Using your health insurance to cover your Dietitian’s appointment
Using your private health insurance to cover the cost of the services of a dietitian. Most UK residents are entitled to free healthcare from the NHS, however more and more of us are adding the additional cost of private healthcare insurance to our already stretched outgoings or have this included as a work perk. In the event of anything going wrong you have the peace of mind that you can get the treatment you need in a reasonable length of time. As with all insurance there are different levels of care and clauses on how much and often you can claim. So it is really important to know these details when purchasing. The ins and outs of private health insurance I think private health insurance companies offer wonderful extras to incentivise staying healthy and avoiding ill health. This is all very impressive and I am delighted to see people using these. It is however under the surface when you are looking for advice from a Dietitian that the disappointment occurs. I wear several hats as a Dietitian. I have the knowledge and tools to prevent ill health, I can also, when required, diagnose and treat ill health in relation to a plethora of nutritional issues or assist in optimising health when part of a long term illness or acute injury. Patients are referred to me with one or multiple different health issues and with a thorough assessment I know I can treat them with the programmes that I provide. The problem arises in relation to the insurance fee to cover the treatment. Receiving a thorough assessment Dietitians do not operate like Doctors in terms of assessment and advice. Doctors on average see a patient for up to 20 minutes and within this time they have assessed the patient, written a summary letter for any further tests/scans or onward referrals and included a review appointment if required. The end. Dietitians require a full and detailed history of health, diet and lifestyle before they discuss the details as to the illness in relation to dietary changes and then provide verbal nutritional advice for that individual. An initial appointment usually lasts 1 hour. My patients, as with many Dietitians, have their programme written up for them in a detailed multi-page document with additional advice which can include recipes, shopping lists, blood test requirements, supplements to take etc. A write up on average can be 2-3 hours. A review appointment is necessary to ensure the patient has been successful in following the advice, taking supplements and checking blood results. Further verbal and follow-up written advice is then required after the review appointment. The frustrations with health insurance So why am I frustrated?! Health insurance companies are all about keeping the patient in tip top health – track your weight, track your steps, reduce your costs……but clearly they haven’t joined up the dots when you need expert nutritional advice. Payment allowed for individuals attending Dietitians is not reflective of all the background work provided and it creates a shadow of negativity around the patient journey. It is very hard to explain to someone that they are not fully covered for the programme they are most certainly requiring to get better and optimise health longer term and know they need. I appreciate what some of you may be thinking – why not cut down your information to match the costs offered? Sadly I have tried this and it does not work, the fees just barely cover the first 1 hour appointment, let alone fees for office staff, rental etc. I have trained and educated myself daily for many hours in addition to the work I do and over the past 22 years I have accumulated the knowledge to fix people from cellular level up. I don’t charge much as my passion is for helping fix others. This is surely a win-win for the health insurance companies???? It is obvious that the insurance company will still be receiving the yearly insurance fee but the individual, if following the specialist advice correctly, will not require repeat hospital or doctor consults as possibly needed and thus keep profits healthy! I would even go as far to say a Dietitian can assist in highlighting and preventing further illness that may be lurking for a future episode of health insurance spend. I think they are missing a trick!! Just saying this guy got it right and this was around 310 BC!!! If you are interested in seeing a Dietitian and have private health insurance, do check the cover they offer and question why if not enough to pay for a full programme. The more they become aware of this the hope they will see the benefits. If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed]
The truth about nutritional supplements revealed by a UK leading Dietitian
One of the most commonly asked questions we hear at 121 Dietitian is “What supplements should I be taking?” With this in mind, Director and Principal Dietitian Gillian Killiner discusses the topic of supplements and who should be taking what. It might surprise you to learn that the term ‘dietary supplements’ actually applies to a wide group, including; vitamins, herbs, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, protein drinks, sport aids, weight loss pills, anti aging tonics etc. According to a report in Optimum Nutrition Magazine, the nutritional supplement market in the UK in 2016 was valued at £431 million and this is expected to double in the next 5 years. People in the U.K. take dietary supplements for a variety of different reasons. Athletes and bodybuilders may take supplements to gain performance improvements and to bulk up. Others take supplements to get protein and vitamins into their diets as part of an overall focus on a healthier lifestyle. Pregnant and lactating women may take dietary supplements to provide enough nutrients to support their growing babies. Children from ages six months to five years may be given supplements to make certain that they are getting enough vitamins while they are growing. The government recommends that children in this age group are given supplements of vitamins A, C and D. People also take dietary supplements to help lose weight, while older adults take supplements to help to maintain their health as they age. This sounds and is, for the main part, acceptable. When supplements are advised and taken correctly, they can enhance an individual’s health and thus improve life outcomes and I am all for this when following an expert’s advice. However, this needs to be after a full health assessment. What is most worrying is that I find frequently in my clinical practice individuals taking supplements for several years or maybe longer and they really have no idea the quality of the supplement they are taking (often cheap shop brand) the quantity of the ingredient dose they are taking and the risks associated with this or on the reverse that they might not be absorbing the ingredients at all. Sadly, I have had several patients who have significant liver damage as a direct result of high dose supplementation taken for an extended period of time. Truth be told, I am a supplement nerd and I am meticulous in sourcing the correct therapeutic supplements for each individual based on their; health, lifestyle, age, sex, metabolic status and most importantly, blood test results. The supplements that I select are chosen because they have: No nasty chemicals which can often trigger additional issues with gut/skin health. Selected for optimal dosage and from natural sources so the body can absorb them easily. Purest for no toxicity. Dose administered to assist their optimal absorption. If using several supplements they are introduced over time to monitor for any reactions. During the time a patient is with me, bloods and symptoms are monitored to ensure health is assisted and the supplements taken for the correct time frame at the correct dose. So where does that leave you? For those of you that do supplements: Do remember you can’t expect supplements to take care of a bad diet or lifestyle – research has proven this to be more harmful. If you take supplements please do consider there are positives and negatives to these and be aware that they could be unnecessary, toxic or just making expensive urine! Don’t mix food supplements and medicines. Some food supplements can interact with medicines. So if you are taking any medication, seek advice from either a GP or dietitian. Your body is like a finely tuned engine of a car – all the parts have to work in harmony to ensure you are in top gear. Too much or too little of anything and your won’t be firing on all cylinders! If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed]
Workplace Wellbeing Dietitian – how we can help your staff
What a BDA Workplace Wellbeing Ready Dietitian can do for your business. Focusing on the workplace wellbeing of all your employees and workers, the BDA Work Ready programme is a Dietitian-led service that has been developed based on the latest evidence and health and wellbeing approaches in business. Workplace Wellbeing has four key themes: Better business through positive leadership and commitment to health. Keeping healthy people at work and increasing their productivity potential whilst there. Working together to achieve a healthy weight for wellness. Maintaining a healthy environment and culture within the workplace. How it works The work ready programme offers bespoke nutritional and wellness services tailored to employers’ needs. A ‘pick and mix’ approach affords businesses the opportunity to choose the level of support that they need as required with assurances that they are receiving a quality service, soundly based in scientific research and principles, provided by dietitians, specifically trained in workplace nutrition. Workplace Wellbeing tools As a trained Work Ready Dietitian, I will spend a day at your chosen worksite and develop a personalised report for your organisation. This will include: Developing insights on your objectives for a wellbeing programme. Understanding the employee characteristics and the work environment. Reviewing elements of workplace health promotion already offered or under development. Meeting with the occupational health team or the person who looks after health and well-being of the employees. Understanding and reviewing the facilities which are available in the workplace regarding food and drink provision. Reviewing current policies which impact on wellbeing. The report will include a roadmap of recommendations for your organisation to implement over an agreed timescale, which can be delivered by myself within your organisation. Workplace Wellbeing can include: Workshops for staff Health champion training Employee needs assessments Personalised nutritional advice for individuals Review of food provision Development of tailored materials Integration of wellness into workplace direction. Thankfully workplace health is starting to receive the attention it deserves. If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed]
Antibiotics and your health
With the topic of antibiotics once again brought to our attention Here, Director and Principal Dietitian, Gillian Killiner shares her advice on improving your health and therefore ultimately the need for antibiotics. The media has repeated the call for people to act to avoid antibiotic resistance, and this got me thinking. Antibiotics are required for ill health, so if we can all avoid getting ill then no antibiotics are required! Obviously, I am not that green, and this is never going to happen, but I do feel that a high percentage of antibiotics used in the past have been requested by people unnecessarily and the knock on effect have resulted in a negative impact on health. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website has the following advice: Everyone can take some simple actions. Do not use antibiotics to treat viral infections, such as influenza, the common cold, a runny nose or a sore throat. Ask your doctor for other ways to feel better. Use antibiotics only when a doctor prescribes them. When you are prescribed antibiotics, take the full prescription even if you are feeling better. Ensure that members of your family do the same. Never share antibiotics with others or use leftover prescriptions. Remember, each time you take an antibiotic when it is not necessary, the effectiveness of the antibiotic decreases and it might not work the next time you really need it. As a Dietitian I treat people each day to assist their health and well-being. I ensure they are optimal with their diet and lifestyle to boost their immune system and avoid ill health. Avoid taking health risks eg: eating a diet of processed foods, excess alcohol, smoking, poor sleep hygiene is vital to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. Eating a variety of nutrient rich foods everyday makes a real difference. In addition, getting good sleep, drinking sufficient fluids and enjoying some exercise layers up the protection to illness. There will always be a time when we may need an antibiotic this could be for a wound infection or surgical procedure. Save yourself for unexpected events like this and do your very best to avoid antibiotic resistance. If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed]
The facts on fermented foods – what can they do for you…
With a rise in popularity for fermented foods in recent years comes a look at their impact on health. Here, Gillian gets clear on what fermented foods are and if they actually have a positive effect on health. What are fermented foods? Fermented foods and drinks have become very popular over recent years even though they have been consumed worldwide for over 13,000 years! Fermentation is the bacterial (or yeast) conversion of sugar and starch to acids and other by-products, including ethanol. The acidity not only prevents growth of bacteria in food that can spoil food and drink but also creates foods with an interesting sour, tangy flavour. Fermented local products include yogurt, beer and bread. Across the world fermented products include: Sauerkraut (‘sour cabbage’) from Germany, kimchi from Korea, kombucha from China and kefir from the Caucasian mountains. Any benefits from fermented foods? You can’t escape the supposed benefits of fermented foods as they have been touted all over the media. The main area of focus: probiotic content and gut health. A probiotic is defined as live microorganisms that can establish within the gut and provide a benefit to the host. With this interest has come an increased recognition for the importance of looking after our gut microbiota, both for gut and non-gut health outcomes. Finally emerging evidence from studies for fermented foods and health in humans has found to be positive re gut bacteria. Research has uncovered so many variables that could be at play so the outcomes are not always clear-cut. Some other interesting areas of research ongoing include: the possibility that fermentation can increase the iron bioavailability from cereals by reducing phytic acid content, which can stop your body absorbing iron. Certain bacteria can also synthesise nutritive compounds, including particular B vitamins all very interesting. Overall Fermented foods can be included as part of a balanced, healthy diet, although it should be recognised that some shop bought have a high salt content such as sauerkraut and kimchi. Fermentation is popular at home and if you do wish to commence this ensure you follow safe food hygiene practices and that you use the correct ingredients, conditions and storage for that particular ferment. Although the evidence for specific health benefits is still emerging, the taste, saving on food waste are all positive! We have loved making water kefir (we used these) the last few years and delighted that it tastes amazing while boosting gut health. Just remember if buying fermented foods in the supermarket that are processed by heat, baked or filtrated (e.g. pasteurised sauerkraut, sourdough) these are inactivate as this processing removes the microbes and will not contain live cultures. If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed] Updated December 2022
Top health tips for 2019 by Gillian Killiner
At 121 Dietitian, we firmly believe that small steps can always be taken to greatly improve our health. Looking at the key areas of mental health, kids’ health and weight loss, here we share our top health tips for 2019…. Mental health tips If you want instant improvements a few simple suggestions include: Stay well hydrated: fluids, notably water and not caffeinated drinks allow the brain and body to function. If dehydrated you will become sluggish and metabolism slows down adding to a depressed state. Avoid processed meals and snacks: Artificial, chemical laden foods will cause your body to build insulin resistance over time. High fructose syrups and sugars affect metabolism and cause low level inflammation, affecting Vitamin A and D levels, magnesium, copper and iron to name a few. This downward spiral negatively affects mental health and causes additional chronic illness. Get adequate sleep: This is essential for brain health. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Sleep allows the brain to shrink and eliminate toxins that can build up and lead to Alzheimer’s. It also allows to repair and consolidation of memories. Kids’ health Nutrition and lifestyles are ever changing as kids grow. Peer pressure, advertising and increasing independence all contribute to choices made. To optimise growth, development and good mental stability, we recommend the following: Encourage your kids to eat all together and most importantly with an adult – the more the merrier! A meal with family and friends allows a relaxed, enjoyable experience. It encourages children to eat more variety and not scoff! Each week or month try a new healthy food, especially with vegetables and fruits. Make it fun, research the food chosen and rate different recipes. When eating, turn the gadgets, phones and TV off. This will reduce the risk of mindless eating and thus obesity. If your kids are eating many unhealthy snacks, try to reduce these over time. Use tasty protein/fat alternatives like nut butters, avocados, cheeses, eggs, seeds, greek yoghurt topped with a little natural sugars such as dark chocolate or berries, plenty of vegetables including peppers, celery, carrots, cucumber and make flaxseed wraps or oat buns. Weight loss health tips Do not get caught up in kcal counting! The quality of your food is vital for providing satiety and happiness, better than any sugarless, fatless, processed biscuit. Make sure you are not battling with a hormonal or nutritional imbalance. These can thwart your best efforts and really damage your confidence. Always chew your food well and take time to enjoy what you eat. Getting the enzymes in your mouth involved will assist metabolism and send the correct signals from the gut to the brain to indicate fullness. Avoid low fat/sugar processed foods where possible. Eat a rainbow at each meal for nutrient density. Alcohol provides liquid energy so be careful of how much you consume. It can negatively affect your weight loss goals. If you are unsure of how to change your eating habits, or need help optimising the foods you eat please do contact us. We would love to help you or your family and friends with any nutrition related queries big or small. In the meantime do please check out our 121Dietitian Shop If you have enjoyed this blog we would love you to share this with your family and friends on your social media channels. Why not visit our YouTube Channel for more on keeping your health optimal. How can a Dietitian help Book a consultation via our Online Portal About Gillian Killiner Check out our tailored dietary programmes Gillian x [instagram-feed] Information checked & correct on 12th December 2018.