Slimming World comment on call for ‘shift in focus from calorie counting to nutritional value of foods for heart health’
Carolyn Pallister, Slimming World Public Health Manager and Dietitian, comments on an article in Open Heart, published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), calling for a shift in focus from calorie counting to nutritional value of foods for heart health.
“It’s absolutely right that there needs to be a shift in focus away from the tedium of counting calories, which often goes hand in hand with higher consumption of pre-packaged processed foods and towards an emphasis on good nutrition and dietary changes including cooking from scratch.”
“However, while the ‘good fats’ that we get from things like olive oil and nuts are far better for us than the fats we get from processed foods, they still need to be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet, including lots of lower energy dense foods like fruits and vegetables, rice, potatoes, fish, poultry and lean meat. For people who struggle with their weight - and that’s roughly two thirds of us - overconsumption of high-fat foods can undermine weight loss efforts and lead to further weight gain. And with obesity being the number one risk factor for type 2 diabetes, as well as a major cause of heart disease, stroke and cancer, it’s clear that managing weight is a crucial factor in maintaining good overall health.”
