Better Food Choices For a Healthier Life

March was National Nutrition Month, and Millennium Physician Group Family Medicine Physician Nektarios Demetrious, D.O., serves up some common sense advice for making healthier food choices.

FULL TRANSCRIPTION:

Farron Hipp:

It’s National Nutrition Month, which serves as a good reminder to prioritize our food choices, to practice those healthy eating habits. Here to talk more about some simple changes that we can have for a better diet, Dr. Nektarios Demetriou from Millennium Physician Group. Thank you so much for being with us.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

You’re welcome. Thank you for having me here.

Farron Hipp:

Well, let’s go ahead and dive right in.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Okay.

Farron Hipp:

Diet.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Right.

Farron Hipp:

How much does diet impact our overall health?

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Huge, absolutely huge. And we actually, at times, underestimate it, especially in the medical profession. So you are what you eat. So for instance, if let’s say you died and 2000 years from now, they basically were doing testing on you. They could find the nutrients in your bone and figure out what type of diet you are really rich in. So that’s how important it is. So it’s extremely important to really categorize how you’re going to eat. The unfortunate thing is there’s so much confusion out there, what’s good, what’s bad, one study says this, another study says this, our moms do this, our dads do this, where do you go? The most important rule you could actually put to yourself is avoid processed foods as much as possible. If you follow that mantra, you’re on the right track.

Farron Hipp:

Okay. So let’s talk about some specifics when we get to that. What are the top changes that we need to make to our diet?

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

So first off, we need to include proper amounts of fruit. Remember, however, some fruits contain high levels of sugar. So you don’t want to have high levels of sugar all the time. So you’re safe with berry fruits, like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, that type of thing. Certain levels of grain, not a tremendous amount, but just some in your diet. Not eight pieces of bread a day, that’s ridiculous, like the Food Guide Pyramid might have you do. But that’s where you want to start. And also too, salads, a salad with every meal. So you want a salad, a carb.

Farron Hipp:

Well, what about these salads? Is it okay if you put a little bit of chicken or shrimp or something else in there? What do the salads need to look like?

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

You do. But you want to look at it like this, the salad on your plate or your meal needs to be this much salad and this much meat, not this much meat, this much salad.

Farron Hipp:

And I think sometimes my salads may have this much dressing on the top of it, too.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Exactly. And you want to minimize that as well.

Farron Hipp:

Minimize that as well. Let’s talk not only about what we eat, but it’s also important to consider how much you drink. Do you really need to have the eight glasses a day that we hear about?

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

You do, actually, yes. Now, you also have to consider the environment that you’re in. We’re in Florida. So people are outside, it’s hot, we’re sweating more. We need more fluid. So two liters a day, like you said, about eight glasses are typically what your body needs. Now, some people with certain medical conditions might require less. If you’re working out, you require more. So I would use, yes, absolutely, eight glasses as a benchmark.

Farron Hipp:

Okay. So we have our good tips right here. How do we get started with actually just making some of these practical changes?

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

It has to start with awareness. And you have to start thinking about what foods are good for you and not just eating based on speed, based on, “Oh, it’s quick. It’s in the fridge. Oh, just eat that, it’s already made.” Or go to the store, you don’t want to be in line, but there’s a fried chicken. You’re just going to get it because you’re hungry and you don’t want to wait. You’ve got to start being really conscious about how to eat, and also just know that it’s going to take a little bit of effort. But once you make that initial effort, everything is easy after that.

Farron Hipp:

That’s the key right there. All right, Dr. Nektarios Demetriou.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Absolutely.

Farron Hipp:

Thank you so much for being here with us today.

Dr. Nektarios Demetriou:

Thank you.

Farron Hipp:

And for more information on how to find a physician or to schedule an appointment, you can visit millenniumphysician.com. Daytime will be right back.