Dietitian information - Dietitian Updated: 2023

Sharing deeply personal or embarrassing info with medical professionals can be nerve-wracking, but it's so important to tell them the truth. After all, it can be incredibly hard for doctors to do their jobs without having all the information they need to make a true diagnosis.

Recently, u/pleasedvenison5 asked doctors and other medical professionals on Reddit to share their stories about patients not being truthful with them, and their responses range from truly baffling to downright shocking. Here are some of the wildest stories:

1."I’m a hospital dietitian. One time I had a patient who always had very high blood sugar and needed tons of insulin to make it go down. This was a daily thing and several specialists even came in to consult to try to figure out why this person wasn’t responding to meds. After a few days, a nurse caught the patient EATING CANDY from a bag they had stashed somewhere in the room. This person laid in bed for days eating candy and said NOTHING while all of us were trying to control his glucose!"

2."This is a med school story. During ER rotation, a guy came in with a banana up his butt. It went in too far and he needed medical attention. He swore up and down that he tripped, fell on the stairs, and accidentally sat on the banana. After we fished the banana out my attending at the time came over said to me, 'Just before he accidentally fell onto the banana, a condom magically got in the way.'"

—u/-opinionated-

3."I'm a nurse. Men constantly lie about their height to us when we're trying to fill out their charts. Even to the male doctors and nurses! I'm pretty tall, so I can tell immediately when the person who's saying they're 5'11" is actually 5'8"."

4."There was a guy who came in for a broken bone who failed to tell the people caring for him that there was a Gatorade bottle stuck on his penis."

—u/mom-whitebread

5."I can literally smell the smoke on your clothes and breath, see the nicotine stains on your fingers, and you're trying to tell me you quit smoking 10 years ago?"

6."The number of virgins that I have diagnosed with STI’s and/or pregnancy is astounding."

—u/cacapoopoopeepeshire

7."When I was an optician, we had a patient come in that was having trouble with dry eyes. That's okay, it happens. We asked several times if she wore contacts and she swore up and down she didn't (she got contacts from us, which is how we knew), so we went through as normal. Doctor took her back and what do you know, she's wearing contacts. Even after he took them out himself and showed her, she refused to acknowledge those were hers. As she left, she asked for a new contact prescription."

8."Once had a woman come in for a 'possible yeast infection.' On exam, she had a glass bottle stuck in her vaginal filled with urine. Totally wouldn’t admit it was hers or explain how it got there even after we removed it. Just kept saying 'I think this is all a joke and you put it up there.'"

—u/fun-egg4265

9."One thing I noticed a LOT when I worked in allergy was patients lying about taking allergy pills. First off, if you take an allergy pill before an appointment that's scheduled for allergen testing, CANCEL the appointment. We're testing for up to 113 things at once. It takes a long time to set up, and you have to sit for the next 20 minutes and watch for a reaction. It's a colossal waste of time for everyone involved."

10."A patient with a specific type of eczema that looked clearly filler-related swore on her life she had never had fillers done. Awkward silence when the pathologist could see the material they use in fillers under the microscope."

11."I was working in Trauma ICU. We had this idiot that clearly shot himself in the hip while putting a gun in his pocket/side. He claimed someone came from behind and shot him. That's the story he gave the cop too."

—u/trex-died-4-our-sins

12."I have a slightly related story; the patient did admit to me but had been lying to other doctors for years. I was seeing a patient for follow up after a heart attack. This was the patient's third heart attack and he had problems from blockages in all his arteries. He had already had a few strokes, stents in his legs, previous bypass from his first heart attack. I felt a bit bad for the guy; from the medication list he brought in he was on really good medication which should be preventing these things."

13."In general, all drug users are pretty transparent with us, they understand we’re not cops. Heroin to coke, fentanyl or what have you. Except meth. Probably the paranoia. But meth users almost always lie. As just one example: I have heard, 'My partner must have sprinkled a bit into my coffee/breakfast,' minimum three times!"

—u/dancing_crane

14."Friend of mine is a doctor and used to work in ER during his training. He told me they kept a box around with the objects that they pulled out of people's asses, like toy cars, light bulbs and what not. And they had a jar that they would always put €1 into whenever someone claimed 'I fell on it' or some BS. The first person to just openly admit, 'Yeah, I put that in there for pleasure' was to get all that money — but it never happened before my friend moved on to the next station of his training."

—u/spitgobfalcon

15."One lady came in with a bowel obstruction saying that the only previous surgery she had had was some bowel removal from a previous obstruction. Her abdomen was COVERED in surgical scars, but she was insistent that that was the only surgery she’d ever had. Read her notes and came back and got her to admit she’d had her gallbladder, appendix, ovaries, AND uterus removed. She was missing basically half of her abdominal contents but refused to admit it?? Patients are weird sometimes."

—u/mimindia

16."Woman came into the OB ER in labor. We asked her if she had had any prenatal checks and she said she went to all of them. Asked her if she did an ultrasound and she said yes but left the results at home. We proceeded with vaginal delivery since the baby was already crowning. Once the baby was out, we proceeded with caring for the baby and preparing for the placenta to come out. I put my fingers inside and felt… a foot near the opening. Turns out she was having twins, and the second one was breech (feet as the presenting part). Good thing we managed to deliver the second one vaginally and there were no complications, but soon we found out that the mother lied about having any prenatal checks and ultrasound done. She didn’t even know she was having twins."

17."Had a case in residency where a woman came in with her family, swore her water broke at home, and she was going into labor. The nurse couldn't find heart beats, so was low key freaking out, put out a call for a bedside ultrasound to confirm an intrauterine demise (still birth). Well, they put the ultrasound probe on and there's no baby. Family all at the bedside asking, 'What's going on?' And this lady still wouldn't say anything. We were all looking at each other in this silent stand off. We just said, 'Sorry, there's no baby.' And the family was all sorts of confused, 'What do you mean no baby? Like the baby is dead?' She didn't say anything so we left the room and discharged her. Pretty sure we checked and she had a negative pregnancy test too."

—u/tallychem

18."Patient came in saying they thought they had a UTI and wanted to be tested. I said okay please provide a urine sample. They came back out with a urine cup filled with clear liquid. Like, completely clear. Not pale pale yellow, like crystal clear. Clearly water. I said, 'Is this water or urine?' They just shrugged. I said, 'Can you please go back in and bring back urine instead?' And they came back with urine. They had a UTI, and we gave them antibiotics."

—u/meandmosasaurus

19."I’ve had many discussions with hearing aid patients that the hearing aids they are wearing are in fact the newest aids and not 20 years old. Since I issue aids and don’t sell them, people try and tell me I’ve never given them anything even though I can show them serial numbers that match their records. Less frequently, they claim the aids as lost but I can hear them whistling in their pockets."

20."He wouldn't admit to being shot. Came in with leg pain and a hole. X-ray confirmed bullet in leg. He stated he was bitten. After he was taken to OT and had the bullet removed, he still says he was bitten."

—u/tallyhoo123

21.And finally, "I do medical massage and it’s always baffling when people don’t give me very major parts of their health history. One of my patients had a pretty clean health history on paper, nothing listed under surgeries, medications, or cardiovascular issues. Get the massage started, asking follow up questions as I go, and suddenly he remembers that he’s on blood thinners and he’s had a pace maker put in about two years ago. Cool, cool. Continue working… Oh yeah, and he also had a hip replacement and arthritis in the left knee."

—u/goddesmayari

22.If you work in the medical field, have you ever had a patient lie to you like this? Or have you ever lied to your doctor? Tell us your story in the comments.

Do you ever wish that every day could be Thanksgiving? All the delicious turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, tasty green bean casserole, and mouth-watering pumpkin pie. While your mouth may be saying “Yes,” your waistline is calling out “Whoa!” – and for good reason.

“Thanksgiving can be a real challenge if you are watching your weight, but you don’t have to sabotage your health,” says Dietitian Jennifer Larrivee MS, RD, LDN, Director of Clinical Nutrition for MetroWest Medical Center. “With a little know-how, you can satisfy your traditional favorites and still enjoy a guilt-free Thanksgiving feast.”

Jennifer offers these tips to help you navigate the buffet table without depriving yourself.

Eat before you eat. This may sound counterproductive, but if you eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch you can avoid overeating at Thanksgiving dinner later. That way you’ll have more control over your appetite because we tend to eat too much when hungry.

Go light on the calories. Many Thanksgiving goodies are loaded with extra fat and sugar, including mashed potatoes with all the butter and sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows. Recipes can be healthier by making a few substitutions, such as fat-free chicken broth to make gravy or plain yogurt in casseroles.

One size doesn’t fit all. Just because certain dishes are offered doesn’t mean you have to sample every one. Avoid the all-you-can-eat mentality and limit yourself to smaller portions if you cannot control the ingredients used in a dish.

Don’t cover your whole plate. There’s no need to pile your plate high with every food that is offered. Look over the buffet table first and then make your selections. Opt for reasonably-sized portions of holiday favorites that are served only once a year. Save room for dessert by skipping seconds.

Eat s-l-o-w-l-y. By savoring and chewing every bite thoroughly and putting your eating utensil down between bites you can enjoy your meal and be satisfied with one plate of food. Leftovers are often better the next day anyway. Pace yourself and eat only until you feel full. Drink plenty of water and try to keep alcohol down to a minimum since calories from alcoholic drinks can add up quickly.

Put down your fork and go for some fresh air. Spread out the food and fun by going for a walk after your main meal and then having dessert later. It’s a great way to get in some exercise and spend quality time with your family.

If you are eating out for your Thanksgiving meal, ask for food that is steamed, grilled or broiled rather than fried or sautéed. Request that sauces and dressing be served on the side, and watch out for super-sized portions that tempt you to eat too much.

By making small adjustments to your holiday meal, you can enjoy Thanksgiving without the guilt. Learning how to prepare healthy meals can significantly improve your health year-round.

For more information on Nutrition Services at MetroWest Medical Center, please visit https://www.mwmc.com/services/nutrition-counseling.

Oolong tea, or oōlióng(dé), is a type of traditional Chinese tea that’s popularly enjoyed in Asian countries. 

It’s rich in antioxidants and has been linked to several health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure levels and supporting brain health.

This article explores the health benefits of oolong tea as well as its safety and uses.  

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is embarking on an ambitious research project that may redefine nutrition and dieting and has the potential to impact overall consumer health and wellness. It is an endeavor worth monitoring for its possible impact on food and beverage product development.

Central to the NIH’s Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH) research project, which is a part of the agency’s All of Us Research Program, is the development and use of artificial intelligence to create algorithms that will predict individual responses to food and dietary patterns. Currently, most dietary patterns are built around balancing the consumption of a specified assortment of foods to achieve a specific dietary or health goal. The NIH recognizes diet and health are much more complicated than suggested by this approach.

The goal of creating precision nutrition algorithms is to move from a one-size-fits-most approach to more specific recommendations that are tailored to an individual’s unique characteristics and environments. The NPH will study how a range of factors, including genes, lifestyle, health history, the microbiome and an individual’s social conditions, influence a person’s response to diet.

To facilitate the research, the NIH has established 14 sites across the United States and is in the process of recruiting 10,000 participants from diverse backgrounds to contribute to the study. The project will comprise three components. All subjects will participate in the first component while subsets will contribute to the second and third components.

The first part of the study will require participants to complete surveys, report their daily diets, and provide blood, urine and stool samples for testing, including a microbiome analysis. In the second component, a subset of participants will be given diets selected by researchers. In the third component, participants also will be given diets selected by researchers but will be requested to reside in a research center while on the diets.

Researchers will use artificial intelligence to analyze the information provided to create algorithms that it is hoped will predict individual responses to dietary patterns. In addition to helping individuals improve their diet and health, it also is hoped the study’s findings may one day allow health care providers to offer more customized nutrition guidance to improve overall health.

The promise of personalized nutrition is nothing new. It is the size and scope of the NPH program that has the potential to rapidly accelerate the development of personalized nutrition programs. Companies like Mars Inc. and Nestle SA as well as a range of entrepreneurial startups have dabbled in the space, but no one has attempted a study of this scale.

The results may reshape how individuals make food choices, and, if the algorithms truly can make accurate recommendations based on a person’s unique characteristics and environments, then it also will have the potential to shift some aspects of food and beverage innovation away from a mass market approach to one that is tailored toward specific target markets. It is this possibility alone that makes the study worthy of industry attention.

Three experts discuss the different ways that students can incorporate healthy food and exercise conveniently and cost-effectively.

Amid lectures, exams and social events, many college students often sideline nutrition and exercise. According to three experts, Michael Zourdos, Tina Penhollow and Rebecca Snyder, this oversight can affect not only our mental/physical health but also our social life and academic performance. They highlight that, although nutrition and exercise might seem inaccessible or less important than other priorities, there are convenient and cost-effective strategies to overcome this. 

Student perspectives 

Jada Bowers and Sada Rice, psychology graduate students at FAU, say finding the time and money to eat healthily is difficult. 

“Dining on campus is expensive, and depending on your definition of eating healthily, options are kind of limited. This probably goes double for folks with dietary restrictions like veganism, food allergies, etc.,” Bowers said. 

Rice, a vegan, agreed that dining on campus is expensive. “Moaz in the food court isn’t very affordable, but they have the most healthy options.” 

“Pollo Tropical has healthy/affordable options, as well as the Jamba across the street,” Maria Shipe, a communications studies major, said. 

Some students said they utilize coupons and sales to get affordable meals. 

“Subway is your best bet at the stadium, as you can use coupons on online orders. Cutting the price of the sandwich to $5.99 for any whole sub,” Reese Handley, a multimedia journalism major, said. 

Multiple students suggested that Aldi, a supermarket only eight minutes away from campus, is the best place to grocery shop as a money-conscious student. While it typically offers less brand diversity than other popular chains like Publix and Trader Joe’s, it provides affordable options for products of similar health value. 

How to construct a meal: Macro and micro-nutrients 

Understanding nutrition often begins with learning about macronutrients and micronutrients. 

Tina Penhollow, an exercise science and health promotion professor at FAU, wrote that macronutrients — consisting of carbohydrates, proteins and fats — are essential in everyone’s diet, not just an athlete’s. They “are the components of food the body needs for energy to maintain the body’s vital organs, systems and structure. No healthy diet should exclude or restrict any macronutrient.” 

Healthline explains that while most foods contain a combination of all three macronutrients, there is usually a predominance of one. 

Carbs primarily include grains, fruits, beans and starchy vegetables. Protein-rich foods include eggs, meat, fish and soy products, while high-fat foods include avocados, nuts, seeds, cooking oils and fatty fish. 

According to Penhollow, vitamins and minerals are also necessary for bodies to function properly. “All students should take a daily multivitamin,” she wrote. “Multivitamins should contain calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese and selenium.” 

Rebecca Snyder, who earned a Master of Public Health in nutrition at Tulane University, stated that multivitamins can be helpful in supplementing unmet nutrient requirements. “Supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA,” she said. “One way to ensure that the supplement you’re buying is reliable is if it is certified by the National Supplement Foundation.”  

Nutrition on a budget

“Luckily, some of the most nutrient-dense foods are also some of the most affordable,” Snyder wrote. 

Healthline explains that nutrient density refers to the amount of nutrients in a food to the calories it provides. Foods with low nutrient density, like candy bars or a box of mac and cheese are high in calories but lack vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. Meanwhile, foods with high nutrient density have a more balanced calorie/nutrient ratio. 

Pizza, a famously cheap and popular food among university students, can be used to meet nutritional needs. While not lauded as the ideal choice for many dieticians, students can make healthy adjustments. “If you add chicken as a pizza topping, you’ll add in some protein, and if you eat a side salad, that covers the vegetable component,” Snyder wrote. 

Here’s a list of 28 nutrient-dense foods students can purchase on a budget. 

Harm of hunger

Snyder emphasized that healthy eating is not about restriction. Hunger negatively impacts mood and focus, so “make sure you’re eating something before class and not skipping meals! Your body functions best when it’s well-nourished, and that includes your brain.” 

While nutrient-dense foods are great for meeting macro, micro and caloric requirements, they don’t always keep you full. Experts use the satiety index to measure how long certain foods keep people satiated. 

Healthline reports that filling foods tend to be high in protein and fiber. They also tend to be high in volume (meaning they contain a lot of water and air) and low in energy density (meaning the food is low in calories for its weight). Examples include boiled potatoes, eggs, oatmeal, fish, greek yogurt, legumes, quinoa and popcorn. 

Exercise: Not just for athletes 

Michael Zourdos, chair of the Exercise Science and Health Promotion department at FAU, wants to dispel the notion that exercise is only for athletes. He explained that if people aren’t interested in improving muscle strength, body composition and endurance performance, they typically assume exercise isn’t a worthwhile use of their time, but this is a mistake.

“As we age, cognition declines, and exercise can help preserve neurons and delay the rate of cognitive decline,” he wrote. “Sarcopenia (the loss of type II muscle fibers) occurs with age, which can result in difficulty maintaining balance and diminished ability to accomplish daily tasks, such as carrying groceries to the car.” Zourdos specified resistance training as a preventative measure. 

He also stated aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of the number one cause of death in the United States, heart disease. It can also improve mental health and help patients with depressive symptoms. 

Penhollow has conducted much research on college students and older adults. He concludes the scope of exercise’s benefits is incredibly broad. “Regular exercise can help maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, strengthen an individual’s immune system, boost self-esteem, and enhance overall quality of life.” 

Accessible exercise 

Penhollow has taught at Florida Atlantic University for over 17 years, so she knows of many local spots to exercise. This includes the El Rio Trail Head, which is 2.5 miles long and contains beautiful scenery. FAU also has a 30-foot rock climbing wall, a challenge course, an outdoor track, a gym, and an outdoor pool. 

She wants students to know that exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. “A lesser-known form of exercise is simply brisk walking. In fact, walking is the most underrated, fat-burning mind-body exercise, which is available at any time and any place to anyone.” 

Students interested in exercise can visit the campus Recreation Center and the Climbing Center, or join a club like Running Owls. Alternatively, students can simply go on a walk around campus.

Misconceptions of nutrition and exercise

“The number one myth is that exercise can make up for a bad diet,” Penhollow wrote. “The second popular myth, particularly among women, is that heavy weights will bulk you up. Women do not have enough testosterone to bulk up the way men do.” 

“There is a trend in the fad diets right now that carbohydrates are bad for you, and restricting carbohydrates will help you be healthier,” Snyder said. “Carbs are your body’s preferred source of energy and are an important part of a balanced diet. In general, a diet telling you to restrict a whole food group is a major red flag!” 

FAU’s nutrition services 

Snyder emphasized the importance of talking to registered dieticians due to the amount of nutrition misinformation online and the fact most doctors don’t receive enough nutrition education.

FAU Student Health Services has a nutrition services program available to all students. Students can see a registered dietitian for individual consultations for various nutrition needs.

To schedule an appointment with the registered dietitian, call 561-297-3512.

Kayla Barnes is a contributing writer for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or directly message her @kayvenb on Instagram. 

• New retail offering includes Else Nutrition’s Toddler Nutritional Supplements,
  
• Kids Drinks, and Baby Super Cereals
  
• Retail customer base aligns with Company’s ideal consumers within the natural food channel
  
• Plan to expand beyond Canada to the U.S. market
  

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ELSE NUTRITION HOLDINGS INC. (BABY) (BABYF) (0YL.F) ("Else" or the "Company"), announces the rollout of its products across Canada with one of the world’s leading retailers of natural and organic foods. The launch includes Else Nutrition's entire product range of Toddler Nutritional Supplements, Kids Drinks, and Baby Super Cereals, which are designed for consumers who prioritize quality, health, and sustainability. Following the launch in Canada, Else Nutrition and the retailer plan to launch the Company’s products in the U.S. market.

This esteemed retailer, known for its stringent selection of natural and non-GMO products, aligns with Else Nutrition’s core values and commitment to providing high-quality, plant-based nutrition to families and children of all ages.

“Placement of Else Nutrition on the shelves of this distinguished retailer amplifies our reach to our target demographic in Canada,” said Hamutal Yitzhak, CEO of Else Nutrition. “This partnership reflects the growing demand and recognition of our brand attributes and differentiation within the marketplace. We are truly enthusiastic about our growth prospects with this wonderful retailer both for Canada and soon too, in the United States. Else Nutrition can already be found on shelves in eastern Canada, and will imminently be available in western Canada. Moms and dads will be thrilled with the product!”

To delve deeper into Else Nutrition's offerings and its revolutionary approach to kids' nutrition, visit www.elsenutrition.com

About Else Nutrition Holdings Inc.

Else Nutrition Holdings Inc. (TSX: BABY, OTCQX: BABYF, FSE: 0YL) is a food and nutrition company in the international expansion stage focused on developing innovative, clean, and plant-based food and nutrition products for infants, toddlers, children, and adults. Its revolutionary, plant-based, non-soy formula is a clean-ingredient alternative to dairy-based formulas. Since launching its Plant-Based Complete Nutrition for Toddlers, made of whole foods, almonds, buckwheat, and tapioca, the brand has received thousands of powerful testimonials and reviews from parents, gained national retailer support, and achieved rapid sales growth.

Awards and Recognition:

• "2017 Best Health and Diet Solutions" award at Milan's Global Food Innovation Summit
• #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the Fall of 2020 in the New Baby & Toddler Formula Category
• “Best Dairy Alternative” Award 2021 at World Plant-Based Expo
• Nexty Award Finalist at Expo West 2022 in the Plant-Based lifestyle category
• During September 2022, Else Super Cereal reached the #1 Best Seller in Baby Cereal across all brands on Amazon
  

Investor Relations Contact:

Alexandra Schilt
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Office: (212) 671-1020 Ext: 305
Email: aschilt@crescendo-ir.com

TSX

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Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "will" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to the anticipated dates for filing the company's financial disclosure documents. Such forward-looking statements reflect current estimates, beliefs, and assumptions, which are based on management's perception of current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. No assurance can be given that the foregoing will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements made in this press release assume, among others, the expectation that there will be no interruptions or supply chain failures as a result of COVID-19 and that the manufacturing, broker, and supply logistic agreement with the company does not terminate. Actual results may differ from the estimates, beliefs, and assumptions expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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