The amount of weight someone loses through diet and exercise really depends on their net calorie deficit ie. how many more calories they use up in the day compared to what they consume. This isn’t always the healthiest way to think about things though. Sure, you could lose a large amount of weight quite quickly [Read more…]
“Is sweet potato really healthier for you than normal potatoes?”
Sweet potatoes and normal potatoes are fairly similar in terms of their nutrient profiles but there are some key differences. Generally sweet potato will have a lower glycaemic index than regular potato but this depends on the cooking method and what you add to the potato. Food with a lower GI help keep you feeling [Read more…]
“I read online that if you’re trying to lose weight you shouldn’t buy fat-free and diet products because they’re loaded with sugar. Is this true?”
This really depends on what type of product it is and whether the product is likely to be high in sugar anyway. Most lollies, for example, naturally contain very little fat but are very high in sugar so choosing a packet with “98% fat-free” on the label doesn’t mean it’s a healthy choice. I recommend [Read more…]
“I’ve been following a very low calorie diet for the past few months and have recently been experience pain in my abdomen. I was reading online that this could be gallstones, what should I do?”
The primary role of the gallbladder is to store bile, a chemical produced by the liver which helps break down fat in the foods we eat. When we eat a meal containing fat, the gallbladder contracts to release some of the stored bile to help digest the fat. If people consume a very low calorie [Read more…]
“What’s your opinion on having a “cheat day” when trying to lose weight?”
There is mixed opinion on whether allowing a “cheat day” helps people stay on track with losing weight. I believe having a “cheat day” risks people binging on high-calorie foods, which results in a massive energy surplus that makes it harder to lose weight. Instead, I recommend to my clients that they pick one day [Read more…]
“Is dark chocolate really good for you?”
Most brands of dark chocolate have just as many calories as milk chocolate, and just a small amount can provide you with the same amount of energy as a whole meal! Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate contains more phytonutrients; chemicals in food which help to keep us healthy and may help fight off disease. [Read more…]
“My doctor told me that I’m underweight and need to gain 5 kg. What is a healthy way to do this?”
First work out whether you are eating all the recommended number of serves from each of the five foods groups, based on your age and physical activity level. This information can be found at the Eat for Health website www.eatforhealth.gov.au. Identify which food groups you need to eat more of, increase your intake of these [Read more…]
“Should I be drinking low-carb beer if I want to lose weight?”
Low-carb beer may sound like a healthy option until you realise that the majority of the energy coming from beer is actually from the alcohol itself, not the carbs. Carbohydrates give us 16kJ per gram whereas alcohol gives us 29kJ per gram, which is almost twice as much! Many low-carb beers have similar carbohydrate content [Read more…]
