Lee McCusker (BA; MSc; MSc; MSc; ANutr; SENr) is a registered public health nutritionist (ANutr) and sports and exercise nutritionist (SENr) from Belfast. He runs his own private nutrition practice in West Belfast where he works with the general public as well as athletes. Lee is our nutrition columnist and is a nutrition lecturer on HND programmes in Belfast Met College. Lee has robust academia behind him with a total of four University Degrees including two MSc’s in Food and Nutrition and Sports and Exercise Nutrition through Ulster University.
DESPITE its name, the Brazil nut is technically a seed rather than a nut. That’s nuts, isn’t it? And to complicate things even more, the seeds do come from the Brazil nut tree. We’ll keep calling them nuts, however, just to keep things uncomplicated.
OLIVE oil is a good source of Omega 9 mono-unsaturated fats when used as part of a healthy balanced diet. It is linked with good heart health in the Mediterranean diet as it contains antioxidant polyphenols and flavonoids.
PROTEIN is needed for growth, repair and maintenance of our bodies, especially for bones and muscles.Supplements provide a concentrated source of protein to supplement a person’s usual food intake.
RECENT research has revealed that Belfast has the highest rates of hair loss in the North of Ireland – and the UK. Approximately 62% of males in Belfast are affected.
SOME of the best dietary sources of vitamin D3 include oily fish like salmon, sardines, pilchards, herring, and so on. But a portion of these would provide around fifty per cent (5ug) of the recommended intake of 10ug and it isn’t advised to take two portions of fish per day to achieve your recommended daily intake of vitamin D3 as this would be reckless due to mercury levels, among other things.
EASTER is an exciting time when we can relax and enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. And of course at Easter we are often surrounded by large amounts of delicious food.
THE amount of people in the world’s population aged 60 and over is expected to total to two billion in the next twenty-five years. This is a great landmark for the over-60s but there will be an increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline within this age range.
AFLATOXINS are a family of toxins produced by fungi that can be found on agricultural crops, notably peanuts. They are carcinogenic in high levels, meaning they are capable of causing cancer, especially liver cancer.
FRESH tuna is a very versatile foodstuff, being a good source of protein, vitamins A, B3, B12 and D3. These nutrients help with structure within our bodies, eyesight, energy release, DNA blueprint and bone health.
IT has long been debated that the Western diet per se or its specific dietary components contributes to the prevalence and severity of acne. In particular, dairy has been incriminated – but why? Is this true and is there substance to it?
A VEGAN diet is one that excludes animal products (meat, dairy, fish, eggs and honey) so all foods come from plant products. Good education requires knowledge beyond the basic principles of the Eatwell guide where we live.
WHOLEWHEAT pasta can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet that will provide you with great versatility when it comes to nutritional value.
THERE’S a reason why fad diets are so popular, not just in January, but all year round.
JANUARY is the floodgate month where opportunists promise you magic solutions for your health.
WE all know January is the month where the floodgates are opened in the health industry with market opportunists promising you magic solutions for weight loss.