Registered Dietitian, Fatimah Vahed writes…
‘You are what you eat’.
This cliche term has been used over decades to increase awareness around healthy and unhealthy food choices.
Yet generations later and we still haven’t changed!
Hence the ardent need for dieticians in the 21st century.
A registered dietician like myself uses scientific based knowledge and latest research to inform and educate society about making healthy food choices.
We as dieticians play an enormous role in preventing and treating different types of diseases; from diabetes,heart disease, cancer and obesity to just simply improving the way we eat and the choices we make in the corporate and social world.
Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist but only a registered dietician has the comprehensive knowledge and standards to provide sound scientific based care.
As the food industry grows, so do the challenges. We’re referring to the fad diets, odd eating trends, spoof marketing ploys and the abundant influx of fake/ real research.
Nowadays, many people have adopted peculiar perspectives with regards to establishing what is healthy from unhealthy. Unfortunately very few of them are actually correct.
Not knowing what to believe; caught in the cannonade of fad diets, superfoods, supplements, unrealistic body image expectations with the supremacy of social media allowing just about any Tom, Dick or Harry to appear demigod-like in their ‘superior’ understanding of nutrition can be daunting.
Many of us have different preferences for vast types of food based on culture, availability and socioeconomic status. (Yes, this is kept in mind when optimal nutrition intervention and advice is given.)
It’s okay to want a discrepant plan and a “quick fix” when it comes to weight loss and management, sports and fitness enhancement or simply salubriousness in your current state/a clean bill of health.
That’s when the latest scientific research proves it’s worth! It is the 3rd millennium after all!
The cutting edge for me is personalised medicine.
No two of us are alike. What may work for you might not necessarily work for others.
The answer to these puzzling questions of, “why did it not work for me?” lies in the fate of our genes.
Genes easily influence the way our jeans fit; almost every function in our bodies, from eye colour to body shape, to the beat of our hearts are controlled by genetics.
DNA testing can reveal a lot about the way in which our genes influence our health and well being.
It is with this that dieticians like myself can prescribe accurate and effective personalised treatments, tailor made to suit your health and well being.
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A simple cheek swab can reveal a great deal about your health.
Genetic testing done with the assistance of a health professional and a credible lab, can determine how you as an individual respond to metabolising drugs, food and normal body functions.
The genetic tests analyse low penetrance gene variants known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).
The 4 sub categories of tests that are offered are DNA sport, DNA diet, DNA estrogen and DNA health all yielding just about extensive SNPs and variants that equips the basis on which individual, tailor made intervention will be provided.
DNA diet – the science of genetics with regard to weight loss.
DNA health – determines the disturbance of metabolic processes that can result in chronic disease foundation.
DNA sport- the science of genetics that determines performance potential and recovery between exercise sessions.
DNA oestrogen– determined oestrogen dominant conditions.
Fatimah is currently based in KZN | Contact this qualified health professional to assess, diagnose and treat your dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and also on a wider public-health level |0786443646
