Vitality Nutrition - Health Conditions

A healthy and varied diet can assist with weight loss, sports performance, illness prevention and the management of chronic medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, high BP and high cholesterol.

At Vitality Nutrition we will work with you to improve your nutritional status and over all wellbeing. We work with you to find a diet and lifestyle which will be best suited to your life and goals. Vitality Nutrition is not about selling you supplements at a high cost or using restrictive diets to achieve unrealistic and short term goals.

Nutrition encompasses the body’s general well being which extends to include physical fitness, healthy body weight, healthy eating habits and mental health.

Vitality Nutrition works with you to improve your physical fitness as well as your nutritional status. At Vitality Nutrition we have the advantage of having a fully qualified and practicing physiotherapist taking the Nutrition consultations therefore she can advise you of a safe and effective exercise program to compliment your nutrition plan.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Also referred to as Hypertension. A person with high BP or hypertension is unable to maintain a blood pressure that is within the normal range. Normal BP is 120/70mmHg. This is given as a ratio. The top measure, systolic pressure, of 120mmHg is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is beating. The lower level diastolic pressure, of 70mmHg is the lowest pressure that the arteries are exposed to when the heart is relaxed. High BP is defined as levels above 140/90mmHg. Diastolic pressure also refers to the resistance in the arteries that the heart has to pump against. High blood pressure can be caused by a number of medical conditions or by life style factors including smoking, excess saturated fat and alcohol.

Vitality Nutrition can help to manage hypertension by:

Assisting you to Lose weight
Provide you with a diet that is low in saturated fat and high in good fats
Reduce your alcohol and salt intake
Encourage you to eat a balanced and healthy diet full of wholegrains, vegetables and fruits.
Provide education about lifestyle factors which can help to lower BP

DIABETES

Diabetes Mellitis (DM) is a chronic disease in which the body can no longer regulate glucose within the normal limits, causing dangerously high levels in the blood. Normally when you eat food it is broken down into glucose which is then distributed around the body to the cells which need it. Insulin is essential for the cells of the body to be able to use glucose. Insulin acts like a gate keeper allowing glucose into the cells. If insulin is not present then the glucose cannot be used by the cells in the body.

Type 1 diabetes is also known as juvenile onset diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM. Type 1 DM is caused by an auto immune response in the body which causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin, resulting in the person having to take insulin via injections daily to enable them to absorb the glucose.

Type 2 diabetes is when the body’s cells stop producing insulin. This is referred to as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitis (NIDDM) This type of DM is a progressive disorder in which the cells in the body become resistant to the insulin. Obesity is a major cause of this. When the body is exposed to high amounts of glucose, the cells become insulin resistant. Therefore the pancreas has to produce more amounts of insulin in order for the cells to absorb the glucose. Over time the pancreas becomes tired and is unable to produce the increased amounts of insulin needed and therefore stops producing insulin.

Vitality Nutrition can help with NIDDM by:

Providing a diet which has a low GI, low sugar and high fibre content
Educate you about life style changes which are the main way to treat and manage DM. Many cases can be prevented or avoided with the following:
A balanced diet
Weight loss
Promoting regular exercise
Maintaining a healthy body weight

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Is a general term used to describe any abnormal condition involving dysfunction of the heart and its blood vessels. The most common form of this is when the arteries supplying the heart are blocked, this is known as coronary heart disease. This occlusion can affect the arteries which supply the heart or brain and can result in heart attacks and strokes.
Life style risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
Over weight or obesity
High BP and high cholesterol
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Diabetes mellitus

How Vitality Nutrition can help with cardiovascular disease:

Obtain a healthy weight or weight loss
Construct a healthy diet for your heart with low saturated fat and high fibre
Improve physical activity
Reduce smoking and alcohol intake
Reduce cholesterol and BP

OBESITY

Obesity is defined as having an excess body fat that adversely affects health, resulting in a person having a weight which is substantially greater than the accepted weight fir a given height. Morbidly obese is a condition in which a person’s body weight exceeds 100% of normal, putting them at a very high risk of serious health consequences.
Obesity is one of the major conditions affecting New Zealand today. Obesity is defined in NZ as having a BMI of 30+ for Europeans and 32+ for pacific islanders.
Obesity is a risk factor for a number of medical problems including:

Coronary artery disease
Stroke
Heart attacks
Diabetes mellitus
Musculoskeletal problems including knee, back pain
Infertility

How Vitality Nutrition can help with Obesity:

Constructing a proper weight loss strategy and diet
Incorporating life style factors into you diet
Encouraging weight loss at a sensible rate to achieve a realistic goal
Weight loss of only 5 % can have a huge effect on medical health and medical conditions.

CHOLESTEROL

There are two main types of cholesterol in the body. These are known as High density lipids, HDL’s and low density lipids LDL’s. HDL’s are known as the good fats in the body. These help to clean up the bed fats and keep the arteries clear. LDL’s are known as the bad fats. These are the fats and cholesterol which are responsible for the laying down of plaques in the arteries leading to high BP and occluded arteries. The LDL’s have a shorter life span and die off in the arteries. This allows them to stick to the artery walls, causing plaques which can then occlude the vessels, cause pieces to break off and form thrombosis or embolism, or weaken the artery wall causing aneurisms.

How Vitality Nutrition can help:

Structure a diet which is high in HDL’s and reduce LDL’s
Lower saturated fat intake
Assist with weight control
Encourage increase physical activity

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Is a bowel disorder that affects the colon of the bowel. Symptoms of IBS include: bloating, cramps, constipation or diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort. There is no known cause of IBS but it is thought to be neurological and is linked to stress and diet. People with IBS have disordered movement of there bowel, if it is too fast this results in diarrhoea, and if it is too slow, constipation. Other factors associated with IBS include high intake of caffeinated drinks, large meals, high consumption of chocolate, dairy, wheat and alcohol.

Vitality Nutrition can assist with the management of IBS through:

Correct food choice and portions
Dietary management of symptoms
Physical activity

CELIAC DISEASE

Is a genetic disorder which is characterised by the inability of the body to absorb gliadin, a component of gluten. Gluten is the protein which is found in wheat, rye and barely. When a person with celiac disease eats gluten it is not absorbed in the gut, and triggers an inflammatory response. Over time if gluten is continued to be eaten, it will destroy the surface of the small intestine and lead to mal-absorption of a number of vitamins and minerals. Symptoms of celiac disease include: constipation, diarrhoea, cramping, anaemia, pallor, weight loss and fatigue. A medical diagnosis must be made prior to starting a gluten free diet or the tests will not be positive.

Vitality Nutrition can assist with celiac disease through:

Management of symptoms
Education of food choice
Alternative food choices

CROHN’S DISEASE

Crohn’s disease is inflammation of the small intestine, although it usually affects the ilieum, it can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. The cause is not known but is thought to be due to a reaction of the immune system to a virus or bacteria. Symptoms include: diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever. People with this disorder often suffer from anaemia and can experience delayed mental and physical growth.

Vitality Nutrition can assist with Crohn’s disease through:

Management of symptoms
Education of food choice
Alternative food choices

WEIGHT LOSS

Being over weight or obese, and carrying extra fat in our bodies can result in a number of health problems including: musculoskeletal problems, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and increased risk of stroke and coronary artery disease.
Effective weight loss is a gradual process that should not be achieved through fad diets or starvation. A healthy diet to reduce weight should provide you with all the essential vitamins and minerals without being too restrictive and difficult to follow.

Vitality Nutrition will assist you with weight loss through:

Support with your diet
A new diet that is tailored to your individual needs
A varied diet which does not rely on supplements or restrictive practices
Motivation and extra tips when needed to assist you to meet you goals
Education and advice for physical exercise and the option of personal training if required

SPORTS NUTRITION

Whether you are competing for a professional event of finishing a race to fulfil a dream, your nutrition can play an important part in how you perform on the day. The timing of fluid and food can result in improved performances, the amount and type of food you consume both prior to and whilst exercising will either enhance or inhibit your performance. Sports nutrition is a science, but it is important to know what your body needs for each sport as each individual is different.

Vitality Nutrition can help with your sports nutrition by:

Providing a structured diet and times of intake for you for training, pre race, during competition and post race
All diets are based on current research
Structured diets and food choices to assist with training schedules and life style

INFERTILITY

Infertility in an increasing problem in New Zealand today. Generally couples are waiting till they are older before trying to start a family and an increasing number of females and males are finding it is not as easy to become pregnant as they had hoped. Lifestyles factors as well as age and previous medical problems all impact on the body and add to the problem of infertility.

As it is an increasing problem there has been a number of research experiments conducted based on analysis of nutrition and lifestyle. These studies enable us to make suggestions towards diet and the way people live there lives to assist with improving there chances of conception, and having a problem free pregnancy and birth.

Vitality Nutrition can help with infertility by:

Providing you with a diet that is research based to assist with fertility
Educate you about how nutrition and foods can assist with fertility
Provide information about nutrition and supplements to continue with whilst pregnant
Support you with any weight loss and exercise programs that are needed

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