How To Get Your Kid To Eat…But Not Too Much, Bull Publishing Co.1987
Before you try herbal supplements:
If you are taking, or plan to take, herbal remedies, it is very important that you tell your primary care provider. He or she will discuss the benefits and risks with you. The practitioner may also adjust all the medication you take. For example, if the herb you are taking acts in the same way as medicine that you are taking, your medicine dosage may need to be decreased. Or your practitioner might ask you to stop taking the medicine prescribed for you altogether.
Most important, there are some dangerous interactions between herbals and drugs that are not commonly known or talked about. The herbals may even interact with drugs you might buy in the supermarket.
Be aware of these facts:
- Herbs should not be treated as food, but as medicine. Just because a product is natural doesn't mean that it's harmless, and natural doesn't mean that you can take as much as you want.
- Don't take herbals for a long period of time. Ask you practitioner how long to take them.
- Don't take them if you are breastfeeding unless your practitioner says it's okay.
- If you feel different or notice any side effects, stop taking the herbal remedy right away and tell your practitioner about it.
- Buy your remedies only from sources that are recommended by your practitioner.
- The FDA does not regulate herbs, so the agency has not tested them to make sure that they are safe and don't have bad side effects. Also, the FDA hasn't come up with the best dosages of herbs for specific diseases or conditions.
- Labeling of herbal packages is unregulated. The exact ingredients and amount of potency of ingredients are not required to appear on labels. Also, the presence of other herbs or substances such as steroids, lead, and caffeine has been reported.
- Some herbs may cause liver disease. The following is a list of herbs that you should positively avoid if you have liver disease. Taking them has caused liver-related complications. These range from acute hepatitis and jaundice to cirrhosis and death from liver failure.
- Chaparral Nutmeg
- Comfrey Germander
- Jin bu huan Mistletoe
- Ragwort Sassafras
- Senna Tansy
Look carefully at the claims made about an herbal remedy before you take it.
Make sure you are reading a confirmed, respected research study, not simply an advertisement. If you're unsure, ask your primary care provider.