Any General Practitioner worth their weight in salt will tell you that exercise is a vital part of existence, especially if you want to enjoy a decent quality of life and equip your body to fight off countless debilitating ailments. Quiet as it’s kept, diet, exercise and discipline can absolutely give laughter a run for its money in pursuit of the ‘best medicine’ title. 

According to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, “regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. 

“Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.” 

Movement makes moving easier, less stressful and more efficient; that’s a no-brainer. As the time-tested adage goes, ‘a body in motion, stays in motion’. That is also a well-respected law of physics; a simple postulation that energy never dies, it just transforms. 

Regular exercise relieves stress, improves your mood, helps keep your body weight in check, and, perhaps most vitally, helps prevent, or manage, serious afflictions like stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, arthritis and many types of cancer. 

Regular exercise also improves balance, builds stamina, helps cognitive function, and can lower the risk of death from all causes. In short, exercise is an amazing tool to help you live a long, healthy and, probably, happy life. 

Of course, exercise often entails exerting one’s body to the point of physical exhaustion, so there is always a risk of doing damage as well. How much exercise is too much? Can physical training actually cause chronic afflictions? 

We asked International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) pro Hafid James, who is a professional bodybuilder, healthy lifestyle coach and personal trainer, what his thoughts on the topic were. Mr James is a bona-fide professional athlete, an individual who trains religiously and pushes his body to often astonishing levels. 

His role as a life coach and personal trainer puts the physical and emotional health of his clients squarely in his hands too, and he is very good at what he does. 

Mr James espouses the virtues of many other crucial components that constitute what modern humanity has come to understand as health. 

“Exercise is important but is only one aspect of improving one’s quality of life. I feel there is too much emphasis on exercise and not enough on other aspects of health. Mainly dietary, but also sleep, stress, mental health, and so forth. 

“I’ve had lifestyle clients that have worked out everyday for months or even years and their results were temporary, or non-existent. I’ve had lifestyle clients that tried to outwork their lifestyle illness – hypertension, imbalanced hormones, diabetics – but it wasn’t until we changed their mindset and approach to health that they were able to decrease, or remove, certain medications. In my opinion, a lot of these situations happen because we focus too much on exercise and not enough on understanding what health really is.” 

Regular exercise, of course, is a key component of a healthy lifestyle; not the whole shebang. Sleep is an oft-neglected component, and the Mayo Clinic staff makes a very important connection between exercise and sleep: “Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster, get better sleep and deepen your sleep.” 

While regular exercise and healthy sleep are good for all human beings, Mr James expounds on the role of exercise in meeting the health needs of individuals. 

“I feel everyone should be exercising regularly, but regular exercise is based on the person, their needs and their goals. I’m a professional bodybuilder so I am in the gym weight training 5 days a week, but I also have lifestyle clients who have lost over 20 pounds and reduced medications, and the only exercise they are focused on is walking and the number of steps a day they are getting in. So, it really just depends on the individual. 

“A good baseline for the average person is about 30 to 40 minutes of exercise a day. Again, depending on who you are this could include walking, swimming, weight training, dancing, running, sports.” 

Of course, exercise is a well-known component of weight management. According to the Mayo Clinic, “exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.” 

Mr James however, warns against leaning too heavily on exercise when it comes to losing weight. 

“You should not prioritise exercise to lose weight. For my lifestyle clients, and myself, exercise is simply an accelerate. Once you are focused on your health – our definition of health is the continuous process of making one whole and balanced – fat storing hormones should be lowered, fat burning and muscle building hormones should be heightened and hunger is better controlled, so you’ll eat less without having to overthink it. Adding exercise will now amplify your results. 

“When you go into your weight loss journey just thinking about exercise, if you ‘plateau’, most generally think, ‘ok, I have to exercise more or eat less.’ Then, before you know it, you’re doing two hours of cardio a day, in the gym 5 times a week, and eating enough calories to barely get by, feeling awful and not taking in the nutrients your body needs daily. 

“After a while most people will give up. A term commonly used for this is over-training, which simply means whatever workload you are doing is greater than your body’s ability to recover from it. This can be very deleterious on the body and your health. To me, health is about a quality of life. Generally, you shouldn’t feel awful trying to improve your quality of life.” 

Balance is essential when starting an exercise regimen. Over-training can cause physical problems over time. I personally learned all about my sacroiliac joint when I was diagnosed with sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SJD) a few years ago. SJD is a condition that is agitated by climbing stairs, an activity that I engaged in excessively during training some years prior to the diagnosis. The pain was debilitating; but I digress. 

Ultimately, the benefits of regular exercise massively outweigh the pitfalls, as Mr James concludes: 

“Especially when combined with a healthy, holistic lifestyle, having an active lifestyle has a myriad of health benefits. Improving insulin resistance, which can prevent or aid in reversing Type 2 Diabetes, dealing with stress, decreasing your chances of many cardiovascular diseases, preventing or delaying muscular atrophy, reducing the risk of obesity, improving your blood pressure which can prevent or aid in reversing hypertension, improving gut health, on and on and on. 

“Again, I want to stress exercise alone might help with these things, but for maximum, long lasting benefits, please remember exercise should be one factor in your overall holistic approach to health. Without the right ‘balance’ you could do more harm than good. Be happy. Be healthy.” 

The post Getting Physical: Exercise One of Many Medicines For Good Health appeared first on RG Magazines.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks aimed at navigating the holiday season successfully so that we enter the New Year strong and ready, with no “detox” or “diet” needed: 

AGATHE HOLOWATINC, CERTIFIED INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION HEALTH COACH FROM FUELLED BERMUDA 

1. Eat a FUELLED (nutrient-loaded) breakfast and lunch and do not arrive hungry to the party. Skipping meals and “saving” calories for a later time wreaks havoc on our metabolism, blood sugar levels, and waistline which often leads to overindulging on unhealthy foods that compromise our optimal health. Healthy fats, fibre, and healthy sources of protein during regular mealtimes help keep cravings at bay. 

2. Hold your drink in your dominant hand. This way, we are left to use our less capable hand to pick up the tempting appetizers and desserts. These foods typically hold little nutritional value, so this helps you to cut down as it makes it more challenging to eat (and potentially even much less elegant), so you’ll quit sooner. 

3. Savour it slowly. We get the most pleasure from the first 2 bites of anything we eat. When savoured slowly and mindfully we can extract the most pleasure from our food whilst leaving the bulk of the item (and its unnecessary calories) on our plate. Utilizing this hack, you’ll still be able to say that you truly enjoyed the incredible flavours that the holiday season has to offer without it affecting your waistline. 

4. Stay hydrated (Drink plenty of water)! We will eat less, keep our digestive tract primed and regular, and feel much more energized when we remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water during the holiday season. This will prevent us from feeling drained and depleted so that we make better decisions at the holiday dinner table. Much of the time, we are dehydrated and not hungry. 

5. Forget the food & focus on the people, the ambiance, the conversations, and the memories! Since we ate healthily all day and are not in a hungry state of desperation, we can shift our focus to all the other aspects of merrymaking that can truly nourish us at an even deeper level – mind, body, and soul. The holidays are filled with warm hugs, friends and family, happy holiday energy, and a cheerful, comforting ambiance that only happens once a year. Fill up on it! 

6. Check in with yourself. Do an honest self-assessment and take inventory of every area of your life (i.e., finances, relationships, work) that is not nourishing you right now. Eating and drinking can be used to fill the “nourishment void”, where much healthier and life-expanding ways to tackle those gaps can be sought out. For optimal success, set up a few sessions with your therapist and your Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach to help you tune into your body and your life prior to party season. 

For additional tips from Coach Agathe herself, FUELLED is holding a FREE 60 minute “Healthy During the Holidays” Virtual Class this month. Check out their website www.fuelledlife.com for the date and details. 

ARLENE MACGUINNESS, REGISTERED DIETICIAN AT ANEW 

1. Prioritize balanced, regular meals. One of the best ways to create delicious and balanced meals is to use “The Plate Method”: 

a. Start with an 8 or 9-inch plate. 

b. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, such as salad, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and carrots. 

c. Fill one quarter of your plate with lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, lentils, tofu, or eggs. 

d. Fill the remaining quarter of your plate with a grain or starchy food, such as potatoes, rice, or pasta. Choose whole grains more often. 

2. Drop out of the clean plate club. It’s perfectly acceptable to leave a few bites of food behind, especially if you are eating something that doesn’t taste as good as you expected. 

3. Discover the satisfaction factor. Tune into your own hunger and satiety cues. Somewhere in between completely depriving yourself and completely overdoing it is the sweet spot – not too much and not too little. Your goal should be to leave most get-togethers feeling satisfied and not uncomfortably stuffed. 

4. Be a food snob. Eat what you really love and skip anything that isn’t fabulous! Give yourself permission to have a taste of your favorite foods without the guilt so you don’t feel deprived. 

5. Eat mindfully. Slow down and sensuously savor one small bite at a time, appreciating the appearance, aromas, flavors, and textures of your favorite foods as you eat them. 

6. Prioritize sleep. Not getting enough sleep is associated with increased hunger, higher blood sugars, poor concentration, more illness, and impaired problem solving. Giving yourself the gift of at least 7 hours of sleep a night will help you make the best choices for your health and will protect against illness and fatigue. 

7. Keep active and work towards 30 minutes of physical activity a day. If you put your workout in your calendar, you make it as important as any other activity that’s on your to-do list! Even if your scheduled workout plans get derailed, you can still get creative and find ways to be active. A few ideas to keep you moving include inviting friends and family to join you for an after-meal walk instead of plopping on the couch, playing catch or Frisbee, and putting on some music and having a dance party. Pick activities that you enjoy! 

8. Take care of your mental health. While some people may be full of holiday cheer, others may struggle with their mental health around the holidays. Depression, anxiety, and stress levels can soar thanks to extra demands, unrealistic expectations, or even sentimental memories. This year don’t worry if you are unable to complete every single task on your to-do list. It is important to take time for yourself to rest and relax and create a self-care buffer zone. 

The post Enjoying Holiday Fare Without Regret: Staying Healthy During The Holiday Season appeared first on RG Magazines.

VEJAY STEEDE 

Christmas gift giving is a time-honoured tradition that has become an indelible part of the Christian world’s year end custom. It’s the proverbial most wonderful time of the year for children, retailers, and altruistic empaths alike. 

The holiday spending deluge can, however, become overwhelming at times, and the pressures of gift giving will often exact a heavy financial toll. How can you avoid the January crash? Keep reading, we’ve got a few amazing tips for keeping your holiday spending in check, and starting the new year in decent fiscal condition, for a change. 

Mrs Latisha Lister-Burgess, Executive Director of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Bermuda, has put together a webinar entitled “Navigating Holiday Stress,” which tackles the emotional side of gift giving and offers various ways to show love through giving that won’t end in personal financial ruin. 

“One of the things I have always suggested to people is that they work out their budget before they even go out; so, define what you can spend this season, and how you want to break up that spending. Then envelope it, because sometimes we’re tempted when we see something and it’s like, ‘Oh well I intended to spend $20, and this is just $37, you know, well, it’s fine because it’s on my card, it doesn’t feel the same way.’ But when you have an envelope of this is what I’m intending to spend everywhere, you can be aware that, if you’re taking that extra 20, it’s coming from who’s gift? 

“So, listing out what you’re trying to spend, and who you’re trying to spend it on makes it a very real process, because swiping a card always feels very quick and easy, and it’s always easy to spend a lot of money that way, and not feel connected to how much is actually being spent.” 

Mrs Jamillah Lodge, Communication and Development Director at the BEDC, offers a similar strategy; “When shopping for Christmas gifts, I personally make a list and determine the amount that I am willing to spend on each person on that list. I also give some thought to who should be on the list and why.” 

Aah, the list. Who do we really need to be buying gifts for? What kind of gift does each person, um, deserve? How much money is each relationship on your list worth? These are monumentally hard questions to deal with, but if you have the will, there is a way. 

Mrs Lister Burgess addresses the all-encompassing list: “Assess: does everyone need to be on this list? About five or six years ago we as a family sat down and said, ‘Hey, is this sustainable for people?’ Getting a $5 gift for this Aunty, this Aunty, this Aunty adds up really quickly, so it might be easier to put money towards an experience. 

“For example, people could free up their money and say, ‘I’ll put some dollars towards buying the Christmas tree, or the ham, or something,’ instead of feeling like ‘I’m buying all these $10 gifts that add up really quickly.’ So, the first thing is, does everybody really need to be on this list? My list gets shorter and shorter every year.” 

If you keep your list in check, then controlling the cash flow out of your bank account will become that much more manageable. Mrs Lister continues: “Once you’re clear on your list and you’re clear on that budget, then it helps you to cleanly decide how good you are at sticking to it. The biggest part of that is, often, the emotional part of money gets in the way, and we start to feel like ‘is this a good enough gift? You know it’s only $20 versus $50 versus $200’ and realizing that we cannot tie relationship value to a present’s value. ‘I love this person so much that I have to spend $1000 on them.’ Do you have that? No? Well then here’s other ways that you can show that you love them that won’t break the budget; homemade and creative gifts work!” 

Avoiding the pitfalls of putting a price on emotions like love and admiration can be authentically impossible at times and equating a gaudy gift with care and affection is a trap we can all fall into. Mrs Lister Burgess elaborates: 

“Often we think that somehow whatever we do in this one month is going to make up for all the things that didn’t happen this year. Chances are, if you, for example, have not been a great parent this year; that toy is not going to make up for the lack. If you have not reached out to your family member all year and been a part of their life, a spa day is not going to push us into a different relationship. I’ll take your gift, but it doesn’t mean that we’re going to go on to having the relationship that we need to have. It’s really important that we don’t get caught up in the hype of, ‘I have to prove my worth.’ 

“The biggest part when it comes to the emotional factors is to literally decide what matters to us and this person and not tie it to the dollar parts. We don’t have to always think ‘I’m going big’ to go personal, and personal always wins.” 

On the practical side of Christmas shopping, Mrs Lodge offers tips on where to shop for thoughtful, unique, and often homegrown gifts that will definitely communicate all that you want to say. 

“My first tip would be to shop locally. There are a lot of small business owners offering fabulous deals on unique and custom items just in time for the holiday season. Check out the BEDC’s local business directories on www.bedc.bm. 

“I would also advise to establish a budget and stick to it. In the instance where there is a desire to ‘do it big’ then perhaps the recipient of the ‘big’ gift, only gets that gift and not multiple gifts. Look at your shopping list and ascertain who and why they are on the list. If the goal is to let them know that you are thinking of them over the holiday season, then a beautifully written card can do the trick and not cost too much.” 

Mrs Lodge suggests that emotion should not override sensibility when shopping for gifts; “Gift giving does not have to be about how much you spend, but how thoughtful you are…If you take note of a family member saying that they need a gym membership or want to get a pedicure, you could gift them that very thing and, although it may not be considered an expensive gift, it is something that they wanted and will use, and it shows that you were listening.” 

There’s a reason why the old adage ‘It’s the thought that counts’ is uttered ad nauseum throughout the holiday season. It is, in fact, the thought behind the gift that matters most, and presenting a loved one with a gift that says ‘I listen to you’ will always be a great idea. 

Mrs Lister-Burgess concludes with a pearl of absolute sagacity: “Lean into memories and lean into experiences; it’s always better to have ‘presence’ with a C-E over ‘presents’ with a T-S. Give people the gift of our presence versus just another present.” 

The post Think About The Person Not The Gift appeared first on RG Magazines.

 Mental health is important. Modern society is increasingly more sensitive to mental health issues and the need to be mindful of one’s own emotional well-being. The encroachment of COVID-19, however, has brought with it societal restrictions and protocols that have triggered a rise in anxiety and depression around the world, including right here in Bermuda. 

Mrs Latisha Lister-Burgess, Executive Director of Bermuda’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) describes the sharp rise here: “The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 1 in 6 people will have a mental health issue in their lifetime, but over the past year, approximately 1 in 3 people have struggled with anxiety. This is mainly due to anxiety around job security, finances, relationship problems, and various other stressors due to the impact of COVID-19.” 

Mrs Lister-Burgess continues, turning an eye toward the risks of shelter in place and working from home. “As we have been dealing with the impact of COVID-19 for over a year now, people may feel emotionally exhausted. 

“We are meant to be social creatures, and for some people the social distance measures may lead to feelings of isolation. I have encouraged people to remember that it is vital to find ways to stay emotionally connected during this time and seek creative ways (drive-by parties, Zoom happy hours, etc.) to continue to engage with others to keep connections strong. 

“During the past year, people have reported feeling additional stressors due to working at home while trying to home-school children, and often have a partner or other relatives working in the home at the same time. As their work/life balance dissipated, often relationship issues increased. The very real pressure of constant contact with their partner and/or children has been challenging at times and has highlighted the need for increased communication and conflict management skills during this time.” 

On the topic of treatments available through the EAP and other resources, Mrs Lister-Burgess offers the following: “EAP offers talk therapy and can assist people in developing effective communication and conflict management skills in order to communicate their wants and needs to others in a healthy way. 

“Some of the self-care tools that can assist with feelings of anxiety are: meditation, breathing exercises, affirmations, journaling, practicing gratitude and mindfulness exercises. Medication can also be helpful and can be prescribed through a GP or psychiatrist.” 

Executive Director Lister-Burgess closes by reminding us of the importance of taking care of our own mental health: “It is important that we normalize asking for support. In these challenging times, it is vital that people commit to improving their mental health, developing healthy relationships, and actively choosing self-care. 

“The same way we go to the doctor annually to have a check-up to make sure our physical health is good, people would benefit from having a ‘mental health check-up’ to make sure that they have the tools that they need to ensure that they are emotionally healthy.” 

Dr Gemma Harris, Director of Corporate Wellness Services and Senior Clinical Psychologist at Solstice, also asserts that anxiety and depression are the two most prevalent mental health issues both globally, and in Bermuda. 

On the effect of COVID-19, Dr Harris states: “Solstice has witnessed a significant increase in new referrals, and the return of past clients, as people try to understand and manage the impact of the pandemic. We have experienced that the situation is affecting our clients in quite diverse ways, however, common themes have related to uncertainty (for example, adapting to restrictions, having to change future plans, feeling unable to move forward, and concerns about future stability), heightened anxiety about job and/or financial stability, adapting to home working (often creating loneliness and isolation) and relationship/family challenges. 

“Whilst some people have presented with concerns specifically related to the covid19 virus, this has been a relatively small proportion of clients. Whilst these difficulties appear to impact our clients across the age range, we are noticing that young adults (18 to 25) may be more prone to feeling that their plans are on hold.” 

Dr Harris continues, “Working from home seems to have created quite a dichotomous response, with some people reporting that they love the freedom to work more flexibly and feel more focused. However, by contrast many are reporting that their work-life balance is poorer when they work from home, and that they are finding it isolating and demotivating. 

“Many times, clients feel disconnected from their teams after protracted periods of home working. We suspect that the range of experiences may be a product of the type of work, the suitability of the home environment and personality factors. 

“Solstice offers a Corporate Wellness Program that can support employers and their employees in thinking about the challenges of working from home. This includes employee assistance, as well as team building, psychological support for teams, and helping employers reflect on their systems and processes.” 

In closing, Dr Harris offers some strong advice for maintaining sanity during this surreal time: “The impact of the pandemic is significant, far-reaching and protracted. As such, we expect that most people will, at some point, be impacted emotionally. 

“It makes perfect sense for us to be anxious and fearful, and for our threat systems to be activated. When our threat systems are activated, it means that we are more vigilant to risk, and as such we may be anticipating future risk possibilities. Whilst this is very normal and functional, in the case of Covid19 (which is a protracted risk) we run the risk of being anxious and on alert for long periods, which is likely to be stressful and exhausting. 

“Counterbalancing this important and necessary threat response with self-care is really important. Hence, making time for hobbies, relaxation time, and self-care is vital. Give yourself time to switch off and reset. That might be taking a break from reading about the pandemic. Try to implement generally good care routines like getting decent sleep, exercise, eating healthily and managing a good work-life balance. 

“Be careful of more harmful coping strategies such as alcohol and drugs, gambling, and excessive spending. Stay connected socially as best you can, perhaps making contact via virtual means if physical contact seems risky. We tend to be social creatures, so social contact is important. Whilst we all want to protect our physical health, we cannot forget about our mental health in the process.” 

The post Anxiety and Depression Are Very Real Covid-19 Symptoms appeared first on RG Magazines.

by Tim Smith

Even peeling potatoes can cause some people to start wheezing or their skin to turn red. From tuna to tomatoes, from apples to almonds – the list of foods causing allergies or intolerance is now seemingly endless, while the numbers of children allergic to peanuts alone has more than tripled within a decade. 

Yet dealing with a food allergy isn’t as simple as typing your symptoms into Google and avoiding whatever possible allergenic foods appear on the screen, no matter how justified your fear of the reaction. 

Increased anxiety and nutrient deficiency are just two of the problems that can be caused by unnecessarily cutting numerous foods out of your diet. 

While scientists are still trying to fully explain the great surge in food allergies, dieticians are able to help people navigate through the minefield by offering advice on a one-by-one basis. 

Hannah Jones sees clients with food allergies and intolerances in her role as managing director and chief registered dietician at Island Nutrition in Hamilton. 

“Unfortunately some of these people are having tests which have not been proven by science and consequently may be unduly worried and unnecessarily restricting multiple foods,” Ms Jones said. 

“This excessive restriction comes with its own challenges, including stress, anxiety, expense and, of course, potential nutrient deficiencies. 

“If a food allergy is suspected, a person should seek medical advice and may require evidence-based allergy testing. 

“Registered dietitians can help ensure people can continue to consume a well-balanced diet and minimise the risk of deficiencies. Children should not follow restricted diets without the guidance of a registered dietitian.” 

Pollen-food syndrome (PFS), also known as Oral Allergy Syndrome, is now the most common allergy affecting adults. This condition causes the body to trigger an immune response in reaction to consuming proteins which are very similar to pollen. 

Ms Jones said: “People who suffer from seasonal allergies such as hay fever are most likely to be affected by PFS. The immune response of PFS typically results in immediate itching, along with other allergy symptoms including swelling in the mouth, tongue and lips. Most PFS symptoms are not life-threatening, although reactions may be worse in those people with uncontrolled asthma.” 

Foods most commonly linked with PFS are apples, kiwi, strawberry, stone fruit such as peaches, plums, cherries and apricots, and tree nuts, particularly hazelnut, Brazil nut, walnut and almond. 

However, Ms Jones warned: “It is important to note that there is no need to exclude all potential allergenic foods, and people should only avoid those foods which cause a reaction for them. In addition, heating or cooking the foods can denature the pollen-like proteins and so canned or cooked versions of these foods may be tolerated. 

“For any confirmed or suspected food allergies, people should consult their GP to ensure that appropriate, clinically reliable, tests are performed. A registered dietitian should be consulted to avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions which could lead to nutritional deficiencies.” 

The lists of allergenic foods goes far beyond those linked with PFS. 

Eight foods – cow’s milk, chicken eggs, shellfish, fish, soy, peanuts, wheat, and tree nuts – are thought to account for about 90 per cent of all allergic reactions in children, according to the British Dietetic Association. 

Ms Jones said: “Worldwide rates of food allergies have risen significantly in the last 20 years and scientists are not entirely sure of the reason. 

“Generally speaking, food allergies tend to affect younger children, and most will outgrow the allergy as their immune system matures, typically before they reach school age. 

“The most common childhood food allergies are related to milk, eggs, soya and wheat. 

“Allergies to peanuts and tree nuts are usually more long lasting, and any food allergies that persist into adulthood, or develop during adulthood, are likely to be lifelong allergies.” 

In medical terms, a food allergy is a condition in which exposure to a particular food protein triggers an immune response and releases histamine. The proteins that trigger the reaction are called allergens. 

The most commonly recognised allergic reactions usually show symptoms within an hour or two, ranging from an itchy mouth, rash, hives, or diarrhoea to severe anaphylactic problems such as the throat tightening and difficulty breathing. 

Meanwhile food intolerance, which can result in unpleasantness such as bloating and stomach pain, happens in people who lack certain enzymes to digest foods such as milk or sugar. 

Other people with food intolerance react to naturally occurring chemicals in food such as pork products, red wine, strong and blue cheeses, tuna, and caffeine. 

Island Nutrition, located on Victoria Street, has a team of dieticians offering advice on diet and lifestyle changes ranging from general healthy eating and weight management advice to more complex areas such as cancers, gastrointestinal conditions, and diabetes. 

Ms Jones said: “Our advice is always individualised, based on a comprehensive assessment of the individual’s health, social and diet history, and hence very much tailored to each individual client. 

“There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to dietary and lifestyle changes, yet we strive to optimize the diet of every client.” 

Grocery shopping can be a headache for people with allergies or food intolerance. 

Zach Moniz, manager at the Lindo’s Group of Companies, urged customers to know their own condition and learn how to read labels. 

Mr Moniz said: “We try to offer as many varieties as possible of products, but it is ultimately up to the allergy sufferer to know what foods to avoid and consider. 

“If you are unsure how to eat a balanced diet because of a food allergy it is best to seek the advice of a professional dietician.” 

“It may sound unsympathetic but knowing what you can and cannot eat is the responsibility of the allergy sufferer. Most things now are labelled well. Learn how to read the labels and when you are not sure or if a product is not adequately labelled then avoid those items when considering food options.” 

He said Lindo’s often imports items for individual customers. 

“Keep in mind it can take two to three weeks to get items here from the United States and at least eight weeks from the UK. Logistically, we must time our imports. 

“Once we see a pattern developing with specific customers, we often make sure we have the items they require but it is important in the early stages to communicate with us.” 

To make an appointment at Island Nutrition, call 295-4082 or e-mail [email protected]. 

The post Watch What You Eat! appeared first on RG Magazines.