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The imperfect eaters -
10-16-2007
The imperfect eaters
Jennifer Sygo, National Post Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 Would you like to lose weight and have more energy without limiting yourself to a diet of flax seed and tofu? I can get you there. My name is Jennifer Sygo, and I'm a registered dietitian and director of nutrition for Cleveland Clinic Canada. Through my practice, I've helped thousands of people improve their eating habits, which has improved their quality of life. Now I want to help you. My clients include busy professionals with heavy travel schedules and constant demands on their time. I don't put them on diets, and I'm not going to put you on a diet. My recommendations are based on the evidence, and the most advanced research shows that diets are bad for you. Instead of dieting, I believe in realistic, sustainable change. I know that life throws holidays, buffets and crazy schedules at us, and that meals happen in the food court as well as in the kitchen. In addition to business executives, my clients include parents with houses full of kids, competitive athletes and retired couples who are enjoying a slower pace of life. Regardless of your situation, I know that the key to success is making changes that work with your routine and lifestyle. I want you to focus on the big picture and not sweat the details. I worry sometimes that in our desire to eat a completely "healthy" diet, we miss the pleasure of food. We also overcomplicate the issue of healthy eating. It's not uncommon for me to work with clients who are so flustered with all the information -- and misinformation -- on nutrition that they have basically thrown in the towel. I'm not a perfect eater, nor do I aspire to be one. But I do know that the more I learn about food and eating, the better equipped I am to make the right choices. And eventually, you find that the same principles apply. Little steps are the name of the game. It's not a question of being a perfect eater or giving up and ordering the bacon double cheeseburger. The truth is that there is a lot of space in between those two extremes where you can develop habits that keep you healthy and satisfy the craving we all have for tasty food. As a nutritional counsellor, I advise my clients on how to control their cholesterol and lower their blood pressure. I teach them how to prevent coronary artery disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. I specialize in sports nutrition and work with athletes of all kinds --from weekend warriors to professional. Working with people who are at the top of their game in both sports and business helps me appreciate the need to give nutrition advice that can be used right now, by busy people whose attention may be focused on other goals. Over the course of my practice, I've learned almost as much from my clients as they have from me, and I plan to share these insights and anecdotes from my clients, family and friends. I hope to make this column informative -- without drowning you with too much detail -- and fun. I look forward to helping you stop dieting and start eating for life. - Jennifer Sygo is director of nutrition for Cleveland Clinic Canada (clevelandcliniccanada. com), which offers executive physicals, prevention and wellness counseling and personal health care management in Toronto. THE BIG FIVE: To kick off her Body & Health column, our nutritionist offers her quick tips on five of the questions she's asked most frequently. Her in-depth explorations of each of these issues will appear on this page on upcoming Tuesdays. Q Should I take supplements? A While I don't go out of my way to be a pill-pusher, I often say that if you're going to take one supplement, take vitamin D. If you're going to take three, take vitamin D, a fish oil supplement, and a multivitamin. There's much more to tell about the benefits, risks and appropriate dosages, of course, so stay tuned. Q Can I eat after 7 p.m. and still lose weight? A Of course you can. But what you eat at night, and the amount, can definitely have an impact on your ability to lose weight. Similarly, what you eat during the day can directly impact your eating habits at night. Q I drink coffee daily. Does that mean I'm always dehydrated? A No. While caffeine can act as a diuretic at first, once you are habituated to it, the effect stops. Q I'm a carb junkie. Is there any way I can lose weight? A Yes. In fact, many of my clients who think they are carb junkies are actually consuming more calories from other sources (fats, proteins) than from carbs. Having a good understanding of where your calories come from is really important for long-term weight loss. Q I don't eat organic. Should I feel guilty? A Of course not. While there may be some environmental advantages to eating organic (and even these are disputed by some), the amount of evidence to say that eating organic improves your health is very limited. source:canada.com 
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