How can we help
Anaemias (eg. Low Iron levels)
Anaemia is a condition where the amount of haemoglobin in the blood is below the normal level, or there are fewer red blood cells than normal. There are several different types of anaemia and each one has a different cause, although iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type. Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia involves taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods to boost the low levels of iron in the body.
Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Eating the right kinds of foods during and after treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger.
Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because both the illness and its treatment can affect your appetite. They can also affect your body's ability to tolerate certain foods and use nutrients.
Also, it is commonly accepted that some foods actually increase your risk of cancer, while others support your body and strengthen your immune system. By making smart food choices, you can protect your health, feel better, and boost your ability prevent cancer.
Cardiovascular (Heart) disease
Cardiovascular disease also called heart disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.Some of the major risk factors that can cause atherosclerosis and consequently heart disease are: high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol(hyperlipidaemia), obesity, diabetes, unhealthy diets.
Coeliac disease (gluten free diet)
Coeliac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease. It is caused by the immune system reacting to gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When someone with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine.
It is a common condition affecting 1 in 100 people. However only 10-15% who have the condition have been diagnosed which means there are currently half a million people who have coeliac disease but don’t yet know. If a first degree family member (such as mother, father, sister or brother) has the condition then the chances of having it increase to 1 in 10.
Once diagnosed, the only treatment for coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet.
Crohns and Ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract. IBD primarily includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IBD can be painful and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications.
Sometimes you may feel helpless when facing inflammatory bowel disease. But changes in your diet and lifestyle may help control your symptoms as certain foods and beverages can aggravate your symptoms, especially during a flare-up.
Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1, Type 2, Gestational) and Insulin resistance
Diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
There are three types of diabetes:
1) Type 1 Diabetes where the body does not produce insulin.
2) Type 2 Diabetes where the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).
3) Gestational Diabetes. This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
It’s pretty common to have a reaction to a certain food, but in most cases it’s an intolerance rather than a true allergy. Although they may have similar symptoms, a food allergy can be more serious.
These clues can help you figure out if it is an allergy or intolerance. A doctor can help you know for sure.
- Usually comes on suddenly
- Small amount of food can trigger
- Happens every time you eat the food
- Can be life-threatening
- Usually comes on gradually
- May only happen when you eat a lot of the food
- May only happen if you eat the food often
- Is not life-threatening
One of the most common types of intolerances is Lactose intolerance. In this condition the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. This is not the same thing as a food allergy to milk.
A big challenge for people who are lactose-intolerant is learning how to eat to avoid discomfort and to get enough calcium for healthy bones.
Gout is a type of arthritis. It occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes inflammation in the joints. Acute gout is a painful condition that often affects only one joint.
Chronic gout is repeated episodes of pain and inflammation. More than one joint may be affected. Diet and lifestyle changes (such as losing weight and avoiding food containing high levels of purines) may help prevent gout attacks.
Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the arteries have persistently elevated blood pressure. Every time the human heart beats, it pumps blood to the whole body through the arteries. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing up against the blood vessel walls. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.Treating hypertension is important for reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. High blood pressure may be treated medically, by changing lifestyle factors, or a combination of the two. Important lifestyle changes include losing weight, quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Hypelipidaemia ( raised cholesterol or triglyceride levels)
Hyperlipidaemia is the medical word for a high level of fat in the blood. The consequence of hyperlipidaemia is that with time it can predispose to the clogging-up of blood vessels, known as atherosclerosis, and this increases your risk of coronary heart disease and strokes (cardiovascular risk).
Eating a healthy diet can help lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects your large intestine (colon). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, diarrhea and constipation. Despite these uncomfortable signs and symptoms, IBS doesn't cause permanent damage to your colon.
You can control irritable bowel syndrome by managing your diet, lifestyle and stress.
Obesity (Childhood and Adult)
According to the World Health Organization “obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health’’. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese.
Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones have lost calcium and other minerals, become fragile and tend to fracture more easily.
A healthy, balanced diet will help to prevent osteoporosis. Important nutrients to consider are: calcium, vitamin D, protein, phosphorus and sodium.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition which prevents the ovaries from working properly, affecting periods, hormone levels, fertility and physical appearance.
Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of PCOS, and as generally accepted science shows, one of the safest and most successful options for weight-loss is to adapt our diet and eating patterns. A healthy diet will also help to reduce a woman’s risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
A nutritionist/dietitian certainly won’t be able to cure PCOS, but is able to provide you with advice about simple changes to eating and exercise patterns, which if implemented may contribute to the alleviation of certain symptoms and overall management of the condition.
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy and lactation constitute states of considerable physiological stress which impose increased nutritional demands. If these demands are not adequately met, it may be expected that not only the nutritional status of the subject will be affected, but also the course of pregnancy and lactation. Matemal nutrition is very important for the course and outcome of pregnancy.
Lactation represents a stage where the health and nutritional status of the infant are dependent on the mother. A diet that meets matemal nutritional needs is required so that maternal well-being is safeguarded with birth of a healthy infant.
Renal failure ( kidney disease)
The function of the kidneys is, among other things, to get rid of the waste products that result from the body's metabolism. If the kidney function fails, the waste products accumulate in the blood and the body.
Renal failure can happen rapidly – over days, weeks or months (acute renal failure) or slowly over a period of years (chronic renal failure).
Changes in diet may be necessary and include reducing salt intake, avoiding foods containing a lot of potassium and reducing the amount of protein and phosphate in the diet.
Sleep apnoea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that leads individuals to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. Not only does sleep apnoea seriously affect one’s quality of sleep, but it can also lead to health risks such as stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sleep apnoea is often associated with people who are overweight. Therefore losing weight is essential for those who have trouble getting a good nights’ sleep!
Sports nutrition, by definition, is the study and practice of nutrition and diet as it relates to athletic performance. It plays a vital role in promoting athletic success by helping athletes stay healthy and optimally fueling themselves so they can maximize training and conditioning.
Athletes that train properly need to nourish themselves properly for maximum results.
Thyroid gland abnormalities ( hypo/hyperthyroidism)
Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland influences almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter (enlarged gland) that needs no treatment, to life-threatening cancer.
The most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of thyroid hormones. Too much thyroid hormone results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism. Insufficient hormone production leads to hypothyroidism.
These two conditions can cause weight fluctuations, therefore a healthy balanced diet can help monitor weight throughout hormonal changes.
A well-planned vegetarian diet often helps you have better health. Eating a vegeterian diet can help you:
- Reduce your chance of obesity
- Reduce your risk of heart disease
- Lower your blood pressure
- Lower your risk of type 2 diabetes
Anyone following a vegetarian diet needs to make sure to get enough important nutrients. This is because it may be hard to get all the calories and nutrients needed for growth and development and to maintain good health. Careful planning may be needed for certain groups of people such as:
- Young children and teens
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women
- Older adults
- People with cancer, more severe lung problems, and other illnesses
Introducing your baby to solid foods, often called weaning on to foods, should start when your baby is around six months old. It is a really important step in your baby’s development and can be great fun to explore new flavours and textures together.
Weight management is a long-term approach to a healthy lifestyle. It includes a balance of healthy eating and physical exercise to equate energy expenditure and energy intake. Knowing what your body needs is important to weight management and can control overconsumption and underconsumption of food.