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Sponsored Post Written by Techtitute In nutrition, the analysis of nutrients and food components is vital, so studies focused on this field are essential to develop more balanced diets.  Scientific […]

By Alice Benskin Research has shown the important connection between diet and mental health. Large scale studies have established clear links between diets high in ultra-processed foods and poorer mental

We launched our Nutrition Library in September 2022 to help you access all of our content from previous webinars incase you missed anything. Below is a list of all of

Written by Beth Tripp The goal of 30 hours of CPD can be a little overwhelming when you graduate. What counts as CPD is often a question we get asked

Written by Juleyka Uddin We’ve all heard about the gut-brain connection, but what does that really mean? Research has been conducted over the past few years to uncover the link

Let’s take action this Salt Awareness Week: Written by Sheena Bhageerutty This year we are celebrating our 24th Salt Awareness Week between the 15th and 21st May 2023. Over the

When searching for a job, typing in the word ‘nutritionist’ may not always come up with appropriate jobs for you to apply for. We’ve compiled a list if job titles

Written by Lana El Halteh Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world and is a time of worship, prayer and fasting. It is considered as one of

  Written by Chloe Hall at The Calm Gut Dietitian (www.thecalmgutdietitian.com) Histamine intolerance (HI) can be difficult to diagnose and is often misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and

Written by Aoife Corr Creatine is one of the most well researched and most commonly used supplement to enhance sport performance. It essentially works by increasing the capacity of your

  Why a Vegan Diet is Better for the Planet    November marks World Vegan Month, which aims to shed light on veganism and the  reasons why more and more people are adopting a vegan diet. The Vegan Society  launched their Be AnimalKind campaign, which encourages people to reconnect with  their sense of  compassion towards all animals and to learn how to live in alignment  with their values. Not only is a veganism kinder to animals, but it is also kinder to the  planet in many different ways. The Vegan Society has also relaunched their Plate Up  for the Planet campaign that encourages environmentally conscious people to take  the first step on their vegan journey using plant-based alternatives. They have  developed an eBook, packed with veganised classic recipes, tips, blogs and  products that will help on the journey.  Download it for free on  https://www.plateupfortheplanet.org/one-little-switch     Less Greenhouse Gas Emissions   Not only does animal farming emit more greenhouse gases (mainly through methane  production), but there is also a greater ‘carbon opportunity cost’ associated with it  because of the huge amounts of land it requires. This means that when land is used  for grazing animals, or growing animal feed, it could be land used for trees, which  would remove more carbon from the atmosphere.    Less Water Wastage    A vegan diet is also associated with less water wastage compared to an animal  product diet. While it is true that water is used for growing food consumed in a vegan  diet, this is less water than used in animal farming. This is because, in animal  farming, water is required for drinking, cleaning, sanitation, and growing crops for  animal feed. As such, a study from Oxford concluded that moving to a vegan diet  would reduce agriculture water use by an estimated 19%[2]. 

Menopause is the stage in life where ovulation stops, resulting in the end of menstruation and decreased levels of oestrogen (1). Subsequently, this can have adverse effects on body composition, bone health and heart health. This reduction in oestrogen can also cause a range of menopause symptoms, of which 75% of menopausal women experience (2). This includes well known hot flushes, night sweats and brain fog, but also less spoken about symptoms, such as anxiety, itchy skin and vaginal dryness (3).    Why would someone in menopause visit a nutritionist?  Usually, the greatest concern shared amongst menopausal women is that of abdominal weight gain. It’s no surprise given that weight gain affects 50% of women at menopause, with the average person gaining 1.5kg/year during perimenopause (4).     Whilst weight gain is usually the client’s concern, from a professional perspective you must also consider that an increase in central fat deposition leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A reduction in oestrogen already increases the risk of cardiovascular disease – pair this with central weight gain, and it’s crucial that heart health is addressed (5).     Bone health should also be discussed, since reduced oestrogen levels increase the risk of developing osteoporosis (6).    How to address weight management  There’s a good chance that your client will have tried numerous diets by this point of their life, and will have created a narrative in their mind that they cannot lose weight. Not only this, but these women typically have many responsibilities in their lives, such as work or family commitments, meaning their own health is at the bottom of their priorities. This is why realistic, practical advice that they can easily implement into their lifestyle is crucial.    Keep your advice simple – start by checking how often and how much they’re eating. Sometimes, they’re eating too infrequently that it’s leading to over indulgence late in the evening. Consider the quality of their diet – are they eating a good source of fibrous complex carbohydrates, protein and plenty of fruits and vegetables at each meal? As nutrition professionals, you know the basics of weight management and the importance of creating an energy deficit… keep it simple, don’t overcomplicate it.    How to address heart health  As mentioned, many women won’t visit your clinic with the purpose to focus only on heart health. Regardless, it’s also important to ensure the advice you provide benefits their heart.    When considering heart health, it’s important to think about blood lipids and blood pressure. Total cholesterol typically increases with menopause, whilst HDL cholesterol starts to decline (4). Not only this, but central weight gain promotes increases in LDL cholesterol (7). Just like with weight management, don’t over complicate your advice.  Review their saturated fat and salt intake and see where simple swaps can be made. Perhaps it’s as simple as swapping salted butter for a plant-based vegetable spread. Don’t forget that fibre is good for heart health too (8). A good starting place is checking whether they’re getting their 5-a-day. If not, set this as a goal. Fruits and vegetables not only provide heart friendly fibre, but antioxidants, which are also beneficial for heart health.     How to address bone health  The rate of bone loss increases at menopause. It’s estimated that 1-3 years prior to menopause, bone mass density is lost at a rate of 2%, which can continue for up to 10 years (9). Subsequently, bone health must be taken into consideration to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The recommendation for calcium is 700mg/day (10). However, the National Osteoporosis society suggest those at increased risk of osteoporosis should aim for 1000–1200mg/day instead (4,11). This can be achieved by ensuring your client consumes 3 good sources of calcium daily, such as dairy.    Where does exercise, emotional wellbeing and yoga come into menopause management?  A holistic approach to managing menopause symptoms ensures the best support possible for your client. Strength-based exercises will help to build and maintain muscle mass, which in turn will help increase your client’s metabolic rate and support their weight management. Aerobic exercise will also support their heart health. Yoga is a form of restorative exercise, helping your body to heal and repair.    With so many changes at this stage of life and the possibility of developing anxiety, depression or low self-esteem as symptoms of menopause, emotional wellbeing may be the most overlooked component of menopause management.     Knowing the importance of a holistic approach, alongside medical support, during menopause, www.harleystathome.com was created. Harley Street at Home: Menopause provides exercise and yoga classes, open menopause clinics with British Menopause Society trained doctors, nutrition workshops, weight management programmes and emotional wellbeing courses, ensuring that everything a menopausal women could need is provided. You can access their Supported Care membership for a free 30 day trial using code CPD30 to see how all these elements of menopause support come together to complete the puzzle.  ​

The imposter syndrome is real Written by Beth Tripp Imposter syndrome is something that a lot of people experience in the nutrition industry, as well as others. No matter how

Written by Jennifer O’Mara   Introduction   In 2015, over 4000 tonnes of avoidable food was wasted in the UK, an increase of 2.8% per person per year. Half ofwhich

Written by Lucy Loyseau   The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time, with the fallout as extensive as the virus itself. Measures to reduce its spread have impacted not

Written by Aoife Corr Healthy eating is important for a variety of reasons: to improve heart health, general mood and reduce disease risk. A balanced diet includes fruit and vegetables

Written by Iona Hudson Over the past year or so, many of us have experienced changes in our dietary patterns. Market research has shown that since the beginning of the

Written by Elizabeth Eveleigh   This year 125,000 people in the UK pledged to follow a vegan diet for one month for ‘Veganuary’ (Veganuary, 2021). People may choose to follow

Written by Charlotte Green   The Mediterranean Diet is a traditional dietary pattern followed by populations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, particularly regions of Greece, Italy, and Spain. Many observational studies

Written by Aoife Corr Protein is an essential macronutrient needed for many functions within the body.  There are many myths and misconceptions regarding protein, that always seem to be circulating.

Written by Lena Matthews   Multivitamins. They sound like the easy, fix all solution to our diet. Just take one and you’re covered for the day. Well, that isn’t really

Written by Shakira Hawthorne               So why is salt a major concern in the UK. In the UK we consume too much salt in

  Written by Julia Ebbens   In recent months we have become increasingly aware of Vitamin D’s wide ranging effects on our health. This vitamin/ hormone has traditionally been linked

Written by Lucy Walton   It’s well established that what we eat can affect our physical health, but there is also research to suggest what we eat can affect our

Written by Yasmin Craig Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy, so they shouldn’t be forgot or demonised. They help fuel your brain, kidneys, central nervous system among many

Written by Heather McCaw As it’s Coeliac Awareness Week, I wanted to talk about what coeliac disease is and how it impacts a person’s dietary habits. I then thought I

Written by Charlotte Green Scientific research has shown that there exists a bidirectional communication system between the gut and brain and is commonly referred to as the gut-brain axis. The

Written by Ellen Stack Since the unexpected cancellation of training sessions, matches, and closure of pitches, the pandemic can cause athletes to think that all the long hours that they

Written by Zoe Panaretou New Year’s Resolutions have become a tradition in the Western world, as another year naturally provides the opportunity for individuals to kick-start their weight loss journey

Written by Charlotte Lily Thompson Over the last year (and then some), as well as a few personal experiences, I have seen a number of nutritionists share stories of being