Live webchat with nutritionist Jane Clarke, Tues 8 Feb, 12.30pm-1.30pm. UPDATE - Jane returning to answer questions she missed tonight - Tuesday 15th Feb 7.30

[GeraldineMumsnet]

We're delighted that nutritionist Jane Clarke is joining us for a webchat at 12.30pm on Tues 8 Feb.

Jane, who is a qualified dietitian, says her mission is to change people's lives through the power of nourishment.

Her latest book, Nourish, explains nutritional needs at every stage of life - children, teens, adulthood, pregnancy, middle age and over-60s.

She runs two dietetic practices (her specialist practice assists patients who have cancer and their families) and advises some of Britain's leading sportspeople.

Grab this opportunity to quiz an expert nutritionist, and join Jane on Tuesday. But if the timing doesn't work for you, post your question here as usual.

[MerryMarigold]

Hi Jane

This is a very basic question. Whicj foods are really good at promoting energy and which foods drain your energy levels (yes, yes, biscuits!).

Also, are there recipes in your Nourish book?

[JaneClarke1192]

@SameAsYou

Hi Jane

I have Psoriasis and advised to reduce dairy. I don't really have that much dairy other than tea or coffee.

Please can you advise what other foods would be good to eat. Or any supplements.

Thanks You

I'm not really sure why you've been advised to cut down on dairy as although too much of anything doesn't do the body any good, I'd be surprised if dairy foods were aggravating your psoriasis. It's a tough skin condition to treat as everyone is slightly different and it doesn't seem to respond in as general way as say eczema, but one thing I'd try is to boost your intake of the long chain omega 3 fatty acids, as these can have an anti inflammatory effect on the skin, which if taken at a level of a couple of portions( a portion we usually define as 140g ish) of salmon, fresh tuna, sardines, mackerel a week this could give your body a good dose of these beneficial omegas. One thing to point out as a more general point for anyone online tonight is that women of child bearing age shouldn't be eating more than a couple of portions of these oily fish a week, as we have concerns over the toxins in oily fish, which could potentially be passed onto an unborn child. this isn't meant to scare anyone, but it's best and perfectly safe and nourishing to have a couple of portions in a week, but don't OD on them. Men and older women can have up to 4 portions a week.
but back to your psoriasis, also see if there are any foods or drinks which are aggravating it, as certain wines can, as can histamine rich foods such as strawberries.
I talk about how to deal with skin conditions in my new book, so you may just find that useful.

[1234ThumbWar]

Jane I know what I should be eating and what I shouldn't, but can't seem to stop eating rubbish. Do you have any advice on how to get control over food?

[JaneClarke1192]

@CuppaTeaJanice

Hi Jane,

Do you think Gillian McKeith's pitiful performance on 'I'm a Celebrity' has had a detrimental effect to the reputation of the nutritionist/dietitian practice? ie. Is the public more likely to now think that good nutrition is of little benefit if one of it's more famous champions is looking old and haggard and fainting all over the place?

Oh how could I resist this question!!
It's such a shame that people assume that Gillian is a Dietitian and lump us all in the same sack and judge us as such. As so many of you have quite rightly pointed out, there is a HUGE difference between someone who calls themself a nutritionist and a properly qualified dietitian-whilst there are some great accredited nutritionists, at the moment it's hard to tell the difference. if you see someone who calls themself a Dietitian, you know that they have to have completed a degree or post graduate Dietetic qualification so I think it's a much safer place to ask for professional advice.

[MerryMarigold]

Ooh, like that qu thumbwar. Jane had a good tip about sniffing vanilla stopping sweet cravings. I shall be keeping a bottle out from now on!

[notgotanyanswers1]

i have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, any suggestions what i should be eating, as my appetite isn't brilliant except when it comes to sweet things, i'm a couple of stone overweight and i try to eat sensibly,but i do find it difficult

[JaneClarke1192]

@GreatGooglyMoogly

Could the reason I am often tired and need naps be that my diet is lacking in something, or even that I don't drink enough water? I have had blood tests and am neither anaemic nor diabetic. Many Thanks.

A couple of things to try-firstly it could be that you're not drinking enough water as it's amazing once you hit the 2.5L a day mark that energy levels can just feel more consistent. I know it sounds a lot but if you stagger it throughout the day, this can help you firstly not end up on the loo all the time and secondly keep energy levels and moods up.
it could be 2.5L water or a herbal tea-the ones I find most energising are lemon, be this fresh lemon in boiling water, or with mint leaves, or a tea such as lemon verbena or lemon and ginger, or fresh root ginger in hot water-try them..
secondly why don't you see if boosting your protein intake makes a difference, as I tend to find that if my lunch is high in lean proteins, such as some roast chicken, or if I'm home and make an omelette or something like some cold wafer thin ham and basically have a pretty heavy protein hit( along with the salads, veggies etc), I feel more energised in the afternoon, as opposed to having more of a bread based lunch which if there is just too much bread, it makes us snooze. the other option is to try crisp breads-I rather like the Dr Karg style biscuits with seeds on or the Swedish style rye crackers, as they're delicious and don't tend to make our energy levels drop as much as a big bready sandwich. I see so many people who find that too much of the starch at lunch time doesn't work. I'm not saying you need to avoid the starches all together, but just try tweaking the amount.

[JaneClarke1192]

@ThePosieParker

Hi there, I've had eating issues since I was in my teens, losing weight by not eating but because my appetite disappears, then ballooning from under 6st to over 12st in pregnancy. What foods can I eat that will inspire me to eat well? [miracle question]

I wish I could wave a magic wand for you!
have you tried to see someone professionally as I'm presuming going down to 6st was far too light for you. You don't say how much you weigh now, but I'm assuming that you're not happy where it is...
do see if you can come and see me in my practice as i'd love to be able to help. but if you can't I have a section on eating issues in my book-look in the teenage section, which I know isn't age wise where you are, but I think it could help...
one thing to try straight away would be to try and get into a habit of sticking to three meals a day-I know this sounds so general and boring, but forcing yourself to get into a structured eating pattern rather than picking or snacking, or going for long periods without eating and then overeating, will really help you start to move forward. and ask yourself is the food which I'm about to put in my mouth going to nourish me, if it is then go ahead, but if not, ditch it!

[JaneClarke1192]

@crissyboo

Hi Jane

I have an underactive thyroid and currently take 150mg thyroxine a day, however I am constantly tired and am gaining weight despite going to the gym 3 times a week and trying to follow weight watchers. Are there any foods I can eat or supplements I could take to boost my thyroid level??? It is really starting to get me down now :( I also have psorisis and depression.

have you had your thyroid gland checked recently, as I just wonder what's going on? also I'd ask for your doctor to refer you to an endocrinologist which is a hormone doctor as they can check to see if there is anything else wrong hormone wise which could do with tweaking, as you shouldn't be gaining as much weight etc and feeling so low. The problem with supplements supposedly designed to boost your thyroid function is that either they just don't work or worse still they can interfere with the thyroxine's effectiveness and get you into all sorts of messes-I'd really press your doctor to get you to see an endocrinologist-insist!

[JaneClarke1192]

@MerryMarigold

Hi Jane

This is a very basic question. Whicj foods are really good at promoting energy and which foods drain your energy levels (yes, yes, biscuits!).

Also, are there recipes in your Nourish book?

Ah, a biscuit lover!
yes they can give you a boost and be utterly delicious as they do, but so often we feel a crash afterwards.. so in the long run you don't feel great. the trick can lie in trying two things-try a sweet treat which is based around something with wholegrain and fruit, such as slice of walnut and fig cake, made with wholemeal flour and apple puree, as this tends to be more gentle on blood sugar and hence energy levels. secondly, try if you're wanting to have something sweet, to eat it after a meal which has some protein in it, such as some meat, fish, eggs etc, or if you're vegetarian lentil or bean based such as bowel of Tuscan bean soup, as this helps to slow down the absorption of the sugar, which again just helps cushion any sugar related energy surges and crashes.
there are lots of recipes in Nourish, so i hope you enjoy them!

[MerryMarigold]

Thanks so much for that, Jane. It's really helpful. I will also start drinking more water/ herbal teas as I'm afraid I'm a coffee drinker .

[JaneClarke1192]

@DolceeBanana

Hi Jane

I have 3 children (4.5, 3.5 and 16 months)...The eldest, my son has always been far pickier than his sisters. He hates fish and will pften gag when encouraged to taste it. We eat a fairly healthy, balanced diet of home cooked food. How would you coax him to eat anf enjoy fish?

Many thanks

I'd take the pressure off yourself if he's otherwise eating well, as children don't always genuinely like the foods we wish they would eat at certain points in their lives, but the likelihood is that he will click into another phase and especially if he sees his sisters eating fish, to join in too. have you tried fish soup which is blended as then he won't know it's there? at the age of 4.5 he's perfect age for incentive chart, so try to pick something he'll love and break this achievement into several stars, so that slowly but surely he can see there is something good to come out of at least trying and hopefully enjoying eating fish. could always try the thing I used to love as a child when we went on holiday to North Wales and to take fish and chips onto the sea wall and to watch the waves whilst we ate them!

[JaneClarke1192]

I'm sorry that the time has flown by too quickly again, but a huge thanks for all your questions. I'll be back again.
warmest wishes
Jane

[RachelMumsnet]

Huge thanks Jane for joining us again tonight. We'll be in touch again to invite you back to join us later in the year.

[goldenticket]

I must ask really dull questions!

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

Thank you very much for answering my question Jane - I will give the drinking and lunch protein a go :).

[Giesslerpowers]

I have your book Nourish and I think it looks lovely. Congratulations.

I am wondering what your thoughts are about 'Maya's chocolate brownies' in the book as a recipe for healthy eating though. We are all advised to keep an eye on the amount of saturated fats in our diets (less than 1.5g is considered to be low and over 5g is considered to be high). The chocolate brownies are a whopping 15g of saturated fat per 100g.
Each brownie (if 10 are made from the quantity of mix) is over 500calories and has nearly 19g saturated fats. I believe the average women is recommended to have no more than 20g saturated fat per day so this one brownie gives virtually 100% of requirements (and that is without the addition of ice cream as you recommend). We can all have an indulgence once in a while of course but how does this brownie differ from other brownies that are not so 'healthy'?