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Dietician Dr. Quan Nguyen
In recognition of April as National Minority Health Month, local registered dietician Quan Nguyen shed light on what it takes to embark on a journey towards better health and how it often begins with small yet significant adjustments to a person’s diet.
Nguyen emphasized the importance of eating small, frequent meals to regulate blood sugar levels and curb overeating tendencies. Common misconceptions about nutrition, particularly the pitfalls of fad diets like keto, were part of the discussion, and the significance of consulting healthcare professionals for sustainable dietary changes. Nguyen also highlighted often-overlooked key nutrients like fiber, essential for overall health, and offered valuable advice on improving one’s relationship with food for long-term well-being.
What are some simple changes people can make to their diets that can have a big impact on their health?
Eat small frequent meals throughout the day. It can help control your blood sugar level a little bit better. A lot of people eat the usual three meals a day but might skip a meal due to work or another reason. Then they’ll eat a little bit more during their next meal which could be too many calories at once. Eating small frequent meals helps avoid that and is something you can adopt that will help you feel satisfied longer, which can also help avoiding snacking throughout the day.
Are there any common misconceptions about nutrition that you often encounter in your work?
I don’t think there’s enough time in the day to talk about every single one of them. A pretty big one is the fad diet. Keto tends to be popular to help you lose weight faster. But it’s important that if you’re trying to make any big lifestyle changes involved with your diet, to reach out to a healthcare professional. If you can’t get access to a dietician, at least get to a doctor. Diets like keto are harsh on your body. Maybe it can help you lose weight in the short term, but it can do some damage to your body in the long-term if you’re not careful. For example, with the keto diet, it makes these things called ketones, which might not be so great for your kidneys.
What are some key nutrients or vitamins that people often overlook but are crucial for good health?
I find that a lot of people have a hard time getting enough fiber in their diet and fiber is great for your overall health. It’s one of those things I’ve seen people struggle to get enough of in their diet. They don’t eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables nor eat enough whole grains. These foods can be a little bit hard to afford for some, but they are important for fiber intake.
How can individuals improve their relationship with food and develop healthier eating habits in the long term?
I want people to recognize that food can be medicine. That’s important to know and can help your relationship with food. Also, some people try to restrict themselves so much that they don’t enjoy food anymore. So, I think it’s just trying to find that healthy relationship with food, where if you enjoy what you’re eating, you’re more than likely to follow what kind of diet that you’re following. It’s about finding that healthy balance that really works for you. Really just trying to find that right portion size that allows you to have control over what your diet is.
