Ask a Dietitian

As seen on BCTV March 28/00
VIEWER NUTRITION QUESTIONS FROM MARCH 28, 2000 NOON NEWS HOUR

1) Anne from Chilliwack wants to know what type of nutritional foods one should eat now that spring is here.
A great way to get organized for spring is to “spring clean” your diet by gutting your kitchen nutritionally. Get rid of all the foods you’ve had stocked too long in the freezer or items in the cupboards that may have gone stale. Plan to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables as they have the most health-promoting properties.

2) Rhonda from West Bank wants to know which is better, butter or margarine.
Regardless, liquid or unsaturated oils such as olive, canola and peanut oils are always better. Having said that, moderate amounts of non-hydrogenated margarines and butter used in moderation if fine.

3) Silvette from Kamloops does forty minutes of cardio four times a week and weight trains for 30 minutes three times a week. How much protein do I need?
The RNI for protein is approximately 1 gram/kilogram body weight. (To convert your weight into kilograms from pounds, simply divide by 2.2) When doing a lot of training you can go as high as 1.5 grams of protein/kilogram/day. If you are consuming 3 meat or alternative foods and 2-3 milk or alternative foods per day, you should be coming close to meeting your protein requirement.

4) Ken from Terrace is asking about a new book ‘Low Fat Living.’
Unfortunately, this is not a book I am presently familiar with. However, based on the title and the fact that it comes from Prevention Magazine, it likely offers some good strategies for cutting back on fat. The free nutrition service, Dial-a-Dietitian at 732-9191 or 1-800-667-3438 may know more about the book.

5) Jackie from Campbell River is dieting and wants to know about ‘lasics’
This is not a product I am familiar with. You may want to check with a doctor or pharmacist as it sounds like something that may require a prescription. I am not a big fan of supplemental products or drugs to lose weight. I strongly believe that improved eating habits and a serious exercise program will go a lot further in the long run.

6) Christine from Burnaby has Crohn’s disease and is asking about milk.
Yes, milk products can be irritating to the bowel in conditions such as Crohn’s. Try eliminating milk products and see if you notice any improvement. Be careful to replace calcium in your diet with other choices such as tofu, fortified soymilk, green vegetables or perhaps supplements if necessary.

7) Karen from Vancouver also has Crohn’s disease. She can’t eat fresh vegetables with a flare up and wonders if fruit juices can substitute.
Yes, fruit juice can be a substitute. About 1/2 a cup of juice is considered one serving. Choose real, unsweetened juices of high quality. Many people with intestinal upsets find that cooked fruits and vegetables are better tolerated than raw. Aim for at least 6 or more servings per day of vegetables and fruits. One serving is the size of a tennis ball or roughly 1/2 a cup.

Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV’s Noon News Hour!

Article written by Patricia Chuey and reprinted with permission