Jaclyn Reutens, Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants: Making nutrition a lifestyle and eating healthy during the holidays
Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants
1 Orchard Boulevard, #07-08
Camden Medical Centre
Tel: 6836 9004, www.aptima-nsc.com, Email: info@aptima-nsc.com
Business established: Six years
Niche: Nutrition and fitness consultancy
At Aptima NSC, Jaclyn helps clients establish realistic nutritional goals they can incorporate into their daily lifestyle. Diets are prescribed for sports nutrition, weight management and clinical concerns such as high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, gout, cancer, heart disease and gastrointestinal disorders. Certified dieticians recommend customised diet plans accordingly the patient's lifestyle and environment and keep abreast with their progress through regular follow-ups.
TF: How is a nutritional assessment done?
JR: First we establish the purpose of your visit and conduct a typical assessment which includes a detailed 24-hour food recall or a week-long food diary. Past medical history and blood tests - if available - are also reviewed. A customised diet to follow for a week is then prescribed. At the next consultation, any initial issues with the diet will be identified and rectified. Any follow up visits is at the discretion of the dietician.
TF: How does diet contribute to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle?
JR: Diet is central to weight loss and your overall health. You're the gatekeeper of your health - what you ingest inside is reflected on the outside. So if you eat a nutritious diet, you will look vibrant and feel great. If you have a poor, unbalanced diet, you will feel lethargic, heavy and dull.
TF: Common misconceptions on maintaining a healthy diet?
JR: • Carbohydrates make you fat Many don't understand the mechanics of carbohydrates and how essential they are to weight loss. After educating most of my clients they have all converted from once being
"carb-phobic".
• Eating six small meals a day to increase metabolism While the elderly, children and those with gastrointestinal issues need to consume small meals - the rest of us don't. Stick to three meals a day. The quantity and quality of each meal can vary and be dependent on your customised diet plan.
TF: Best thing about your job?
JR: It's rewarding to change a person's life for the better. When my clients reach their weight or fitness goal, I witness a huge leap of self-confidence and improved self-image. This satisfaction spurs me on to help as many individuals as I can.
TF: Plans for the future?
JR: I'd like to work with other health professionals to educate and prevent lifestyle diseases stemming from unhealthy habits such an unbalanced diet, overconsumption of alcohol and lack of physical activity. Examples of such diseases are heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic X syndrome, obesity and hypertension. I intend to educate the masses by holding talks to high risk population groups such as working adults, holding one-to-one personalised counselling and talks at the school level.
• Drink low calorie drinks. Water is best or try sparkling water for a fizzy taste.
• Try everything in small portions. Don't go back for seconds.
• Don't snack mindlessly
• Chew your food slowly.
• Eat a healthy high fibre breakfast. This stabilises your sugar levels and prevents you from craving too much for the rest of the day.
Posted Dec 2011
info@ aptima-nsc.com
