NHS dietician advice for low zinc and calcium

[TiggerMe]

Called today…

Recommends multivits and fortified (ultra processed) breakfast cereals!

“Would I like a follow up in a few months time?”….. 🫤 no thank you

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Oh my days, but I did tell you so (hopefully in the nicest possible way!).

Honestly, that was my reaction when first seeing an NHS dietician who wanted me to load up on more and more carbs.

It's incredible the difference between an NHS dietician & a decent private nutritionist. In fact only on Monday I had my first appointment with a new private nutritionist and I have to say she's the best of the lot I've seen so far (2 x NHS & 2x private).

There was an awful lot of prep for me to do bearing in mind I have a long history of rubbish health, things I've already tried, test results, meds & supplements. She's come back with some great advice and new things to try and suggestions for tests (not cheap!)

She saw I was already taking zinc and said to take it for 3 months and then switch to a combined zinc & copper supplement. naturaldispensary.co.uk/pro...

zinc & copper supplement

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks JD... yep as expected but still utterly shocking!

If I say I have been following her guidance it should at least get me a follow up test in 6 months.... I shall continue to paddle my own canoe when it comes to supplements 🛶

When I pointed out that I would rather fortify my porridge than swap to an ultra processed cereal it took a while for her to grasp the concept of self fortifying things or even the different forms of zinc 😕

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

Thats very disappointing. I do think that there are a very few, good dieticians out there, a bit like Endo's really but it's definitely more luck than judgement to actually find one.

The second one I saw took me through the low FODMAP elimination which was useful, but apart from that her understanding of my issues with food and lack of knowing what to do about them was astounding.

So what will you do now?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Jaydee1507]

I bought a couple of forms of zinc to try picolinate, citrate and ionic which is sulphate and shall alternate.... surely one of them will hit the spot 😅

I just looked up Special K and it is predominantly sugar and barley which having told her I don't tolerate barley is an odd suggestion 😳

I had been stick patches on but they don't stay put!

[Sparklingsunshine]

I saw a rather chubby NHS dietician once, many moons ago. It certainly didnt instill confidence in anything she had to say 😄

[Lulu2607 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

She may be hypothyroid or on steroids for a medical condition maybe..

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Received a letter from the dietician today, recommending that I switch to a multivit called Forceval and drop all other supplements...

forceval.co.uk/forceval-sol...

Ingredients:

Acidifier, Citric acid; Monopotassium Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Flavouring, Potassium Hydrogen Carbonate, Maize Starch, Colour: Redbeet Powder,(E162), L-acscorbic Acid, Tri Zinc Citrate Dihydrate, Iron Sulphate, Sweetener, Sucralose (E955) Vitamin E acetate, DL-alpha-tocopherol, Modified Maize Starch, Acacia Gum, Vitamin A Acetate, DL Alpha-Tocopherol, Tricalcium Phosphate, Water, Magnese Sulphate, Vitamin D3, Maltodextrin, Corn Starch, Sucrose, Cholecalciferol, Copper Sulphate, Calcium-D-Pantothenate, Cyanocobalmin, Maltodextrin, Trisodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Cyanocabalamin, Pyridoxine HCI, Riboflavin 5-Phosphate, Sodium, Thiamine HCI, Chromium (III) Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate Anhydrous, D-Biotin.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

That's just terrible, it even has just folic acid in it and not methylfolate.

Did you tell her about your histamine intolerance? That multivit also contains citric acid which although 'natural' is a trigger for histamine issues and its in many soft drinks and supplements etc.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Jaydee1507]

Yep!... She sent me a few sheets about histamine, calcium but nothing on zinc other than it should be available through diet with added seeds and chicken

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

So she didn't comment on your deficiency of zinc? Sounds like a waste of time all round.

Probably you will have to start a supplement and retest in 3 months.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Jaydee1507]

The cure for low zinc was Special K 🙄

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

Its actually got a fair bit of fortification in it but wouldn't suit you anyway as it contains barley.

My mind boggles about dieticians who can claim the title of being offically recognised whereas nutritionists can't claim that, yet are streets ahead advice wise.

Special K vits

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Jaydee1507]

Yep, it's all there in a sugary spoonful... I wonder which version of B6 they use?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

I'd put a large sum of cash on it being the cheapest.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

Yuk

[humanbean in reply to TiggerMe]

One of the ingredients is this one :

DL-alpha-tocopherol (which is a type of vitamin E)

Read this link :

livestrong.com/article/5455...

[Maztee in reply to humanbean]

I find as time goes on that fewer and fewer 'professionals' understand their own specialisms 🤔🤯

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to humanbean]

Hmmm... she seemed more interested in simplifying my list of supplements, I did point out that I choose the better quality ones with the least excipients and appropriate quantities, this doesn't seem to register with them...

Who wouldn't love a bit of maltodextrin 🤢 and pyridoxine to block B6 uptake 😬 and all in one easy tablet

[Wwwdot in reply to TiggerMe]

🤦‍♀️🤢🤢🤢

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

oh dear god 🤦🏽‍♀️

I heard via a helpful reply to my covid moans that quercetin is the secret to getting zinc to absorb. I’ve bought the Solgar one to try.

Stay off those cereals 🤣

What did your Zoe coach make of that?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

I've not interacted with the Zoe folk as I don't think I have found one of their recipes that I could actually eat at the moment, so thinking they might struggle with me... It is shaming me into eating more greens and eating better combinations 🙃

I did try to start adding in some of their suggested ingredients but it set me back... I'm sticking with what works for me at the moment as enjoying a reasonable amount of energy and bounce back.

Interesting you mention quercetin I tend to only take during tree pollen season or if feeling snuffly

[Wwwdot in reply to TiggerMe]

Hi eeyore

Good for you! Listen to your gut and your body! I have had more success going down that route than listening to dieticians and GPs!!

Please keep sharing as I learn so much from you guys!

🤗🤗🤗

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Wwwdot]

Thanks you 🤗 a little self belief goes a long way 😁

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

Ah interesting, I cancelled my subscription, I interacted lots as the recipes didn’t suit me. Good for you, you know best! 🤗🌱

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

Perhaps I ought to interact but it all gets a bit wearing explaining... I did know this would be the case as they don't allow you to add in intolerances... but I am hoping that I shall be able to gradually start adding things back in... winter experimenting 🙃

So they weren't able to offer much help with recipe tweaking? I'm pleased it shows that my gut biome isn't in a dire state with the diet I'm on and it is handy at keeping tabs on protein intake etc... 🤷‍♀️

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

Yeah I got very fed up with copy and paste answers after sharing all my cans and can’ts. What I deduced was that I was already eating and therefore started on mostly 80+ meals with occasional 50-60 and that was already above their expectation. Which meant when they made a recommendation it was usually something I couldn’t tolerate or made me unwell. £118 back which is handy. 🌱

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

Great result both ways 🤗