Stay Healthy! – April 2012

Stay Healthy!

By J. Manuel Cordova, M. D.

Internal Medicine & Geriatric Specialist

Mdjmcordova1204@yahoo.com

Dietetic And Nutritional Overview 

Part II

 

nutritionalThe term “Nutritionist” or “Nutriologist“ is not specifically defined and, unfortunately, it is sometimes used by people who have no credible nutritional training and who seek to sell dietary supplements or weight-loss schemes without enough scientific support and many times with only anecdotal evidence. Some may even display a diploma or certificate that may mean very little or no validity from a university (or pseudo university). In Mexico, one becomes a certified nutritionist after winning a high school education and four years training in a university to obtain a nutritionist degree. You can verify whether a school listed on the diploma is a bona fide educational institution and if the school is accredited by an agency recognized by the Canadian or US. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, or here in Mexico by going to www.cedulaprofesional.sep.gob.mx

Is there an Ideal Diet?

Many people often search for the perfect diet—that will produce super health and above-normal vigor, strength, and resistance to disease, that will delay aging, and keep them slim. So pervasive is this interest that thousands of people spend vast quantities of time and money searching for the perfect answer, and solution.

Does such a diet exist? In all likelihood, the answer is no. Our nutritional needs differ at each stage of our lives, from infancy through childhood, maturity, pregnancy, and aging, and in states of disease, and steps of each one. We also vary in our genetic tendencies, including hypertension, obesity, some cancers, and heart and other vascular disorders—so food components such as salts or fats pose different risks to different people.

The human body needs various substances from the environment in order to grow, reproduce, and survive. We breath the air to acquire the oxygen our cells need to survive, we drink water to replenish vital supplies of liquid, and we eat to provide us with all important energy sources, because energy is provided by the body`s use of ingested protein, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates between others, inclusive essential amino-acids.

All the foods we eat provide some level of nutrition but you need to consider: There may be no one perfect diet for all of us or even for one of us at all times, but there are some general principles for food selection.

The use and combination of them that apply to most of us (see Dietary Guidelines, Canadian Health- Food Association, US Food and Drugs Administration).

Logical Diet:

Except for people who are in need of a therapeutic diet to deal with a specific health condition, the best approach is to adhere to the principles of food selection advised by the agencies concerned with health and nutrition. Usually these recommendations incorporate the best judgment of nutritionists based on current knowledge.

To Be Continued.

 

 


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