Nutrition Concerns

patchwork_cat

This forum is an excellent resource and I applaud all who strive to feed their family well for the meagre amount they have. I do have some concerns though and would like to make a suggestion to users and board mods - let me know if you think it is a good idea.

Nutrition and Dietetics is a much more complex science than we think. The combination of food stuffs that make vitamins more available and protein absorbtion better are a minefield. We are all being preached at to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day and whilst I am sure that I am talking to the already informed I was shocked to hear that some adults believe that Coca Cola constitutes a portion of fruit!

Is anyone or does anyone know of a qualified nutritionist or dietetian who could make a sticky thread with recommended g per day of protein etc. and information on eg incomplete proteins in pulses? So that when bulking out meals eg we could food combine for maximum nutrtion.

Just thoughts perhaps on a particular hobby horse of mine, so if you don't agree let me know, but nicely please!!

Caterina

I think that nobody is allowed to give health advice on the forum, so even a qualified nutritionist might not be able to do what you ask - not sure though, perhaps one of the forum moderators could let us know?

I know that there is a lot of ignorance around re. food contents and also too much contrasting pieces of info, one day you gotta eat all proteins, the next day carbs are your best friends, eat cooked, eat raw, eat this eat that.... enough to give someone a real headache!

There are some interesting sites on the web that can be accessed for a lot of nutritional info and everyone who posts here I am sure will know what to search for according to their needs.

HTH

Caterina

Hardup_Hester

Check out Weezles thread, she has all sorts of information on there.

Hester

nodwah

as Michael Pollan says: eat food, not too much, mostly plants - and you can't go wrong!

I think people are too hung up on this sort of thing, if you eat a wide range of foods you'll be getting the range of nutrients that you need simple as that.

I don't believe anyone on here would think that jaffa cakes and coke count as fruit or veg!!

patchwork_cat

HI
Not really thinking about health advice more things like - lentils are an incomplete protein unless eaten at the same time as a grain, or iron absorption is improved by eating at the same time as vitamin C that kind of things, which would help immensely with meal planning and would enable frugalistas to know that their families are definitely eating well.

I have mentioned this before, but about 15 years ago there was a documentary about an estate near me. On it a mother was feeding her children toast and chips as an evening meal on a regular basis as the HV had said carbs were good for children! Obviously she was the exception, but when I heard about vit c helping iron absorption I thought, how many other things like that are there that would enable me to make better choices and gain maximum nutrition for minimum outlay.

As someone has pointed out Weezle has lots of info, maybe we could just collate or various titbits of info - I believe that Vitamin D helps absorption of calcium is another. Anyone any others?

Nodwah - no I said I am aware that no one on hear would think that, but maybe we can share our knowledge in a knowledge database way.

Which sites Caterina?

Fair enough looks like other people don't agree.

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, patchwork cat! I agree with you in general - we all need information on health and nutrition. However, most people who want to know about this are aware of the need to restrict fat, sugar and salt intake, and take exercise. We still have high levels of heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity

Your second post makes me nervous as what you're asking for is veering on medical advice. I'll move this to the Site Feedback Board so that the team will see it and can comment directly.

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I was shocked to hear that some adults believe that Coca Cola constitutes a portion of fruit!

That'll be cherry coke, then

Caterina

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Which sites Caterina?

Hi,

Well it depends what you are looking for, all the info in the world is on the internet, but for example if you want details for complete vegetable proteins, check:

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/protein.html

You can just tailor the search to what you need to know, like content of omega 3 in foods for another example:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/omega.shtml

or about what fats are good and what not:

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fatssugarssalt/fats/

Food high in B12

http://www.weightlossforall.com/foods-rich-vitamin-B12.htm

Vitamin D and absorbtion of calcium:

http://www.vegansociety.com/food/nutrition/vitaminD.php

Just a few examples of what you can find. HTH

Caterina