Gut health and your working day
Gut health has become a popular topic in recent years, and for good reason. It's an important aspect of our overall health with research investigating the link from immunity, mood, energy levels and to chronic disease risk...
Food labels – what do we need to understand?
There is so much confusion and misinformation around nutrition, when we add in the complexity of looking at food labels this for many of us, can just be too much to take on! There is no doubt that food labelling is complex, there are specific laws that govern what information must be available and other information which is voluntary. As a consumer it can be challenging, and it takes time to understand this information and what it means. The aim with this article is to explain some of the key nutrition information to be aware of, when looking at food labels, in order to help you make a food choice that supports your specific health needs.
Why add more FIBRE to your plate?
Most of us maybe aware that fibre is good for our health and that we need to be consuming it as part of our diet. However, do we understand what fibre is, why its good for our health and what food sources should we be eating to ensure we meet the required intake? So, what is fibre?
Eating more sustainably, some steps to get you started!
Climate change is a global concern but how does what we eat impact on it? We understand now more clearly, the environmental impact and food waste at all stages of food production, from farm to fork. The farming and manufacturing processes used to produce the food we eat, as well as the way we eat and dispose of food is damaging the planet.
Could eating 5-a-day be your one change this year!
The latest Healthy Ireland Report outlines that only 28% of the population eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day, a number which unfortunately has continued to decline since 2021. Eating fruit and vegetables is advised within all the dietary guidelines, due to the health benefits that they confer. They are high in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals, including bioactive plant compounds, with antioxidant properties such as polyphenols or beta-carotene.
Why should we all be now taking Vitamin D?
For the first time a report published last year from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), examined vitamin D intake in people in Ireland aged between 5 and 65 years. Based on this review it was recommended that as well as intake from food sources, everyone take a vitamin D supplement especially teenagers, pregnant women and people of dark-skinned ethnicity who are at highest risk of vitamin D deficiency.
The lowdown on protein!
If we were to read some social media posts, protein is all we should be eating, all day every day! Whether it’s a high protein diet, protein supplements or shakes, protein is the proposed solution for weight loss, to build muscle, support joints or indeed preventing Alzheimer’s.
Are you aware of the extent to which menopause impacts wellbeing at work?
The experiences of the menopause can vary significantly from woman to woman, as can the severity of symptoms. Some may only experience symptoms for a few months while others may suffer for years.
A lunchbox to support their school day!
Why is a healthy lunch box important for children? A sustaining nutritious lunch supports steady growth and development for children, supports their immune system and reduces the risk of chronic disease later in life.
Options to support your nutrition on holidays…
To help support your nutrition while on holidays, this month we have compiled some advice to help reduce the stress you may feel.
What do you think of intermittent fasting? Is it good or not?
This month I talk about understanding the common types of intermittent fasting, the potential benefits and the risks associated with it, to conclude if this approach is for you or not.
What dietary steps can you take, to help mitigate the challenges of shift work?
This month I talk about the dietary mitigations we can undertake at an individual employee level and at a workplace level to minimise the adverse effects of shift work and support health and wellbeing.
Food and minding your mood!
This month I talk through some of the nutrients and dietary patterns that have been linked with our neurological state. Research is growing in the area of nutritional psychiatry, and we are beginning to get a greater understanding of how nutrition affects mental health.
Supplements: what we need to know and when we might need them!
This month I talk through the reasons why we should try to get most of the nutrients we need from a varied diet where we can. Why and when we might need to supplement and the risks to be mindful of when we do as well as getting professional advice first.
How can you encourage Healthy Eating in your workplace?
The first question you might ask is, why encourage healthy eating in my workplace? There is significant research outlining that an unhealthy diet is related to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart diseases, diabetes and cancer.
Is going on another diet really the best for our health long-term?
Diet culture is ingrained in our daily lives, and this culture is often supported by social media seeking for us all to fit into an ideal aesthetic. In this month’s blog we look at diets, their sustainability, the mindset they create and how using a slow and steady approach in adopting health promoting behaviours is better for our wellbeing and health outcomes.
What steps can you take to nourish yourself this December?
As we move through the final weeks of the year, many of us are tired and very much looking forward to having some downtime over the Christmas. However, we still have a few weeks to go, and this time can often be the most stressful with present lists, parties, family events and school plays to get through just to mention a few!
A Focus on Diet and Men’s Health!
Did you know that men in Ireland have a shorter life expectancy than women! In 2021, life expectancy at birth for women was about 84.1 years, while life expectancy at birth for men was about 80.2 years on average, nearly 4 years less (1). The top three causes of death in 2022 were malignant neoplasms (cancer), diseases of the heart and arteries (cardiovascular disease (CVD)) and then lung diseases (2). This month’s blog is a focus on men’s health and how their diet can help improve outcomes for some of the key challenges men face.
Eating well for Menopause and beyond!
Do you find that in times of stress, your diet is one of the first things to suffer! Contrary to what we might think, stress is normal and so is our body’s psychological and physical reaction to it! Indeed, research shows us that a small amount of stress can be good for us and gets us motivated to get stuff done. It improves memory, is beneficial to performance and motivation, and activates the immune system.
Making food choices that support a healthier heart!
Many of us don’t give our heart health a second thought, that is until we are told that something has changed. That could be our blood pressure or cholesterol level. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in Ireland with an estimated 9,000 people dying from it each year
3 reasons why nutrition should be part of your Workplace Wellbeing Program!
Everyone wants to live longer and work smarter however, do we slow down enough to consider how our lifestyle is impacting our health, how it's impacting our performance? Actually, I will rephrase that, do we know how to slow down?
Three healthy eating habits to carry with you on holidays
Over a third of all adults in Ireland (36%) say that they regularly suffer from stress. Many are working more hours and taking less time off, and in turn we are hearing of various mental and physical health challenges. When work is overwhelming and your work-life balance feels out of whack, it’s time to take the holiday and embrace every moment of it so that you can literally soak up all those health benefits.
Are you drinking enough?
Recent changes to how we work, have meant that there are a lot less conversations at the water cooler! However, while we may not be having as many chance conversations at the water station are you drinking enough when you are at work?
5 tips to improve energy for your working day!
5 tips to improve energy for your working day! We all have days where our energy in on the floor and we are not as productive as others. Though for some this can be more than a day and can stretch out into weeks or more. Rushing through meals, eating less nutrient dense food, snacking late into the night combined with increased stress levels have all become typical habits of how we now live, all of which contribute to low energy levels.
How to manage the impact of stress with your nutrition!
How to manage the impact of stress with your nutrition! Stress is a normal part of life and our body’s reaction can be through physical, mental and/or emotional changes. Stress has many causes, and it creeps into our lives from many directions including our work. However, our reactions and its impact will differ based on our genetics, our own circumstances, our environment, and life experiences.