Every year, science reveals new studies on health, nutrition, and lifestyle. We have come a long way from the age of “Milk for calcium” to the age where we see many people moving towards “Plant-based calcium.” It has been a decade since people are slowly changing their minds about healthy eating. Indian civilization was well-versed in eating millets many decades ago; a sudden shift took place in 2023, calling it the “Year of Millets”! Social media has brought in many changes that are both good and bad. There have been many learnings in the healthcare sector, especially in nutrition and lifestyle.  

Conscious Eating Vs. Healthy Eating 

As we know, healthy eating is about having a balanced meal and considering zero-nutrient-value food. But what is conscious eating? Is it different from healthy eating? 

Conscious eating is a form of healthy eating, and it is seen that there are better outputs with conscious eating when compared to healthy eating. Mindful eating is when you establish and align your physical and emotional needs. Eating is not just about having an appetite but also about being attentive to your choices. The goal is to promote a happy meal experience while being cautious of “When to eat, How much to eat, and Why to eat”! The portion size is important; maintaining a healthy eating routine is the basis for healthy nervous functioning. 

Did We Give Importance To Hygiene This Year?

The most forgotten tool for good health is hygiene; there are no qualms about this concept. Nutritionists/dieticians are endlessly working hard to establish and promote healthy diet patterns in individuals. Nevertheless, it is also important to educate our clients about hygiene (not just about washing hands) that starts in their kitchen.

As we study microbiology, we are very much aware of the many organisms that sit on the countertops, on the dish scrubbers, on the kitchen sponges, and in our wet waste bins. Endogenous immunity arrives with a good diet, and exogenous immunity arrives with better hygiene habits in the kitchen.

Immunity is a part of nutrition, and it is high time we give much importance to sterilizing the teaspoons and tumblers, changing the kitchen sponges every month, and changing the dish scrubbers every three weeks to keep the harmful microorganisms at bay, reducing many viral and bacterial infections. 

Social Media - A Boon Or A Bane?  

Most people learn mostly from social media, and that information can be half-baked, too, at times. A new diet trend is found every fortnight, and experimenting has become a common nutritional advice in the last 12 months. While experimenting and observing what works for you is progressive, there are certain things you must keep in mind as you delve into experimental diets. 

• One diet does not fit all!
• Carbohydrates are needed for better brain functioning.
• Fats are essential for your nerves.
• Protein is essential for immunity building.
• Crash diets will only sustain for a short period.
• Beware of food and drug interactions while you explore new diets.  

How Essential Is Nutrition Counseling?

There is no diet without counseling, and the new era of nutritionists should focus more on health counseling before starting diet schedules. Clients have a misconception that daily diet schedules are enough to lose those extra pounds.

Does counseling play any role in losing those extra pounds? Counseling plays a major role in consistent weight loss programs. It is key for the nutritionist and the client to maintain homogeneity in decision-making and bring healthy shifts in the client’s health.

Nutrition counseling is real and pediatric counseling is the icing on the cake to inculcate and promote better behavior and eating habits from childhood towards adulthood. 

Nutrition Is Not All About Weight Loss

When people get to know that I am a nutritionist, all they ask is about weight loss. But is nutrition all about weight loss and weight gain? I always educate my clients that weight gain is a symptom of an underlying health issue (can be physical or mental).

Hence, targeting the root cause should be the primary goal, and weight loss happens with the shifts we make in our lifestyle. It is to be understood that weight gain cannot be directly attacked with crash diets and fad diets. Nutrition is beyond the weighing scale, touching all the clinical details of the human body and helping the client understand the importance of mindful eating and timely diagnosis. 

Why Do Food Trends Change Every Fortnight?

Have you ever observed that eating fads keeps changing every fortnight? As a nutritionist, one must be alert to these trends and always research before you explore them. There are research-backed trends that can be worked out, and there are incidental tricks that have no scientific basis. Both the client and the health advisor must communicate the immediate needs and lifestyle/food changes that are evidence-based and not merely found on random social sites.

Always vouch for a qualified specialist who can give the client better health advice. The next time you hear someone say carbohydrates are bad for the body, you must realize what carbohydrates they discuss. Yes, carbohydrates have a negative impact on human health, but is there any evidence to conform to ‘zero-carb diets?’

The biochemical composition of carbohydrates is different, and complex carbohydrates are the need of the hour for all ages. Oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are healthier forms of carbohydrates. Whole foods are better than processed foods. Whole vegetables are healthier than smoothies. Whole fruits are better than juices. I always insist my clients on ‘balanced proportions’ without hurting their lifestyle and mental health. 

It Is All About Food Addictions And Mental Health

The last decade has seen an increase in mental health disorders related to eating behaviors. Not many people understand that food and the brain work in a loop. Can the food you eat impact your thoughts? Well, yes, food is a rewarding system for most of the population, and rewarding mechanisms work from your senses toward your central nervous system.

Similarly, how you think also impacts what you put in your mouth. This is when the neurotransmitters work from the central nervous system towards other body parts. Hormone functioning and lifestyle work in a vicious cycle. Hence, it is very important to target the root cause. A root cause can be a lifestyle change, your thought patterns, or changes in your diet and sleep cycle. 

We learn every year and every decade. And a lot of work goes into scientific studies around nutrition and nutritional biochemistry. Conforming with clinical experts before you delve into any Trendy/Fad diets is advisable.