Naturally

I am in the process of making my 5^th CD project.  But I’m experiencing a familiar condition – GERD, which negatively affects my voice.  Because I am concerned with putting out my best project yet, I thought I would take medication, if only for a short time. Before, I have always tried to control it naturally.

But then I came across a paragraph from ‘Ministry of Healing’ by Ellen G. White:

“A practice that is laying the foundation of a vast amount of disease and of even more serious evils is the free use of poisonous drugs.  When attacked by disease, many will not take the trouble to search out the cause of their illness.  Their chief anxiety is to rid themselves of pain and inconvenience. ….they resort to paten nostrums, of whose real properties they know little, or they apply to a physician for some remedy to counteract the result of their misdoing, but with no thought of making a change in their unhealthful habits.  If immediate benefit is not realized, another medicine is tried, and then another, thus evil continues”. Pg.43

Reading this was enough to send me back to my vow to begin exercising and drinking enough fluid. I had already started dietary changes, like (eating) very little fat and lighter meals. You see, over the holidays I had, as many of you may have, packed on a few pounds. And I decreased my exercise, and sitting for long periods.  Now as a dietitian I always say not to be too concerned about eating during celebrations. Just get back to your regular way of eating (if it was being done right, of course) as soon as it is over.

Pure air, sunlight, rest, exercise, proper diet, adequate fluid [water, what did I say about sugar!], and my trust in God to keep me healthy (yes, I do pray to Him for this especially).

I am taking my advice. Here’s to the [soon to be] new me! And you!

Nutritionist vs Dietitian

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a nutritionist and a dietitian? To put it simply, a nutritionist has no concrete definition, while a dietitian has credentials to go with the term. Any person working in a health food store or otherwise can call themselves a nutritionist.

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a credential just like a Registered Nurse (RN) or Medical Doctor (MD). To become a Registered Dietitian you must:

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree in dietetics, a 4 year degree from an accredited college or university
2. Complete an internship with at least 900 hours
3. Take and pass the RD exam
4. Complete 50 Continuing Education Credits every 5 years to maintain license.

To earn a Bachelor's Degree, Registered Dietitians study food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, culinary arts, sociology, communications, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy and chemistry.

A Registered Dietitian is knowledgeable in the science of nutrition. They learn how to interpret research studies and apply that knowledge to counseling individuals on how to improve their lifestyle and health. He or she is able to look at your medical history, current symptoms, medications, supplements, exercise routine, weight, and eating habits and give advice that is safe and effective for you to reach your goals.

A nutritionist may or may not have the credentials of a Registered Dietitian. An RD is the authority on nutrition in the US. If you are looking for someone to help you with your diet and aren't sure if the person you find is credentialed, ask them if they are an RD and to see their credentials. Some nutritionist claim they have credentials, but if he or she is not an RD then their credentials are not backed by science, education, and experience like they would be if they were an RD.

The picture on this blog is of Connie Diekman, the current President of the American Dietetic Association with her dog, Eddie, who has a certificate calling him a nutritionist from the American Association of Nutritional Consultants. No education or experience was needed to apply for this certificate.

So you just have to drink?!

Claudette (Cee) Josephs, MS, RD

A large study found recently, that increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet lowers the risk of developing diabetes.  However, an increase in fruit juice consumption was associated with increased risk of developing diabetes.

Although fruit juices may have antioxidant activity, they lack fiber, are less satiating and tend to have high sugar content.

It is not surprising to me, as I see this development over the years of treating clients. Too often I see mothers, on the subway, in church, in the park - feeding their babies from bottles filled with ‘red juice’ or what appears to be apple juice. Is it any wonder that we as adults gravitate to the same (juice thing)? Is it any wonder that diabetes is now an epidemic? Both clients and staff – practitioners alike, seem to feel they must have ‘juice’ or ‘drink’ with their lunch. And it is almost always available.

Yes, for a long time dietitians/nutritionists have recommended fruit or fruit juice, even while we know, and recommend whole fruits over fruit juice, because of the fiber. 

As a vegetarian and health nut, I am always trying to find ways to get the nutrients I need, without eating or drinking a lot.  Here are ways to get your antioxidants, fiber and fluid in one shot.  This could be your ‘drink’ or ‘juice’ if you must have liquid with your meal:

1.    Blend your favorite fruits or vegetables, or both. Put it in your water bottle, or a bottle dedicated for that, and have it at lunch. You can add water to it.  The same amount of fiber and nutrients will still be there.

2.    Wait until dessert to drink. Drinking pure water or unsweetened tea with a sweet (preferably fruit) will go down better than drinking water with savory foods, and eliminate the need for eating additional sugar.

Here’s to your health!                  

Dietitians, Where are you?

Claudette (Cee) Josephs, MS, RD

In presenting expert insight on the clinical significance and relevance of new data on insulin therapy, (based on findings presented at the 2009 World Diabetes Congress of the International Diabetes Federation), Dr. Phillip Home, and others concluded that insulin therapy should be initiated when the diagnosis of diabetes is made. The barriers, they found, is physicians’ reluctance, due in part, to fear on the part of their patients.1

The truth of the matter is that, when diet and exercise changes are initiated as first line of treatment, there are positive outcomes.  The problem is that patients do not always get the medical nutrition therapy needed to effect these changes. Many physicians do not refer their patients to nutritionist/dietitians. It may be that they are not aware of the value of the dietitian, or they believe that the little knowledge of nutrition imparted to their patients is enough for successful treatment.

 Dietitians, where are you?

By not demanding that people get the best of care through our therapy offerings, we leave it to the other disciplines to convince patients that the little knowledge given is sufficient.  And so, when the diet (or lack thereof) fails, and blood sugar, blood pressure, or weight increases, the patient has no choice but to take the MD’s recommendation to go on insulin therapy.

The claim that there is a better quality of life on insulin may be due to the very fact that the ‘diet and exercise’ failed, and after being placed on insulin, the body now begins to correct itself, and patients feel much better.

 

But listen to this fact: most insulin therapies tend to cause weight gain and increased incidence of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – the very symptoms of diabetes we try to avoid, and which cause patients great concern.

Dietitians, where are you?

 

Forty-one percent of African Americans with diabetes have never seen a dietitian, or given nutritional counseling or teaching.2 -now, why is that? Are we not the nutrition experts? Is that not what we spend at least four years of college learning, and more time doing internships, and taking exams for licensure? Is it to give away our healing and prevention expertise to psychologists, chiropractors, and anyone who call themselves nutrition counselors?  Why are we not always the ones interviewed on television, or other media giving correct nutrition advice? We are the experts. We have all the knowledge and understanding needed to change eating behavior for good outcomes, including prevention of diseases.  No other discipline does.

Thank God for the medical institutions, and Congress, that makes it mandatory for the dietitian to be part of the medical team in treating inpatients.  And yes, we have an opportunity to teach, heal and also show our vast knowledge and skills to other staff.  But what of the majority who are in the community, with, as yet no need of acute care?

Here we are, lined up, at the door of the hospital, or nursing home – welcoming the broken. Yet they may not have needed to be there if we had given them the care needed to stay away, in the first place. Is it any wonder that obesity and diabetes is an epidemic?

We not only can heal, through medical nutrition therapy, but we can keep whole, through education and training.  We have an integral part to play in keeping America healthy.

So, dietitians, where are you?

1.   http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/711176

2.     http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/583000

 http://ceejosephs.org

 

Claudette (Cee) Josephs, MS, RD

It was toward the end of the day, and I was sitting at my desk, on the computer, when a co-worker handed me a bag of candy in celebration of Halloween. Immediately I started eating one, after the other, after the other… you get my meaning.

Generally, I do not eat between meals, and especially not [of] candy. It is definitely not a part of my diet. After all, I am a dietitian who tries to live what I teach. I am always concerned about eating right and exercising.

 

Yet I found myself eating these sweet, delicious empty calories with relish.  Why?

 

I have listened to clients, and read what psychologists have to say about the topic. In most cases mindless eating is a result of stress, be it a bad day, confrontation, relationship issues, or depression, or just plain having fun. This list is not exhaustive.

 

But at the time I was handed this bag of goodies (well, they tasted good), I had none of the above stressors, or mood changes. I did not need to be eating for comfort.

 

As the caption suggests, I did not think about what I was doing. The taste was what drove my desire.

Since childhood, taste determined for the most part, what we ate. We call the foods we eat preferences. And indeed everyone has preferences. That is why MyPyramid – the recommended guide

to the way we should eat- was developed. We can still eat well by choosing only the foods we like from each food group.

 

Sweet is the taste we gravitate to, overwhelmingly. And we have let it lead us into our adult life.  It is in this life that we begin to see the effects of eating sweet, and by this time controlling it becomes a struggle that is almost impossible to overcome.

 

As a singer,  as soon as I open my mouth to sing -whether in the bathroom or performing- I immediately become focused on the quality of my voice and what I need to do to get the sound I desire. In my opinion, it is only through committed, consistent, mind and mouth practice of eating as recommended by the Food Guide Pyramid, that we control our sweet tooth, and avoid many of the diseases and conditions that plague us.

 

Peace & blessings.

 

http://mypyramid.gov

Yes, I know I introduced this page to you a long time ago, promising you good things. Well, here is it! Let's start at the begining, to set the stage for topics I know are near to your heart. Just about everyone today is interested in health, and healthcare. President Obama in his address on healthcare reform, alluded to the plan to give insurance companies incentives to prevent illness/diseases. This means that there may be more health clubs, prevention clinics and other services designed to keep us healthy. Most of my activities at this time, are centered around medical nutrition therapy, treating the ill. But the beautiful thing about nutrition therapy is that, in the process of healing, there is also prevention - arresting further deterioration. Yes! At any time, at any stage of being - starting even one small change is beneficial to health. Start with affirming this saying " You are what you eat" Heard it before I'm sure. But have you stopped to think about what is involved? Think on this until next time.

My brother would say I moonlight as a nutritionist, and I work at music. In fact I earn my living more from nutrition than music, although I would give anything for it to be the other way around.
The purpose of this page is to impart the knowledge I have aquired over the last 25+ years working in the field. I have worked with all age-specific groups, with most of the major illnesses, in the major cities of New York.

This is also a passion of mine; giving nutrition counseling and education. My greatest joy, and feelings of accomplishment come from seeing people make recommended changes, and are happy that they did ( because it most certainly will improve your health and wellbeing).

Well, it is 2 o'clock in the morning, and I have just discovered how to make this page. I'm excited about it, but very tired right about now. So stay tuned. Much is on the way.

Love,

Cee