Jess de Wet - Dietitian

06/05/2024

WAIT!
I am often asked about my opinion on Ozempic so here is some food for thought (pardon the pun 🥦). I will forever promote a balanced diet and exercise for the management of a high BMI and insulin resistance. Medications, such as Ozempic, lead to rapid weight loss which could leave one with loose skin or "ozempic face", nutrient deficiencies, gastrointestinal issues, and an empty wallet. Plus, if one stops taking the injections, similarly with fad diets, the weight tends to return with a vengeance.

A balanced diet prevents "cheating" because it contains all nutrients needed for the body to function (including a little bit of naughty nutrients 🍫), allows weight to drop gradually (depending on the individual) which prevents excessive loose skin, and is affordable. Couple that with 30 minutes of brisk walking daily 🚶‍♀️, and a positive attitude 🧠, and you've got yourself the secret recipe. Just be patient 🍓

18/04/2024

Nothing pairs better than potato and a creamy sauce. However, the sauces we reach for are not always healthy. If you're someone who loves their food to swim in sauce, I have a healthier alternative for you.

PLAIN YOGHURT is a creamy competitor which gives you a kick of calcium and a punch of protein. Yoghurt can also be a source of probiotics which makes it great for gut health. The neutral flavour allows for you to use it as a creamy base for smoothies, sauces/ dressings, curries, and even desserts. Today I added some tahini, lemon juice and cumin as a sauce for sweet potato, but any herb or spice will do. The combinations are infinite!

09/04/2024

After 4 years of hard work and hurdles, I finally have my Master's degree! 🥳

09/04/2024

I did a talk on gut health at Mykanos, Langebaan for World Health Day. Despite the rain and thunder, the turn out was great! Thank you to Sasha-Lee Jacobsz for inviting me to speak 🍓

05/04/2024

CHOCOLATE! 🍫
I often hear of people feeling guilty when they consume something sweet while "on a diet", which leads to them falling off the wagon completely and then bye bye diet and hello depressive episode.

While sugary treats 🎂 are not typically healthy, they can still be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle. We know that olive oil is healthy but if we use it to deep fry food or pour a whole cup over our salad then it isn't going to be healthy. So we can make some space for a couple of sweeties here and there.

Chat with your dietitian on how you can incorporate luxuries into your diet 🍬

05/04/2024

How lucky are we to have such a unique type of therapy on the West Coast! Scientifically proven to benefit physical and mental health.

07/03/2024

👩‍🎓 CONGRATULATIONS to Dr Janicke Visser who obtained a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in December 2023.

Her research explored the issue of hospital malnutrition, which is associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. The study identified that both malnutrition risk and malnutrition prevalence are alarmingly high in African adult hospitalised patients. The study highlighted that nutritional care is the responsibility of the who multi-disciplinary team, necessitating buy-in from role players and collaboration for success. Consensus strategies are proposed, and key actions suggested to mobilise strategies into practice. Adult hospital malnutrition awareness is greatly needed, and routine nutritional screening practices with appropriate nutrition support action should be implemented as a matter of urgency in (South) African hospitals.

07/03/2024

One of the best mentors! So proud to be a Matie!

👩‍🎓 CONGRATULATIONS to Dr Janicke Visser who obtained a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in December 2023.

Her research explored the issue of hospital malnutrition, which is associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased healthcare costs. The study identified that both malnutrition risk and malnutrition prevalence are alarmingly high in African adult hospitalised patients. The study highlighted that nutritional care is the responsibility of the who multi-disciplinary team, necessitating buy-in from role players and collaboration for success. Consensus strategies are proposed, and key actions suggested to mobilise strategies into practice. Adult hospital malnutrition awareness is greatly needed, and routine nutritional screening practices with appropriate nutrition support action should be implemented as a matter of urgency in (South) African hospitals.

12/02/2024

Check out this easy and healthy recipe! Packed with fibre and plant protein. Appropriate for meat-free diets and celiac disease. It can be used as a meal prep option too. Add some chopped garlic, onion, carrots and celery for some salt-free flavour.

BROWN RICE & LENTILS
This recipe from the 4th book in the Cooking from the heart series, the Braai Edition, is one of those easy dishes that can either be a side dish, or a nutritious vegetarian meal. The combination of equal quantities brown rice and lentils forms a complete protein, just perfect for a meat-free Monday family meal too. If you plan to serve this at room temperature on a hot summer’s day, cook the rice and lentils in the morning and allow it to cool. Then you just need to add the rest of the ingredients before supper.

Have you made this before? Share your feedback with us.
Here is the recipe link and do watch the handy video at the bottom of the page as well:
https://www.mydynamics.co.za/recipe/brown-rice-and-lentils-with-green-veggies/

09/02/2024

Dietitian vs Nutritionist - what's the difference?
To put it simply, dietitians work with individuals while nutritionists work within the broader community and focus on public health. Furthermore, dietitians are medically trained whereas nutritionists are not.

When I say "nutritionist", I'm not talking about people who do a course that takes 3 weeks - 6 months to complete then call themselves experts in nutrition. In that case, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. No, a nutritionist needs to receive a qualification from a higher institution, which is listed on the HPCSA website, and be registered with the HPCSA.

You can easily identify a dietitian or nutritionist because they will have a registration number linked to their name on the HPCSA website (for example, my number is DT0049069 and a nutritionist will start with NT).

It is so important to understand these differences, because those who are not dietitians should not be giving nutritional advice to individuals, especially those with medical concerns, because it can lead to nutrient deficiencies and other medical complications (No, I'm not exaggerating, this does happen).

And just as a side note, I love and appreciate doctors and nursing staff with all my heart, but they are also not experts in nutrition and also tend to give the wrong/ inappropriate advice a lot of the time (I have personally seen a patient who had had a heart attack because a medical doctor gave him incorrect dietary advice - scary stuff).

Lastly, Google is also not a platform for nutritional advice and is often misinterpreted by laymen. Some dietitians do have blog posts and such, which will be reputable information, but you must also then understand that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT and what might work for one person may not work for another.

There you have it, just as you wouldn't receive a medication script from a dietitian, you shouldn't be receiving nutritional advice from anyone else but a registered dietitian. Stay healthy!🍓

05/02/2024

Teaming up with Letanye (biokinetisist) for a Discovery Vitality wellness day! 💪🥦

31/01/2024

I often get asked "what supplements can I take to lose weight?". I can understand why it can get confusing, because there is often an entire isle of products at the shops which display pictures of a slim person or promising results in 2 weeks and claiming that it is "clinically proven".

Short answer: none of those supplements are as magical as they claim. The science shows that even if the product MAY make a difference, the product still needs to be taken with a healthy diet and exercise regime to be effective (you will probably see this written somewhere on the packaging as well)... so what is actually making you lose weight: the product or the diet and exercise?

Don't fall victim to those products. If something is too good to be true, it probably is. Only a healthy diet and physical activity are going to assist with weight loss.

Also remember that everyone is different. There is no "one size fits all". So if you want a plan which is budget friendly, sustainable, delicious, and going to work for YOU, check in with your local dietitian🍓