Can we start by delineating the difference between a dietician and a nutritionist?
A dietician has a recognised qualification by way of a Bachelor’s or Masters degree or a post graduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics. All dieticians need to complete internships in both hospital and community settings. Dieticians are a reliable source of nutrition information and capable at devising diet plans.
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutritional impacts on health. Some nutritionists have undergone postsecondary educational programs in the sciences and have studied nutrients and other components of food in depth. In other contexts, the title “nutritionist” is not subject to professional regulation therefore any person may call themselves a nutrition expert even if they are wholly self-taught.
Please could you explain the concept of an eco-diet? How does this approach work and how does it differ from a traditional eating plan?
Our bodies are dynamic environments which are not only affected by external factors, but also internal dynamics. Toxic emotions (hate, resentment, negativity), toxic food, chemicals, hormones in food, pollution are all detrimental to our health and our internal environment. The eco diet is aimed at a holistic approach to nutrition and lifestyle; I am a strong believer that a healthy body and mind is naturally slim!
For background purposes, when it comes to dieting, the law of thermodynamics always applies. The aim is to reduce the overall calorie intake and the result is to reduce your overall body mass by way of losing water, fat, muscle or a combination of all three. So, conventional diets work for weight loss IF you follow them correctly. Symptoms of a bad diet include water retention, uncontrollable cravings, feeling lethargic and depressed, developing allergies and intolerances to food, you could also be lacking zest for life or in need of stimulants and sugar to get you through the day. These are all clear signs that the body is out of balance and not functioning at its peak.
Processed food is loaded with chemicals, hormones, food additives and multiple process methods that not only alter our body chemistry, but also our sense of taste. This results in overeating. Some products, like sugar, are also highly addictive, which then affects our endocrine system, brain and body chemistry and floods the body with excess chemicals.
The Eco Diet starts by identifying toxic chemicals present in the body and in the foods you consume daily, which inhibit your desired results. The first step is cleansing the body of these toxins through healthy nutrition, supplementation and exercise regime.
The more natural, fresh and whole your food is the better, not only for your waistline, but your overall health and wellness. The cleaner you eat the leaner and healthier you’ll be. This includes eating organic, hormone-free food.
When we eat food in its natural state, or whole foods, you will automatically eat less as they are less calorie dense. Think, lean proteins, fruit, an abundance of vegetables, some whole grains and essential fats. You can’t go wrong. We always build health first so if you’re body is healthy you will naturally look and feel better.
So the idea is to eat organic food as much as possible, if this isn’t possible make sure all your animal products, including chicken, meat and dairy are all hormone free. Make sure at least half your diet consists of raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, the rest coming from lean, hormone free protein sources and some wholegrain.
Remember: natural, unprocessed food is nutrient dense – processed food is calorie dense
Your body looks for nutrients and not calories, so make sure you feed it correctly!
Finally, 90% of your weight loss success is due to your diet, so there is no need to do endless hours of exercise. Your nutrition is the key to fat loss and exercise then sculpts your body, the most effective being well performed resistance training. Make no mistake, cardio plays a crucial role in health and your cardiovascular system, but in terms of fat loss, cardio plays a secondary role, unless you are an athlete, most of us sit at our desk all day, so diet is really what we need to focus on.
In terms of supplements and whole foods, I am a huge fan Spirulina, as long as it is a good quality brand and backed by research.
For full details of my eco diet, see www.ecodiet.co.za