The Ideal Nutrition Blog | Ideal Nutrition

18 Dec 2016

Do Calcium Supplements Reduce Fractures Risk? An Analysis of the Research

Recently I asked myself a question about whether there were any topics of nutrition that I could write about that very few people in the nutrition world were already providing. The conclusion that I came to was the findings of my systematic review that I did in my final year at university. This was on the topic of whether calcium and vitamin D supplements reduce the risk of fractures in the elderly. I chose this subject because there had been no clear answer in the research. I figured that it’s something that I could share that nobody else could. It…

18 Dec 2016

By Leah Higl

Should I Go Gluten Free?

Gluten avoidance has increased over the past few years with many more people opting to ditch wheat products for gluten-free alternatives. A 2018 study from NSW, Australia, reported that almost one-quarter of their 1301 respondents were currently avoiding dietary wheat or gluten. In contrast, the 2016 Australian Dietary Survey reported that 12% of their respondents were avoiding either wheat or gluten. Whilst the survey size and recruitment strategies of the two studies were very different, these results suggest that gluten and wheat avoidance may be on the rise. On the internet in general, you will probably find two camps of…

18 Dec 2016

By Cassandra Bendall

The Survival Guide for Honours: Tips and Tricks

Have you thought about doing Honours? Whether you are a nutrition student or a dietitian, the option to do Honours in Nutrition is available to anyone who has done undergraduate or post-graduate studies in this field. I completed my Honours year in 2016 at La Trobe University and I ended the year with First Class Honours. My thesis was titled, ‘The Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Visceral Fat in Australian Patients Post-Cardiac Event’, we aimed to explore whether the Mediterranean diet could reduce visceral fat at 3-months and whether this effect was sustained or larger at 6 months…

12 Dec 2016

By Aidan Muir

5 Nutrition Tips to Improve Progress in the Gym

Training is only one piece of the equation when it comes to getting good results in the gym. Without adequate nutrition, not only does your body lack the fuel it needs to push through a tough workout, it is unable to effectively recover and grow after each session. This article will outline 5 nutrition tips to ensure that you are getting the full benefits out of each session. 1) Ensure You Are Consuming an Appropriate Number of Calories Consuming the correct amount of calories per day is vital to ensure you are seeing progress at the gym. Your ideal calorie…

11 Dec 2016

By Aidan Muir

Introducing the Ideal Nutrition Blog

Ideal Nutrition is a dietetics private practice currently offering dietetic and nutritional services at Xceler8 24hr Fitness in Wagga Wagga. With only one dietitian initially (myself), the practice caters for all goals that can be achieved through nutrition. While Ideal Nutrition is set up so that it can cater for all goals and conditions, my specialties are weight loss, diabetes and sports nutrition. The goal of the business is to help as many people as possible through improving their nutrition. A key part of achieving this goal is this blog. The Ideal Nutrition blog is an attempt at providing people…

04 Dec 2016

By Cassandra Bendall

The Mediterranean Diet: Everything You Need to Know

What is the Mediterranean Diet? The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating based on traditional foods and drinks of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean diet was first established three decades ago as a cardio-protective diet in the Seven Countries Study. Keys and co-workers found that residents in Crete in Greece had the lowest mortality from heart disease and this was positively associated with their dietary pattern. This traditional dietary pattern is characterized by an abundance of plant-based foods such as leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, whole grain cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds, olive oil…

03 Dec 2016

By Leah Higl

Are Artificial Sweeteners Bad for Us? An Analysis

Artificial sweeteners have been used in the food industry for decades. The demand for them comes down to their sweet, satisfying taste minus the calories. It is a bit like having your cake and eating it too. But there has been a lot of debate over the safety and efficacy of using artificial sweeteners. Studies have explored the associations between artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners and a range of health outcomes including diabetes, cancer, gut health as well as changes to body weight. However, the current pool of evidence is conflicting for the most part. We don’t really have a clear…