With the rise in obesity-related cancer cases, Nina Farmer shares the nutrition advice she gives to her patients.
Following on from Dentistry‘s recent article on the ‘disturbing’ rise in cancer cases being linked to obesity, I felt that it could be useful to share my reflections as a dual trained dental and nutritional therapist, and the advice that I give to my patients.
As dental professionals, we are in a fortunate position with our patients to intervene as we spend a lot of time with them over time. This means we not only notice changes in them, but we also gain their trust.
Make every contact count (MECC) is an initiative by the NHS, Higher Education England and Public Health England which states: ‘All organisations responsible for health, wellbeing, care and safety have the opportunity to impact on people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.’
This can extend to all members of the dental team. If you look at the image of the MECC model, you can apply most team members to a section.
So, with that in mind, I’d now like to share some of the the advice I give to my patients.
But first, in the interest of safety, I’d like to confirm that I never ask a patient to stop eating certain foods without knowing their full history, as that advice could be harmful to someone with a history of disordered eating.
My advice on a generic basis is what can be added in to make it even better.
What nutritional advice should we give to patients?
Slow chewing
Adding a little ceremony to eating by chewing and slowing down to eat food will aid the digestion process and absorption of nutrients.
Taking some deep breaths will engage the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) and smell the food to get the gastric juices flowing.
A lot of people are stressed and often in a rush, even when eating – this can really impact nutrient status and lead to overeating.
Fruit and veg portions
Patients should aim for 30 to 40 portions of fruit and vegetables per week – a weekly target is a much more achievable and positive way of reaching the target.
This will ensure an array of vitamins and minerals is being consumed, alongside fibre and prebiotics for gut health.
Try to eat a rainbow while doing this to ensure that there are plenty of antioxidants being replenished.
Antioxidants are vital for growth, repair and protect against oxidative stress from free radicals which can increase risk of heart disease and/or cancer.
A lot of my patients don’t realise that once an antioxidant is used up, it cannot be reused, so it must be replaced.
On that note, smokers need at least 35g more of vitamin C a day than non-smokers due to its antioxidant properties.
Blood sugar balance
Blood sugar management is a topic I discuss with my patients to help them with cravings and weight management.
Advice includes ensuring meals are balanced by adding protein, fibre and healthy fats to their meals. I also often point them in the direction of the Mediterranean diet to help them know what that might look like on a plate.
I like to include stress management when discussing blood sugar balance with my patients as it isn’t always well known that one can impact the other and, over time, cause dysregulation. This can lead to fluctuations in energy, cravings and fat storage.
Health fats
Fat has a bad rep!
Low fat can often mean high sugar and we need healthy fats to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and minerals.
Steer clear of pro-flammatory hydrogenated fats found in junk food such as crisps and aim for healthy fat sources such as avocados, nuts, seeds and extra virgin olive oil.
Omega 3
I ask patients if they eat fish and quite often I receive a facial expression of distaste. Perhaps you are doing it now or can picture it?
Omega 3 is found in fish, nuts and seeds and it is anti-inflammatory and so important for cell membrane health and protection.
I recommend to patients (if they eat fish) to consume two portions of oily fish a week. I also advise they eat smaller fish that haven’t eaten other fish to reduce the risk of mercury and plastics from the ocean.
If they don’t eat fish, they should be advised to find omega 3 in other sources or consider discussing supplementation with a nutritional professional.
Increase NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)
NEAT means choosing the stairs instead of taking the lift, or parking a little further away in the car park and carrying your bags to the car etc.
Research has linked NEAT to increased wellbeing and is a great way of discussing movement to those with busy lives.
After thoughts
There is only so much that we as dental professionals can do in the time we have with our patients. My advice is to look at the top three things that can help them and that will vary from patient to patient, appointment to appointment.
You could also get to know who the other health professionals are in your area and how to refer them.
Find out what health initiatives are in your area, such as free smoking cessation or wellbeing clinics – quite often they have drop-in sessions too.
Having these conversations enriches my day and helps me to feel fulfilled in my job, and on the flip side my patients love it too.
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