“We eat every day, but we don't actually know what we're eating…”

19 minutes ago
General care and care

A healthy lifestyle depends on several pillars, the most important of which are nutrition and exercise. Although we think we know what is healthy, this is not always the case. Nutritionist Karin Herder, who has a practice in Druten on the Klepperheide in TrainBuiten, is committed to increasing knowledge about nutrition. But how do you reach a group of people who aren't (yet) open to it?

Although the dictionary defines a dietitian as “a person authorized to formulate nutritional prescriptions,” this does not include him, according to Karen. “It's more about guiding clients who need help. Consider the desire (or need) to lose weight due to type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, as well as malnutrition, bowel problems, fatigue, or recovery after illness. Cases are very diverse “This also applies to solutions,” Karen says.

Correct nutrition

Eating as few processed foods as possible, little sugar, and plenty of nutrients and adequate energy forms the foundation of a healthy diet. However, the concept of “proper nutrition” can vary from person to person and from one stage of life to another. “To determine what is good for someone, you need a lot of information,” Karen says. “Then it's not just about whether people have health problems, what medications they use or how much exercise they do, but also about physical characteristics. For example, measuring muscle and fat mass is extremely important so you can compile Tailored nutritional advice.

Food as medicine

Karen explains that most health and wellbeing complaints appear from the age of 40 onwards. “It is a stage where people become less active in general. The body has had a lot to do for 40 years, but the organs are starting to age. However, with the right diet you can treat or at least reduce many complaints. In this regard, food serves as a Medication. It does not help with all complaints, but it helps with many. In addition, the right diet prevents some complaints. It also helps you feel better mentally. After all, the gut and the brain are closely linked.

protection

Why are there still so many people today who have problems with their weight and/or eating habits? “People still don't know enough about what's good for them,” Karen says. 'We eat every day, but we don't actually know what we're eating… For example, we have ideas about healthy eating that are not always correct, and at the same time you have food manufacturers who say all kinds of things. You have been misled in every way, due to lack of knowledge. It would be great if we could focus on some prevention in the coming years; Reach people before they file complaints. Not only do I work on this, but fortunately I also work with many other organizations.