Dietary Specialists

04/12/2025

🌟 Thinking about getting a food intolerance test? Here’s what you need to know.

Not all tests are created equal — and many popular “food intolerance” tests are not evidence-based.

According to ASCIA (the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy), several methods that claim to detect allergies or intolerances are unproven and not recommended. These include:
❌ Cytotoxic food testing
❌ Kinesiology
❌ Hair analysis
❌ Vega testing (electro-diagnostic)
❌ Electrodermal testing
❌ Pulse testing
❌ Reflexology-based testing
❌ Bryan’s or Alcat tests
❌ Food-specific IgG testing

These tests can lead to:
⚠️ Misdiagnosis
💸 Costly or unnecessary treatment
🥗 Overly restrictive diets that may harm your health
😟 Increased anxiety around food

If you're concerned about food reactions, it's always best to speak with a New Zealand registered dietitian or your GP. Evidence-based assessment means safer, more effective care — and no cutting out foods you don’t need to.

✨ At Dietary Specialists, we use research-driven tools to help you figure out what’s really going on.

27/11/2025

🌱 Gut Health: More Than Digestion

Your gut is home to trillions of microbes that influence immunity, mood, metabolism, digestion, and overall wellbeing.

Here’s what our dietitians at Dietary Specialists covered in a recent gut health webinar for health professionals:

✨ There’s no “perfect” microbiome — it’s all about balance, diversity, and consistency.
🥗 Diet drives gut health — aim for 30 different plant foods per week to support microbial diversity.
🌾 Fibre is fuel — include a variety of fibres to feed the trillions of gut microbes.
🥛 Fermented foods & probiotics can help, but benefits are strain-specific and vary between individuals.
🌿 Prebiotics feed your good bacteria — introduce them slowly to support tolerance.
🧠 The gut–brain connection is real — dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet have been linked to improved IBS symptoms and better mental wellbeing.
💡 Perfection isn’t required — and neither are pricey supplements. Small, consistent habits make the biggest impact.

🧠 Key Takeaway:
A healthy gut starts with dietary diversity, fibre-rich foods, and consistency — not restriction or quick fixes.

20/11/2025

How many vegetables do you eat each day? 🥕🥦

The latest New Zealand Health Survey has revealed something pretty alarming:
👉 Only 6.8% of Kiwi adults are meeting the recommended daily vegetable intake.
That’s 5–6 servings for men and 5 servings for women… and more than 9 out of 10 of us aren’t getting there.

Vegetables are powerful: they support digestion, immunity, heart health, blood sugar management, and overall wellbeing. Yet most of us are still falling short.

If this feels like you, you’re not alone — and small changes can make a big difference.

💡 What’s one extra vegetable you could add today?
• Add spinach to your eggs
• Toss frozen veg into dinner
• Add salad to your lunch
• Snack on carrots or cherry tomatoes

18/11/2025

🌿 Want tailored support while using Ozempic or Wegovy?
Our Dietitians can help you protect muscle, meet nutrient needs, and support long-term results.
➡️ Book online at: www.dietaryspecialists.co.nz

13/11/2025

At Dietary Specialists, we love salads too — and this Bulgur & Tuna Garden Salad is one of our favourites!

✨ Recipe highlights:
✔️ High in protein and fibre
✔️ Quick to prepare
✔️ Perfect for work lunches or light summer dinners

Bulgur & Tuna Garden Salad
🍚 1 cup cooked bulgur wheat
🐟 1 can tuna in spring water
🥕 ½ small carrot, grated
🌽 ¼ cup corn kernels
🌶️ ½ red capsicum, diced
🥒 ½ cucumber, diced
🌿 1 tbsp chopped parsley

Low-fat dressing:
1 tbsp plain yogurt + 1 tsp lemon juice + ½ tsp olive oil + pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together, fold through the dressing, and enjoy chilled!

🌿 Variation: Swap tuna for boiled eggs, smoked chicken, or chickpeas for a plant-based version.

09/11/2025

Great read by Claire Turnbull

The world is swimming with health and diet advice and a lot of it lacks evidence or expertise.

07/11/2025

🫒 Did you know that the Mediterranean diet is one of the most effective ways to support liver health and manage Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)?

This balanced eating pattern helps reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and lower liver fat — all while being delicious and satisfying!

✅ Fill your plate with:

Colourful veggies & fruits

Whole grains & legumes

Healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds)

Fatty fish like salmon or sardines 🐟

Limited red meat and processed foods

💡 Small swaps make a big difference — try replacing butter with olive oil or adding extra veggies to every meal!

👉 For personalised nutrition advice, contact the team at Dietary Specialists: dietaryspecialists.co.nz

17/07/2025

Love this post from Dietitians New Zealand reminding us to get back to basics

04/07/2025

📢 Big News: GPs Can Now Prescribe Wegovy for Weight Loss 📢

From today, GPs in New Zealand are able to prescribe Wegovy, a GLP-1 medication used for weight management.

While these medications can be effective tools, Dietitians NZ strongly recommends working alongside a registered dietitian to ensure your diet remains safe, balanced, and supports your long-term health goals.

🧠 Recent research highlights the importance of nutrition support to:
✅ Prevent muscle and bone mass loss
✅ Ensure nutritional adequacy
✅ Support sustainable, healthy weight changes

At Dietary Specialists, our experienced dietitian Sarah Munn is now accepting new clients who are using GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Sarah can work with you to create a personalised eating plan that supports your health, energy levels, and goals.

From today, GPs can prescribe Wegovy for weight loss. Dietitians NZ strongly recommends that anyone using GLP-1 medications seek personalised support from a registered dietitian to ensure safe, balanced nutrition.
Visit dietitians.org.nz (Latest News) to learn more.

19/06/2025

🌟 Dietitians Week Spotlight: Dr Leigh O’Brien 🌟

It’s Dietitians Week — and today we’re shining a light on Dr Leigh O’Brien!

Leigh is an experienced dietitian with a special interest in older adult health, complex gastrointestinal conditions, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). She’s a regular contributor to New Zealand Doctor magazine and a collaborator on nutrition-related research projects. Throughout her career, Leigh has enjoyed a variety of roles, including:

🔹 PhD in Human Nutrition – University of Otago
🔹 Research Fellow – University of Auckland, focusing on the nutrition needs of people with EDS
🔹 Group education – leading classes for people with prediabetes and contributing to the development of group low FODMAP classes for those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
🔹 Food safety consultant – monitored food safety for one of New Zealand’s major supermarket chains
🔹 Community dietitian – supporting Rural Canterbury
🔹 Clinical dietitian – Christchurch Hospital

Leigh is also the founding dietitian of Canterbury Dietitians, a consultancy providing both clinical and food service advice to residential care facilities.

She works at Dietary Specialists on Wednesdays, bringing an evidence-based approach to supporting clients with complex nutritional needs.


New Zealand

19/06/2025

We love this post by our Australian dietitian colleagues

17/06/2025

🌟 Dietitians Week Spotlight: Julie Leeper 🌟

It’s Dietitians Week — and today we’re celebrating the expertise and contributions of Julie Leeper!

Julie is a highly experienced dietitian with a long-standing focus on coeliac disease, IBS, and digestive health. She is the author of NOSH – Delicious and Responsible Eating and a regular contributor to both NZ Doctor magazine and Coeliac NZ.

Julie is one of the founding dietitians at Dietary Specialists and also:
🔹 One of the first dietitians in New Zealand to use the low FODMAP diet in clinical practice
🔹 An advisor for Coeliac New Zealand
🔹 A provider of expert input into numerous research projects on the low FODMAP diet and quality of life in people with gut disorders
🔹 A former public health dietitian with Diabetes Life, supporting community diabetes education and prevention
🔹A fabulous foodie!

Julie brings depth of knowledge, empathy, and practical support to every client she sees — particularly those navigating coeliac disease or functional gut conditions.

Julie works at Dietary Specialists on Tuesdays
New Zealand