Healthy food

My doctor had me make an appointment with a nutritionist. She told me that I should focus more on plant based foods. Less on meat and dairy products. She also said that the pasta was healthier than the meat even if it is not always whole grain. That carbs are more important and healthy then meat. My husband tells me corn is the worst food to eat. She said it was not. As long as it is not heavily processed. What do you think.

Replies

  • harper16
    harper16 Posts: 2,564 Member
    Why does she think that diet is the best option for you?
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Pasta is healthier than meat? Does this person have a college degree in nutrition?
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    She has been nutritionist for 20 years. She takes about the 5 blue zone areas in the world. Okinawa, 2 in The Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and a group in the Us of Seventh Day Adventists. The all had variations Of a Mediterranean diet. Mostly breads, fruits and vegetables. Very little meats and cheese. The breads were not as highly processed as American breads. She said that obviously she would want me to eat whole grains more. If I was having spaghetti. She said focus more on the pasta and vegetables and less on the meat. I was diagnosed pre diabetic. My doctor recommended taking to this nutritionist.
  • PAPYRUS3
    PAPYRUS3 Posts: 13,259 Member
    Hopefully she sent you to see a dietician. Although there are some sound nutritionists out there, there are many that practice 'weird science'.

    I'm curious too on your doctor's advice? Do you have specific issues that would require you consuming certain foods/nutrients?
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    The blue zones are the ones to follow, for sure. But is she a registered dietitian? What type of protein does she suggest? Fish is an option.
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    She suggested plant based protein like beans
  • harper16
    harper16 Posts: 2,564 Member
    She suggested plant based protein like beans

    Is there a medical reason she feels this diet is best for you?
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    I am really confused because my last doctor recommended a low carb high “lean protein” diet. This one is suggested a high carb low protein diet.
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    Pre diabetic
  • harper16
    harper16 Posts: 2,564 Member
    Pre diabetic

    Ask to speak with a registered dietian and not a nutritionist.
  • Hanibanani2020
    Hanibanani2020 Posts: 523 Member
    You can’t go wrong with plant-based imho but I would seek a dietician to get more answers as it feels like you’re seeking answers here that your nutritionist can’t or won’t give you which isn’t great for a professional.
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    She is a registered dietitian!
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    As a prediabetic, my doctor gave me a very long list of acceptable foods. Some allowed with no restriction, and others in smaller quantities, but certainly not a very limited diet. You just need to be wise, and watch your portion sizes.
  • mkeatonmom4
    mkeatonmom4 Posts: 36 Member
    She also said that I only needed 4 oz of dairy a day
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    To me, 4 ounces of dairy is a lot. Does she give you a calorie amount?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited July 2020
    She has been nutritionist for 20 years. She takes about the 5 blue zone areas in the world. Okinawa, 2 in The Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and a group in the Us of Seventh Day Adventists. The all had variations Of a Mediterranean diet. Mostly breads, fruits and vegetables. Very little meats and cheese. The breads were not as highly processed as American breads. She said that obviously she would want me to eat whole grains more. If I was having spaghetti. She said focus more on the pasta and vegetables and less on the meat. I was diagnosed pre diabetic. My doctor recommended taking to this nutritionist.

    That's actually not an accurate description of the traditional Okinawan diet, which was high in the purple-fleshed Okinawan sweet potato (NOT the same sweet potato in American supermarkets) and low in grains and fruit.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_diet

    In short, the Okinawans circa 1950 ate sweet potatoes for 849 grams of the 1262 grams of food that they consumed, which constituted 69% of their total calories.[9]

    ************

    Doesn't sound like an accurate description of the Mediterranean diet either, as you made no mention of fish, and the Mediterranean diet includes moderate to high consumption of fish, as well as moderate consumption of dairy.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_diet

    The Mediterranean diet is a diet inspired by the eating habits of Italy and Greece in the 1960s.[1][2] The principal aspects of this diet include proportionally high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits,[3] and vegetables, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of dairy products (mostly as cheese and yogurt), moderate wine consumption, and low consumption of non-fish meat products.

    ***************

    Honestly, it sounds like this person has a bit of a vegan agenda. I applaud people who chose veganism because of their own ethics, but not those who distort the benefits of veganism.

    I wouldn't consider the traditional Okinawan diet a practical choice as 1. you may not be able to find that type of sweet potato and 2. who wants to eat 69% of calories in Satsuma sweet potatoes anyway?

    But the Med Diet should be a much easier way of eating. Show her this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_diet and ask her to clarify about fish and dairy.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,096 Member
    She also said that I only needed 4 oz of dairy a day

    That's pretty vague. 4 oz. of cheese is a lot for most people. 4 oz. of low-fat or nonfat milk or plain yogurt isn't much.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I am really confused because my last doctor recommended a low carb high “lean protein” diet. This one is suggested a high carb low protein diet.

    I assume you need to lose weight, yes? If so, simply losing weight helps with pre-diabetes more so than any particular diet.

    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/people_with_pre_diabetes_who_drop_substantial_weight_may_ward_off_type_2_diabetes
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I am really confused because my last doctor recommended a low carb high “lean protein” diet. This one is suggested a high carb low protein diet.

    I assume you need to lose weight, yes? If so, simply losing weight helps with pre-diabetes more so than any particular diet.

    https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/people_with_pre_diabetes_who_drop_substantial_weight_may_ward_off_type_2_diabetes

    Was just going to say that.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited July 2020
    Why would corn be the worst food to eat? It's a whole grain and has nutrients. Does your husband have an actual reason for that claim?

    (This is from someone who largely eats corn (other than popcorn) only when in season, when I get tons from the local farm I buy produce from, but enjoys it a lot when I have it.)
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,286 Member
    Yes that comment about corn struck me as odd too - but I guess your husband is not a dietician either.

    I eat plenty of corn, usually tinned - not sure if that counts as 'highly processed' - but seems a rather random thing to call ' the worst food'
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    Why would corn be the worst food to eat? It's a whole grain and has nutrients. Does your husband have an actual reason for that claim?

    (This is from someone who largely eats corn (other than popcorn) only when in season, when I get tons from the local farm I buy produce from, but enjoys it a lot when I have it.)

    That may have been influenced by something like Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma"...I eat a lot of seasonal corn, and keep corn in the freezer off-season, but don't eat a lot of foods that contain fractionated corn.

    I know you're familiar with that book, but for others: https://michaelpollan.com/reviews/children-of-the-corn/
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    The source I trust for up-to-date, science-based information is Harvard University School of Public Health's "Nutrition Source." https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/

    Your nutritionist's suggestion that pasta is healthier than meat seems based on more old-fashioned ideas about nutrition but don't take my word for it. Check out Harvard's advice. They update it as new information becomes known.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    Yes that comment about corn struck me as odd too - but I guess your husband is not a dietician either.

    I eat plenty of corn, usually tinned - not sure if that counts as 'highly processed' - but seems a rather random thing to call ' the worst food'

    I think rather than corn being bad for you it’s the toppings (ie: butter & salt) that can be. There’s nothing better than fresh corn on the cob. The season for it is only a few weeks away, and I can’t wait. I agree it’s hard to justify saying it’s “the worst food”. It’s food and there’s nothing wrong with eating it.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,286 Member
    Yes I guess if you slather corn on the cob with too many additives it might not be the healthiest food out.

    I dont eat corn on the cob I just eat tinned corn as part of a salad plate or sometimes in things like curries- mixed diced corn, peas, carrots is a common frozen veg bag here.
    and sometimes tinned creamed corn as an ingredient in home made soups.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    I only eat fresh corn in season, but I don't add anything to it. It doesn't need it.