Blog - Specialist Nutrition Rehab

Blog

28 Aug 2019

Do brain injuries require a special diet?

The number one question that I get asked when I tell people what I do is, “What does nutrition have to do with brain injuries?”   That is usually followed closely by the question, “do people with a brain injury need a special diet?” Based on current evidence, almost everyone in the population should be striving […]
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29 Jul 2019

Ketogenic diets for drug-resistant epilepsy

  Do you have any clients with epilepsy who continue to have seizures in spite of taking anti-epileptic medication?  Have you asked the neurologist about trialling them on a ketogenic diet?   What is a ketogenic diet? Ketogenic diets contain very high amounts of fat, adequate amounts of protein, and extremely low amounts of carbohydrates.  […]
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27 Jun 2019

Constipation & laxative use after catastrophic injury

  A LOT of people with brain injuries and spinal cord injuries take laxatives — one…two…or even three laxatives a day, EVERYday for years.  My question is always, why?  If someone needs laxatives every day, that usually means there is another problem going on which needs further investigation.  It’s also worth remembering that some laxatives […]
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31 May 2019

PTSD and weight gain

  Over 80% of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will go on to become overweight or obese (with the majority becoming obese).1  People with PTSD also have higher rates of developing other physical health problems, including: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, insulin resistance, high cholesterol/dyslipidemia, increased risk of blood clots, systemic […]
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25 Apr 2019

Type 2 diabetes after a catastrophic injury

After a spinal cord injury, people are 2.5x more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to people who have not experienced a spinal cord injury.1 I was unable to find any similar research on rates of type 2 diabetes after a brain injury or traumatic amputation. However, many of the physical and metabolic changes […]
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28 Mar 2019

FAQ – Dietitian vs. Speech & Language Therapist for dysphagia

Who do you need? Dietitian vs. a Speech & Language Therapist for dysphagia   Speech and Language Therapists: Speech and Language Therapists tend to specialise in communication and/or dysphagia.  If you suspect a client may have issues with their swallowing, a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) should be your first port of call.  These professionals […]
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28 Mar 2019

Resources for “pureed” diets – beyond yogurt & mashed potatoes!

As of the 1st April 2019, all texture-modified diets in the United Kingdom must follow the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) which gives world-wide consistency to the terms used to describe texture modified diets. The IDDSI descriptors have been phased in over the last two years, so you may have already seen Speech and […]
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28 Feb 2019

FAQ – Dietitian vs Nutritionist

Do you know the difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?   Dietitians In the UK, the word “dietitian” (sometimes spelled “dietician”) is a protected title.  This means you cannot call yourself a dietitian unless you have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition (along with the required practical placements).  Dietitians must also be registered […]
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28 Feb 2019

New research – diet improves depression

Link Found Between Food Choices & Depression   A new meta-analysis of randomised control trials entitled, “The effects of dietary improvement on symptoms of depression and anxiety“(1) was released in February 2019 (ahead of print).  After reviewing 16 randomised control trials and compiling data from over 45 000 people, the conclusion is that dietary interventions […]
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31 Jan 2019

Recipe delivery boxes – a novel approach to healthy eating?

Recipe delivery boxes Can they help get clients out of a “rut” with their food choices?    Coco Pops cereal for breakfast, a sandwich and crisps for lunch and fish & chips from the local chippy at tea time.  You don’t need a degree in nutrition to know this likely isn’t the healthiest way to […]
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