Welcome to Ion+!
MEET YOUR REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST
Welcome to my first blog post! I am so excited to share my love of science and nutrition with you in this little corner of my website. Here, I will talk about all things related to nutrition (whether that be fad diets, nutrition trends, my favorite ingredients, or just plain old metabolism). All of the sources from every post can be found at the bottom, cited in AMA format because, you know, plagiarism.
To get to know a little more about myself and my credentials, visit the Meet Your Registered Dietitian page here.
OUR APPROACH TO NUTRITION
I started Ion+ Nutrition Consulting to help people who really want to help themselves. After spending 7 years in academia, 2 years in field research during my grad school days, and some time in oncology, I truly believe that the first key to any successful dietary change is the want and desire for it. The second is following guidelines from scientists who dedicate their career to nutritional research. Nutrition is a new science, meaning that we are constantly learning how various foods, elements of foods, etc. are affecting the body. That is why, here at Ion+, we will always base all of our suggestions (and blog posts!) on evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific research.
(What does that mean? Learn more about it here )
DIETING, DO I HAVE TO?
Well, that depends. According to the USDA, Americans only consume 0.9 cups of fruits and vegetables daily compared to the 5 cups of fruits and vegetables that are recommended. This means that if you are anything like the average American, you probably could use a little change in your eating habits (source 1). And thatβs where we come in.
Eating a balanced diet doesnβt have to be salads for every meal. At Ion+, we put together meals that are based on your personal preferences, non-negotiables (hey, I like Taco Bell too), and current daily life. Food builds community, and we encourage you to get your friends and family involved in your new found love for fruits and veggies. What constitutes a balanced diet you ask? A good rule of thumb is to make half of your plate fruits and vegetables, a quarter of your plate carbohydrates, and the last quarter of your plate is for protein. We dietitians call this My Plate, and this has taken over the food pyramid as the gold standard. I put the graphic below so you can picture it more clearly.
You can learn more at www.myplate.gov
Okay, so I know I need to eat more fruits and vegetables, but what are the benefits?
First off, providing your body with the nutrients it needs supports a healthy immune system that can help prevent all kinds of chronic diseases. This includes things like cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes (source 2). Fueling your body with complex carbohydrates (such as whole grains) has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease, strokes, cancers, respiratory diseases, and type II diabetes as well!
This is also further proof that βlow carbβ diets are trash. The phytochemicals that fresh fruits and vegetables provide have been proven to help the body process insulin more efficiently, lower blood pressure, and have a positive effect on metabolism.
Lastly, the protein from our diet provides our body with amino acids that our body needs but doesnβt produce on its own. These amino acids (combined with the ones our body produce) help us keep our lean muscle mass (aka muscle) throughout our lifespan. (source 3)
Benefits of seeing a Registered Dietitian
Now that we have been over the reasons why maintaining a balanced diet is important, where do I, your Registered Dietitian, come into this?
Well, I have spent years learning the body, how it processes foods, and how to combine those foods into recipes that make you crave a second helping (and that are totally appropriate to have more than one serving of!). Getting started can be overwhelming and scary, and I am here to do all of the hard work for you and present them to you in ways that make this a fun, exciting process.
My two passions are food and science, and I am here to combine both of those to make sure that this isnβt another failed diet, but rather a process that will change your life. If you are looking to manage your cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or just looking to lose a few pounds - I am here (along with science) to tailor every single recipe, snack, and diet plan for your specific needs.
Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me! Letβs build a healthy, sustainable lifestyle together!
Sources
1. Ers.usda.gov. 2021. USDA ERS - Americans Still Can Meet Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Guidelines for $2.10-$2.60 per Day. [online] Available at: <https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2019/june/americans-still-can-meet-fruit-and-vegetable-dietary-guidelines-for-210-260-per-day/#:~:text=USDA%20food%20consumption%20surveys%20find,addition%20to%20Federal%20dietary%20recommendations.> [Accessed 1 June 2021].
2. Euro.who.int. 2021. Benefits of a balanced diet. [online] Available at: <https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/a-healthy-lifestyle/benefits-of-a-balanced-diet> [Accessed 1 June 2021].
3. Cena, H. and Calder, P., 2020. Defining a Healthy Diet: Evidence for the Role of Contemporary Dietary Patterns in Health and Disease. Nutrients, 12(2), p.334.
