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January 28, 2015
Blog

What to Look for on Current Nutrition Labels

Do you check the nutrition label before making a food decision? According to the recent Tracking Nutrition Trends Survey (2014), more than two thirds of Canadians read food labels to help them decide what to eat. If used correctly, food labels can provide us with valuable information about what is in our food, like the nutritional breakdown and possible food allergen(s). Currently, our nutrition labels are in review by Health Canada in consolidation with the public and health professionals like Dietitians of Canada. There are many fantastic proposed revisions intended to make labels easier to understand. Here is a past post where I highlight some of the proposed changes. Nevertheless, until...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments
January 20, 2015
Blog

Ten Tips for Healthy Aging

In order to age successfully, our goal is to make our health last as long as possible.  In my previous blog, I addressed the top five nutritional changes that occur as we age.  Today, I will highlight my top 10 nutrition tips for healthy aging. My intention is to urge even one reader to take better control of his or her diet today so that their later years will be spent in better health.  Here is an immensely powerful video by the Heart and Stroke foundation contrasting what our last 10 years could look like in either health or in sickness.   Andrea’s Top Ten Tips for Healthy Aging:   Eat...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments
January 9, 2015
Blog

Top Five Nutrition Changes as we Age

It is no surprise that we have an aging population; those over the age of 65 are the fastest growing population group! It is estimated by year 2030, more than one in five will be over the age of 65 (Heath Canada, 2002). As we age, our nutrition needs shift from a focus on growth and development to maintenance, repair and reducing the risk of chronic disease like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, obesity and arthritis.   Today’s blog will highlight my top five nutritional changes as we age. My follow-up blog will discover my top 10 nutrition tips for an aging population.   Decrease in Caloric Needs: As we age,...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
5 Comments
January 2, 2015
Blog

How to Make Your Resolution Stick!

Welcome to 2015! Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Or do you shy away because you find resolutions too challenging to keep? Today, I encourage you to think of one thing that you want to change and I will reveal three key stategies to help make it stick.   The most common resolutions include: weight loss, increase in exercise, enjoying life more, improving finances, spending more time with family and friends and helping others. However, a sobering statistic is that only 8 percent of people actually successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions according to the University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology.   Greg S Reid, motivational speaker, says it...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments
December 28, 2014
Blog

Avoid the New Year’s Hangover

It is almost 2015 and if you do not want to begin your New Year with a nasty hangover complete with a throbbing headache, nausea, muscle aches and irritability, you have come to the right place.  My blog today will share 7 tips for how to avoid (or at least lessen) your hangover if you plan on drinking this New Year’s.   Please enjoy the evening responsibly:  Have a pre-drinking meal: Before going out, ensure that you have a nutritionally balanced meal with carbohydrates (eg. pasta, potatoes, quinoa, toast, cereal), protein (eg. meat, fish, tofu, legumes, eggs) and veggies. Having food in your belly (especially carbs) slows the absorption of...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
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December 16, 2014
Blog

Don’t just Survive the Holidays… Enjoy them!

We are one week away from Christmas and what better way to celebrate with Dietetic Directions than by having a dynamic guest blogger!  I am excited to feature Chelsea Allen, Registered Dietitian from Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen.  I was first drawn to Chelsea’s website by her flare for food with scrumptious, healthy recipes, along with her restaurant reviews and current nutrition blog.  Chelsea’s Christmas article made me smile and shares the key message that we should all focus on not simply surviving but holidays, but enjoying them!   I know as a dietitian I’m supposed to be writing posts right now along the lines of “10 strategies to survive the holidays”....

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
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December 3, 2014
Blog

Starbucks Holiday Beverages, Exposed!

Season’s Greetings, would you like to try one of our festive coffees?  This is what I imagine the wonderful woman at Starbucks saying to me; instead, she knows that I generally go with the same boring blend.  If you tend to stick with your usual brew, do you ever wonder if you are missing out on a delicious, decadent festive treat?  Or are you certain that you are simply dodging the unnecessary sugar, fat and calories wrapped in a red snowflake cup? Today let’s take a closer look at three festive coffees in the 2014 Christmas lineup.  I will end off with giving you three “healthier” alternatives.   Nutrition for Starbucks Christmas...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments
November 25, 2014
Blog

Scoop on Artificial Sweeteners

Canadians are encouraged to limit consumption of added sugar because of the link to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, cancer and cavities.  But is substituting real sugar for artificial sugar the key to better health? Artificial sweeteners do not contain calories and are approximately 200-600 times sweeter than regular sugar; this is bonus for those with a sweet tooth who are trying to cut down on excess calories. However, despite the sweetness of artificial sweeteners, their safety has been a cause for concern for decades now.   If you are interested in impact of artificial sweeteners on weight management read my past blog.     Laboratory studies have attempted to...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments
November 11, 2014
Blog

Is Sitting Too Much a Health Hazard?

Do you spend most of your waking hours sitting?  The sobering answer is that the vast majority of us spend more time sitting than we do sleeping!  It is safe to say that sitting long hours is the new norm.  Many of us have sedentary jobs; we sit commuting, we sit to eat and we sit to relax.  However, emerging research may help us re-think our sitting routine by revealing that even if we exercise regularly, sitting for long periods raises the risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and premature death (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2014).  Sitting may be more hazardous to our health than we...

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by Andrea D’Ambrosio, RD
2 Comments