Dietitians from the Trust have been promoting their role and expertise during Dietitians week, by visiting shopping centres in Eastbourne and Hastings to highlight their work, and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and diet.
Dietitians are qualified to degree level and use the most up-to-date scientific research on food, health and disease and translate this into practical guidance, to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. They are the only nutritional professionals to be regulated by law and are registered with the Health Care Professions Council.
Dietitians promoting their work at local shopping centres
Jill Gorman, Lead Community Stroke Specialist Dietitian said: “Our lifestyle and what we eat has a big effect on our health. Our diet can affect blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Smoking, high blood pressure and obesity are the three leading risk factors, though there have been some positive trends with tobacco use declining and a decrease in the amount of salt eaten.”
She added: “The average person in the UK is thought to eat around 8g of salt a day. This value has reduced by 15% over the last decade, largely because food manufacturers have gradually reduced the amount of salt added to their food. But we are still eating a third more than the maximum recommended intake of 6g a day, putting us at increased risk of suffering later on in life.”
Over a quarter of adults are classed as obese (with a body mass index of 30 or more) and only 26% of adults and 16% of children are eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Including more plant based, fibre rich foods with less meat, saturated fat and sugar, can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, and can help achieve a healthy weight and reduce blood pressure.