Making Money In The Health/Nutrition Sector

[domravioli]

Yeah, I've seen a lot of their stuff and have friends who are doing it too. Again, they seem to be a one diet fits all kind of people. A Kit Kat would hurt me, I mean it'd be worth it but I'd still bloat and then have to spend days getting back into ketosis.

This is why I want to be different. Not everybody processes nutrients in the same way. I'm insulin resistant due to PCOS and self-diagnosed prediabetic (we did an experiment at uni which confirmed both of these). So, the more carbs I eat the higher my insulin levels are which force my body to store carbs as fat. Same happens to many diabetics. A regular diet as adviced by the NHS and Public Health England of eat 6-8 portions of grains, 5-10 portions fruit and vegetables and 1 portion of fat just doesn't work for me and my metabolism.

For others, who have no underlying health issues, a diet high in carbs and low in fat is perfect and their body processes it without a hitch.

This is what I want to tackle and not just tell people to count calories because it just doesn't work long term. You reduce calories and it's great at first but then your metabolism catches on to what you're doing and lowers it to match your intake, so you either lower it more, plateau or start to gain again. Your body wants to remain at its optimal level, it's called homeostasis, and it manages everything else such as body temperature, blood glucose levels etc...so trying to manipulate it just isn't viable in the long run.

Ok, I need to stop - or put all this into a blog post hahaha

Then you've definitely not took it on board. They set calories and macros (fat, fibre, calories and protein), and what you do with that is up to you, there are no restrictions whatsoever, no "one diet fits all", they give you the basics, they have plenty of recipes if you want them, but its up to you. They suggest 80% nutrient dense food, such as lean protein, fruits, vegetables and pulses. If you think eating a kit kat will throw you off, you haven't learned much in your degree thus far - ketosis can be very, very dangerous (especially to someone nearing diabetic status), as your body requires complex carbohdrates to function correctly, just as it needs other nutrients - your level of this will depend on your unique biological makeup, but if you are having issues with eating small amounts of specific food groups you should be seeing a doctor because I think you may have crossed into the diabetic range given what you have explained.

Ketogenic diets have long term consequences, not limited to increased risks of cancers, bone density issues, osteoperosis and osteoarthritis, and long term, effective weight loss maintenance depends on calorie restriction, not carbohydrate restriction, as researched by Butryn et al in 2012 (Textbook of obesity, p. 259).

As someone with PCOS also, you're going to hurt yourself in the long run, as explained above. As someone whose sister is severely type 1 diabetic, you cannot cut out food groups - she is too sick for an insulin pump, but she has to eat carbs because if she didn't she would die. Also as someone with a degree in biology, you're preaching to the wrong person. I'm overweight due to severe MH issues and the wonderful meds they put you on that knock you out for a week or two. I've lost 22 pounds doing 5000 steps a day, in my house, and 1600 calories. And yes, I've eaten a kit kat or 2, even a bag of doritos. I was prediabetic (diagnosed by a doctor), I no longer am, and that is with happily eating my way through whatever 20% rubbish if I felt I needed that. I even had a little nervous breakdown in the middle of it - and came through the other side, without feeling the need to blame my issues on anything but my own inaction.

I'm on 1600 calories a day, I'm 5 feet 3 inches tall and 11 stone 5 - my previous BMI was 36, its now 29. Most people under eat when trying losing weight, and that is the issue. 22 pounds down so far, and while every diet most certainly does not work for everyone (I've tried a heck of a lot), to dismiss something because of your own (inaccurate) preconceptions is unethical given your field of study.

Perhaps approach Richie (the sweary geordie) with your current diet, I'm sure he would be more than happy to grant some access to the programme and work with you to show you how to have a long term sustainable diet, which is not restrictive (as yours very much is). If you pop him a message on their facebook page, perhaps with a link to this post, I'm sure they will be happy to welcome you.

 

[Chammy]

@domravioli - I can't quote because apparently, I hit make characters in my reply

Ok, so. Any diet can be dangerous if it isn't followed properly - the Standard American Diet is the worst of all. Vegan diets can lack in B12 and vitamin D, Atkins can be too much protein, low calorie destroys your metabolism, Slimming World promotes sugar-filled yoghurts over things like avocados and yes, the Ketogenic diet can be damaging if not followed correctly.

"effective weight loss maintenance depends on calorie restriction, not carbohydrate restriction, as researched by Butryn et al in 2012 (Textbook of obesity, p. 259)." There is plenty of research to counter this and restricting calories doesn't lead to long term weight loss maintenance - if it did I wouldn't be overweight. Restricting calories leads to destroying your metabolism causing you to lower your calories more and more in order to keep losing. Then, when you try to eat you TDEE allowance (for which mine is currently 2,500cal a day AND I'm losing weight) you gain it all again because your body is used to having so little.

“Once we understand that obesity is a hormonal imbalance, we can begin to treat it. If we believe that excess calories cause obesity, then the treatment is to reduce calories. But this method has been a complete failure. However, if too much insulin causes obesity, then it becomes clear we need to lower insulin levels.”
― Jason Fung, The Obesity Code: unlocking the secrets of weight loss (fantastic book).

The Ketogenic diet has been used since the 1920's for children with epilepsy and the NHS are slowly introducing Low Carb/Keto to T2 diabetic patients. I talk to plenty of diabetic nurses in Facebook groups who recommend it to their patient.

There is a big difference between T1 and T2 diabetes. Those with T1 are only recommended to do keto under supervision because they just don't produce insulin which is why they have injections and there is no way to reverse it. T2 is a lifestyle disease and can be reversed with a good diet. In T2 the body doesn't use carbs properly due to insulin resistance, the glucose won't go in the cell to be used as energy instead it floats around the bloodstream demanding more insulin to be produced and when there is too much insulin in your blood your body switches to storing the glucose as fat which is why many diabetics gain weight even after they're diagnosed and on medication.

Research is starting to suggest that ketones actually help fight cancer because cancer cells can only use glucose, they cannot get their energy from ketones.

As someone with a degree in biology, you'll know that mild ketosis is something every nutritionally healthly person goes through on a daily basis to stay alive. While we sleep our bodies use up our glycogen stores and switch to producing ketones by breaking down body fat - this powers our bodies while we're not giving it glucose. When we wake up, we're burning fat and only stop when we give our body glucose to burn - obviously, this relies on the person going at least 12 hours without eating. Keto is just an extension to that. Giving the body enough carbohydrates for the only cell in the body that can't use ketones (red blood cells) and replacing your calories with calories from fat, as well as eating a recommended amount of protein (roughly 0.8/1g per kilo of lean body mass).

I'm not depriving myself of anything. I've eaten a "cheesecake" for breakfast (purely to take an antibiotic because I'm not hungry on a morning). I've made kebabs with low carb breads, eaten chocolate pudding, homemade Reece's Pieces cups, had a BBQ the other day with a fresh salad, coleslaw and homemade burgers.

Just to compare this paragraph
I'm on 1600 calories a day, I'm 5 feet 3 inches tall and 11 stone 5 - my previous BMI was 36, its now 29. Most people under eat when trying losing weight, and that is the issue. 22 pounds down so far, and while every diet most certainly does not work for everyone (I've tried a heck of a lot), to dismiss something because of your own (inaccurate) preconceptions is unethical given your field of study.

I eat between 1900 and 2600 calories a day, I'm 5ft 6 and 18st 7lbs - I started with a BMI of 43.4 so I have a lot to lose. I've been losely keto for 2 months (I had a break while on holiday) and I'm just shy of 1 stone loss. I'm not doing keto for a "quick fix" and I'd never recommended it to anyone for that, it breaks my heart seeing people doing it who only need to lose 5lbs, I'm doing it because that's how my body works. I've done every diet under the sun including vegan which is full of complex carbs and all that happened was I was constantly bloated, suffering with IBS, gaining weight and my mental health was rock bottom.

I haven't dismissed them, I know they work for many people and as I said, I have friends who are doing the program and smashing it. Their first plan benefit is "Your fat loss calories worked out for you" I don't believe in counting calories. I have a friend who eats nothing but crap all day long, he's the same age as me and there is nothing on him - watching him eat is memorising. He does no exercise other than walking for the train and he doesn't have to worry about a thing. We've ordered the same meal before, he's demolished it and wanted more whereas I couldn't finish it and felt bloated (it was pancakes, explains a lot now).

A PT did an experiment on himself eating 5,793 a day for 21 days on the standard American diet with plenty of "fake foods" but it was high carb, lower fat (63%/22%) and gained over a stone in weight plus 3.6in around his waist. He repeated the experiment but this time it was low carb and high fat (10%/53%) and he gained only 3lbs and lost 1in from his waist. A YouTuber I follow ate 3,000 calories a day in double cream and lost weight.

I cannot believe that homeostasis controls every aspect of our body except weight and that we're the only animal in the world that has to manage that ourselves. To me, it makes a hell of a lot more sense that obesity is a health disorder on a hormonal level. Our metabolism adapts to its external environment so if you're putting fewer calories in then your body is going to eventually switch to using less. If you burn more than you put in then your body will leach energy - high-intensity exercise requires glucose so if you're not eating enough glucose it'll breakdown muscle for gluconeogenesis so it can get that glucose (because it can't use ketones for that).

"how to have a long term sustainable diet, which is not restrictive (as yours very much is)" - My diet is not restrictive. I eat lean meats, leafy vegetables, healthy fats I just balance them differently. I can't eat a whole punnet of strawberries but I can have a cup full with some cream. I can't have a cake that is full of fat and refined sugars but at the end of the day, none of us should be!

 

[domravioli]

@domravioli - I can't quote because apparently, I hit make characters in my reply

Ok, so. Any diet can be dangerous if it isn't followed properly - the Standard American Diet is the worst of all. Vegan diets can lack in B12 and vitamin D, Atkins can be too much protein, low calorie destroys your metabolism, Slimming World promotes sugar-filled yoghurts over things like avocados and yes, the Ketogenic diet can be damaging if not followed correctly.

"effective weight loss maintenance depends on calorie restriction, not carbohydrate restriction, as researched by Butryn et al in 2012 (Textbook of obesity, p. 259)." There is plenty of research to counter this and restricting calories doesn't lead to long term weight loss maintenance - if it did I wouldn't be overweight. Restricting calories leads to destroying your metabolism causing you to lower your calories more and more in order to keep losing. Then, when you try to eat you TDEE allowance (for which mine is currently 2,500cal a day AND I'm losing weight) you gain it all again because your body is used to having so little.

“Once we understand that obesity is a hormonal imbalance, we can begin to treat it. If we believe that excess calories cause obesity, then the treatment is to reduce calories. But this method has been a complete failure. However, if too much insulin causes obesity, then it becomes clear we need to lower insulin levels.”
― Jason Fung, The Obesity Code: unlocking the secrets of weight loss (fantastic book).

The Ketogenic diet has been used since the 1920's for children with epilepsy and the NHS are slowly introducing Low Carb/Keto to T2 diabetic patients. I talk to plenty of diabetic nurses in Facebook groups who recommend it to their patient.

There is a big difference between T1 and T2 diabetes. Those with T1 are only recommended to do keto under supervision because they just don't produce insulin which is why they have injections and there is no way to reverse it. T2 is a lifestyle disease and can be reversed with a good diet. In T2 the body doesn't use carbs properly due to insulin resistance, the glucose won't go in the cell to be used as energy instead it floats around the bloodstream demanding more insulin to be produced and when there is too much insulin in your blood your body switches to storing the glucose as fat which is why many diabetics gain weight even after they're diagnosed and on medication.

Research is starting to suggest that ketones actually help fight cancer because cancer cells can only use glucose, they cannot get their energy from ketones.

As someone with a degree in biology, you'll know that mild ketosis is something every nutritionally healthly person goes through on a daily basis to stay alive. While we sleep our bodies use up our glycogen stores and switch to producing ketones by breaking down body fat - this powers our bodies while we're not giving it glucose. When we wake up, we're burning fat and only stop when we give our body glucose to burn - obviously, this relies on the person going at least 12 hours without eating. Keto is just an extension to that. Giving the body enough carbohydrates for the only cell in the body that can't use ketones (red blood cells) and replacing your calories with calories from fat, as well as eating a recommended amount of protein (roughly 0.8/1g per kilo of lean body mass).

I'm not depriving myself of anything. I've eaten a "cheesecake" for breakfast (purely to take an antibiotic because I'm not hungry on a morning). I've made kebabs with low carb breads, eaten chocolate pudding, homemade Reece's Pieces cups, had a BBQ the other day with a fresh salad, coleslaw and homemade burgers.

Just to compare this paragraph
I'm on 1600 calories a day, I'm 5 feet 3 inches tall and 11 stone 5 - my previous BMI was 36, its now 29. Most people under eat when trying losing weight, and that is the issue. 22 pounds down so far, and while every diet most certainly does not work for everyone (I've tried a heck of a lot), to dismiss something because of your own (inaccurate) preconceptions is unethical given your field of study.

I eat between 1900 and 2600 calories a day, I'm 5ft 6 and 18st 7lbs - I started with a BMI of 43.4 so I have a lot to lose. I've been losely keto for 2 months (I had a break while on holiday) and I'm just shy of 1 stone loss. I'm not doing keto for a "quick fix" and I'd never recommended it to anyone for that, it breaks my heart seeing people doing it who only need to lose 5lbs, I'm doing it because that's how my body works. I've done every diet under the sun including vegan which is full of complex carbs and all that happened was I was constantly bloated, suffering with IBS, gaining weight and my mental health was rock bottom.

I haven't dismissed them, I know they work for many people and as I said, I have friends who are doing the program and smashing it. Their first plan benefit is "Your fat loss calories worked out for you" I don't believe in counting calories. I have a friend who eats nothing but crap all day long, he's the same age as me and there is nothing on him - watching him eat is memorising. He does no exercise other than walking for the train and he doesn't have to worry about a thing. We've ordered the same meal before, he's demolished it and wanted more whereas I couldn't finish it and felt bloated (it was pancakes, explains a lot now).

A PT did an experiment on himself eating 5,793 a day for 21 days on the standard American diet with plenty of "fake foods" but it was high carb, lower fat (63%/22%) and gained over a stone in weight plus 3.6in around his waist. He repeated the experiment but this time it was low carb and high fat (10%/53%) and he gained only 3lbs and lost 1in from his waist. A YouTuber I follow ate 3,000 calories a day in double cream and lost weight.

I cannot believe that homeostasis controls every aspect of our body except weight and that we're the only animal in the world that has to manage that ourselves. To me, it makes a hell of a lot more sense that obesity is a health disorder on a hormonal level. Our metabolism adapts to its external environment so if you're putting fewer calories in then your body is going to eventually switch to using less. If you burn more than you put in then your body will leach energy - high-intensity exercise requires glucose so if you're not eating enough glucose it'll breakdown muscle for gluconeogenesis so it can get that glucose (because it can't use ketones for that).

"how to have a long term sustainable diet, which is not restrictive (as yours very much is)" - My diet is not restrictive. I eat lean meats, leafy vegetables, healthy fats I just balance them differently. I can't eat a whole punnet of strawberries but I can have a cup full with some cream. I can't have a cake that is full of fat and refined sugars but at the end of the day, none of us should be!

You said a kit kat would "hurt me". That's restrictive. A kit kat would not hurt you, it might not be the most beneficial, but believe me, it will cause you zero harm.

Type 2 diabetes isnt just a lifestyle disease (for many it is brought on by lifelong medications for example), and type 1 diabetics can produce some insulin, just not enough, and cannot regulate their insulin production.

The NHS advocate VLCDs for diabetics - even though they can cause more harm than good in some cases - so please take their recommendations with a large dose of salt, as what works for one does not work for another.

Homeostasis by it's very definition defies what you wrote. Interdependent physiological processes - it's what keeps your heart beating, and makes you fart. You'll have to believe it's more than that, because whilst perspectives are always welcomed, defying scientifically replicable facts because you "cannot believe" just isnt suitable in your field of study; unethical, and very much unwelcome. It's like a flat earther studying geology.

 

[katykicker]

Just visited his YouTube for a nosey and don't really understand the point of most of his videos other than for people to watch him eat a ridiculous amount of food that no "normal" person can possibly eat.

He's a bodybuilder and gym nut so his TDEE is already massive which allows him to eat 3,500 a day with no issues so binging for a YouTube video is going to do nothing to him. His metabolism will go "WOAH NELLY" that's a hell of a lot of energy so let's burn some of that off say, as heat, and the next day he's back to normal...maybe he'll eat less to balance it out. But there is no reason behind it?

Compare it to another YouTuber I follow. She ate 3000 calories in just double cream for a week to prove she could still lose weight with all the science behind it.

I took a look at his plans and they look ok, but I can't see how the diet plans are fully personalised for that little amount. I mean, if I approached him would he be able to plan me for the week to hit 2,500 calories a day with 250g of fat and only 20g carbs? It can take me HOURS to do my own weeks meals so there is no way he can do that for everyone who signs up which makes me wonder if he just has generic plans for xx amount of calories for a female/male. I mean, I could be wrong.

This is not something I want to do. I want it to be specific to a person's nutritional needs which should come first. I'm not a fitness person, fitness is good but it's not what I'm going to be qualified to do...I'm going to be qualified to advise people in what they eat.

I was making a suggestion for you to make money online

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I know lots about fitness or nutrition, as clearly I don't

 

[maisiemog]

I probably would fit into your ideal target group, fat, female, type 2 diabetic with PCOS who definitely needs help. I’ve recently got very into nutrition myself to improve my own health and did almost apply to study it this year through clearing but dont think I can commit to it at the moment with personal life things.

I would happily receive affiliate emails as long as the product was relevant and affordable. And honest, down to earth advice would be very much appreciated without all the jargon in it. There are enough affordable products out there you could market that if your following was big enough could lead to a decent income.

I don’t want to have to pay to access weight loss help. It’s why I quit slimming world. Especially as there is so much free support out there from the NHS now.

And good luck! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

 

[Kimilsung]

Tell me about it.

I know that a regular career in say, the NHS, is going to be a struggle because I don't agree with current the current nutrition advice (food pyramid or healthy eating plate) so my approach to helping people is going to be different. I'm hoping that is enough to entice people over to how I think they should be eating.

I wonder if the "free" help route is the best but I don't want to inundate people with links and ads but I still need to make a living from it. You never know, the guidelines might change in 2-3 years and I'll be all good in a regular job haha

What about the benefits and side efects of different cannabinoids and terpenes? I know I'd read that article.

 

[An-na]

Hi Chammy,

I thought I’d wait a bit before replying to your post so as to see how it panned out. Here is my penny’s worth for what it’s worth.

I have recently finished a degree in nutrition as a mature student and I would not recommend this subject of study to anyone. If a person is serious about nutrition I would suggest a degree in biology, chemistry or biochemistry. Much harder I know, but that is my point. These subjects are covered a bit in a nutrition degree but not to the depth that I would expect.

It is very noble of you to want to try and provide a service to people on an individual basis and tailor an eating plan to their personal requirements, this is a route I looked into as well. On the surface it looks like a good idea but the more you research the more you realise that if it was effectual it would already be out there and branded by some organisation and making money for them. The biggest problem that I found during my investigations in to personalised eating plans was the cost to the individual and the fact that very few people would pay for this. Another thing to bear in mind is human nature. People say that they want to eat healthily and be fitter but do they really want to put the work in to this and keep it up? No. Most people want a quick fix that works fast with little effort. As you know this does not work for anyone. If you do manage to create work doing this then be prepared for people’s failures. If they do not do as you have guided them to, then in their eyes, it will be your fault not theirs. Finally, on my observation of various websites catering to an unrealistic dream, you have got to look and live the part. Unless you can prove that your life is similar to what people are looking for and you are a sorted, together person who can honestly say that what you sell works, why would they buy into what you are selling?

This nutrition lark is not at all what it seems. The fly in the ointment are people themselves.

While at university I observed that the predominantly young females on my course had their own agenda for being there. They were not there to learn about the science, as I was, but to prove something to themselves about their own perceived health situation and therefore they did not listen to the science.

I cannot say that I learned very much of anything productive in relation to nutrition that I didn’t know before I started to study. A degree in nutrition does not qualify anyone to be a nutritionist. It only opens some doors if you want to pursue this kind of work. Which brings me to the Association for Nutrition, AfN. Who the hell are they and how did they get their claws into so many universities? Or is it that universities are in bed with the AfN? I am just speculating out loud here. They are not a government organisation just about half a dozen people who charge a fortune for you to be a member of their organisation and without their membership it is not so easy to get jobs. Nutrition does need regulated but I’m not convinced that this organisation is the best way to do it.

Well Chammy, I wish you luck on the rest of your course and I very much hope you can make it work for you. However, if you want to make money either part time of full time I suggest you look at business and industry. Branding, marketing, sales and new product development are some area to research.

An-na

 

[Chammy]

Hey @An-na

Thanks for your reply. What are you doing now or planning to do now?

Online, "work from home" idea is just that at the moment. In 3 years my husband is looking at maybe doing a PhD so I'm looking into being flexible more than anything BUT I have plenty of paths to choose, some are just more difficult than others. If I get to the end of my degree then I've already been told I'm almost guaranteed a position on the PGCE for Food and Nutrition Technology so that's my back up plan.

Luckily I've learnt a lot in my first year, the science part of it was really good and we're going into more depth with it all this year. We have a fair few mature students on both nutrition courses and only a couple of the kind of girls you've mentioned, the rest are really interested in the area of study as opposed to their own agenda.

"Branding, marketing, sales and new product development are some area to research." - Unfortunately, these are the areas I don't want to be in, at all. We've had company representatives from a variety of different food-related industries that have done talks and cemented that I'm not interested from that point and if I was, I'd have been better switching to Food and Nutrition degree rather than the course I'm on.