Less meat, more health. Episode 18

Monika Rachtan:
Did you know that food should make you happy, but it should not become the goal of your life? Do you realise that what may be good for your friend may not necessarily be good for you? Do you realise that boxed diets are not always healthy and often contain processed foods? In the latest episode of the programme "Patient First", I talk to my special guest, Dr Hanna Stolinska, a clinical nutritionist. I invite you to watch the programme. Good morning and a very warm welcome to the next episode of our programme.

Hanna Stolińska:
Exactly, I am a clinical nutritionist.

Monika Rachtan:
Is there a difference between a clinical dietitian and a regular dietitian?

Hanna Stolińska:
I think it is. Although there is no official nomenclature, in general a person who has graduated from a medical university or medical college and has some clinical relationship with a patient can be referred to as a clinical dietitian.

Monika Rachtan:
OK, we will talk more about the different types of nutritionists in Poland later in our conversation. To start with, however, I would like to ask about something else. When we agreed to have this conversation, I mentioned that I would like to talk about a healthy heart diet. However, I wonder if there is such a thing as a healthy heart diet? Are we talking about a diet to lower cholesterol? Does it all just come down to a healthy diet? How do you look at this?

Hanna Stolińska:
You have aptly put it. Indeed, these headlines are often used for marketing purposes to attract the attention of those interested in health. In reality, there are general principles of healthy eating that are recommended for everyone regardless of health status. Of course, there is some variation in the recommendations to suit a particular health condition, but generally speaking, it is about maintaining a healthy dietary balance. It is worth avoiding the term 'diet' and rather talking about proper nutrition or poor nutrition when appropriate.

Monika Rachtan:
OK, I'll try to keep this split today in our conversation and in general in all the expert conversations we will have in future programmes. I would like to ask if the public often confuses a nutritionist with a clinical nutritionist, thinking that this is the specialist that overweight people should go to?

Hanna Stolińska:
Yes, we often have this perception that a dietitian is only concerned with weight loss, but this is misguided thinking.

Monika Rachtan:
I understand. And could you start by explaining what exactly a nutritionist does?

Hanna Stolińska:
Of course. Although most dietitians actually work on weight reduction, our role is not just that. We are trained to help rebuild health and act as a preventative measure. I am meeting more and more patients who do not have any medical conditions, maintain a normal body weight, but come to eat better, get rid of nutrition myths and adapt their diet to their individual needs. Unfortunately, however, they are still a minority. More and more people are starting to think about prevention, but it is still a small group. Generally speaking, clinical dietitians deal with patients with a variety of conditions that are diet-related, but not exclusively. In my practice I see people with insulin resistance, diabetes, intestinal diseases, cholesterol problems, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's, joint complaints, skin problems and many more. In fact, diet affects all our health, and there is no disease entity that cannot be influenced by proper nutrition.

Monika Rachtan:
That is, we can tell patients that when they have, for example, type 2 diabetes, the dietician is the specialist who can help them adjust their diet accordingly? A doctor is not necessarily qualified to advise accurately on nutrition?

Hanna Stolińska:
Exactly so. A doctor can recommend a change in diet, but he is not in a position to specify exactly what that diet should look like. Firstly, he or she is not qualified enough, because the science of nutrition is a vast subject on which we devote many years of study. We need to be open to constant change and new research. Secondly, doctors often do not have enough time during a visit to take a detailed history, learn about the patient's habits and adapt nutritional recommendations. This is why it is so important to work in interdisciplinary teams, where a doctor, dietician, psychologist, physiotherapist and often a nurse work together to provide comprehensive health care. This is especially important for the elderly, but also for everyone, regardless of age.

Hanna Stolińska:
Exactly, diet is our fuel that fuels our body. Even during drug treatment, diet plays a key role in the healing process.

Hanna Stolińska:
Yes, we are talking about treatment. However, I would like to emphasise that prevention is just as important. We should tell people about the link between our daily wellbeing and the way we eat. Many people eat fast food, sweets, salty snacks and do not eat regularly. We often make mistakes in our nutrition, and so do I, because I am only human. However, I try to set an example and pass on this knowledge to my patients. I want people to understand that what we eat affects our daily wellbeing, health and long-term life.

Monika Rachtan:
Ms Hanna, I would now like to draw attention to patients who may doubt the role of dietitians. One often encounters comments such as 'Why should I go to a nutritionist if they themselves don't know what is healthy and what is not?' They used to say eggs were harmful, now they say they are not. How is it with these eggs? How is it with the research? How is it with diets?"

Hanna Stolińska:
This is a really difficult subject, and one of the problems is the lack of regulation of the dietetic profession, because it is not a medical profession, although many dietitians have medical training. Consequently, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist after completing even a short course. This poses a problem because the responsibility for the patient's health, and often even his or her life, rests on our shoulders. We can harm the patient by giving poor advice on nutrition. This is why it is important to choose experienced and properly educated nutritionists. Patients should also rely on the opinions of other patients who have had positive experiences.

Monika Rachtan:
Understood. However, from the patients' perspective, it can seem like this chain of relying on recommendations is complicated. Can you explain why some of the information on nutrition is changing? For example, it used to be said that eggs were harmful, but now they are considered healthy. It was the same with butter. Why do such changes take place?

Hanna Stolińska:
It is true that information on nutrition can be unclear, but it is important to follow the recommendations of Polish and world scientific societies rather than individual opinions. The internet is full of different information, not always based on solid research. It is therefore advisable to seek information from reliable sources and to consult professionals in the field of nutrition.

Monika Rachtan:
I understand. From what you say, choosing the right nutritionist is crucial. What tips could you give to patients who want to find a good nutritionist?

Hanna Stolińska:
When choosing a dietician, it is worth seeking the opinions of other patients, but above all you need to look at the competence and experience of the dietician. It should not just be a business approach where you get ready-made dietary spreadsheets. A good dietitian should tailor recommendations individually to the patient's needs and be based on sound scientific research. It is also important that the dietitian is open to the patient and his or her needs.

Hanna Stolińska:
Exactly, every patient is different, so an individual approach is key. Unfortunately, there is a lot of information on the internet that is not based on solid scientific research. Therefore, it is advisable to seek the professional support of a dietician who has the appropriate training and experience in this field. Research is an important source of information, but you need to be able to interpret it and adapt it to the individual patient's needs.

We are all aware that the internet does not always reflect reality. It works mainly on social media, which changes the way we function today. Previously, I worked in the field of nutrition for many years and developed academically. I was recognised for my knowledge and experience, which was valued at the time. However, now I see that this world is a little different, more complicated. Things like outreach, money and not necessarily knowledge and experience play a bigger role now. This is more difficult in today's world. I personally find it overwhelming at times. I used to be asked about my knowledge, now it's more about the number of impressions, which makes me a bit sad that collaboration is measured by these metrics. Fortunately, I still collaborate with traditional media, although perhaps a little less than I used to.

Hanna Stolińska:
I still engage with people on social media. When I talk to a patient, I see the person on the other side of the screen. I want to help, pass on knowledge and explain how to eat healthily. This is a priority for me. Unfortunately, there are a lot of influencers online who are not nutritionists and promote different diets and products. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. People observe this and often fall into the trap of trying to emulate these trends. I had a patient who joined a Facebook group where people showed their weight loss results and talked about different products. Unfortunately, this had a negative impact on her mental health, so she quit the group.

Monika Rachtan:
This is a good approach. It's worth looking at it from a distance and not getting into unhealthy trends. I have a question from patients in a Facebook group asking for support. How do you stop eating sweets? Are there any effective ways to do this?

Hanna Stolińska:
Above all, it is important to eat regularly. You cannot skip meals, especially breakfast. This helps keep blood glucose levels steady and reduces the craving for sweets. Secondly, it is a good idea to increase the amount of protein in your diet, which gives you a feeling of satiety and reduces the craving for sweet snacks. As for sources of protein, it can be found in meat, fish, eggs, legumes, dairy and nuts. However, the amount of protein should not be exaggerated. There is also what is known as the glycaemic index, which shows which foods affect blood glucose levels. It is important to choose products with a low glycaemic index that do not cause blood sugar spikes.

Monika Rachtan:
Thank you for these tips. Now for another question about not eating meat, as I don't eat meat myself and I know there are many people who give up meat for various reasons. What protein sources can you recommend for people who don't eat meat?

Hanna Stolińska:
There are many sources of protein besides meat. Legumes, such as chickpeas, beans and lentils, are excellent sources of plant protein. In addition, you can consume dairy, eggs, nuts and seeds, which also provide protein. It is also worth experimenting with different plant-based products, such as tofu or seitan, which are rich in protein. It is important to ensure a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients.

Hanna Stolińska:
Yes, I became interested in the subject of healthy eating through my mother. It was already in my early years. However, I did not get into medicine and chose dietetics. I fell in love with this field and I am happy to have the opportunity to help others through my work as a dietitian. This is my greatest happiness, and through this profession I have the opportunity to meet fantastic people every day and help them get healthy and fit.

Monika Rachtan
There will be a question about those closest to you.

Hanna Stolińska
Believe it definitely. And it just gives so much satisfaction that I don't need to have additional passions.

Monika Rachtan
Well, welcome to the club of people who didn't get into medicine and who are now very happy with their work. Some club.

Hanna Stolińska
The only thing I miss is that I won't write a patient a prescription and a referral for tests, because often that's more than someone else does.

Monika Rachtan
Yes, it's a hassle because often dietitians write on a piece of paper to patients and you have to go to the doctor and ask for these tests. Doctors then react differently too. So it's definitely a problem because as far as these upcoming ones go. Another question from Facebook My dad has type two diabetes, he takes medication regularly, his sugar is not normal, but his weight leaves a lot to be desired. He is 70 years old. How do I encourage him to change his eating habits? He currently says his sugar is ok, so I don't understand why he should change anything in his diet.

Hanna Stolińska
I understand it perfectly well that the closest person does. What he or she says unfortunately doesn't get through to us. What a stranger has to say, and it's worth it. This is where I suggest actually going to a dietician or a doctor with this person, but also maybe calling the person we are going to meet beforehand and telling them about the other person's attitude. How to prepare for the conversation, because often these situations occur. You just have to get to the other person. But I also think it's worth suggesting a good book on the subject, an interesting article, maybe a nice podcast on the subject, and maybe show a little bit with your own way of eating what it should look like to such a person who has had the eating habits they have for years and still doesn't want to change them, it's actually quite a challenge. Often I have patients like that, for example a wife comes in with her husband, because her husband needs to change something, he sits for 5 visits frowning, and then comes out smiling and says you're right, I'm going to change something in my nutrition, so it's really worth going to a specialist.

Hanna Stolińska
Such people do not change their diet abruptly. You have to analyse your diet and pick out the hot spots that need to be changed and start discussing that, for example, if this person eats white bread, well, you know they won't eat sourdough rye bread straight away. Well then maybe we talk, then maybe some ramekins, maybe spelt bread? Let's do it gradually and it actually has an effect, such a gradual change in these people.

Monika Rachtan
I'm going to ask you some more because I've seen on your Facebook or Instagram. I'm going back to that social media now, but there you are a lot and the content is really very interesting. Thank you. So I would also encourage our, our viewers to take a peek at your YouTubes accounts. You're on there too, aren't you?

Hanna Stolińska
There is the Nutrition Channel.

Monika Rachtan
Yes, yes, yes. I even made sandwiches from your recipe recently, one with pickle. How I love pickled cucumbers with mushrooms. Yes, yes.

Hanna Stolińska
I am pleased.

Monika Rachtan
So I'm going to go back to that feebook and I saw a summary of your patient's results there. Where you wrote Did you say that symptoms such as reduction, lethargy after eating have withdrawn? Meaning that there was this reduction in lethargy, that the menstrual pains would decrease.

Hanna Stolińska
Because it was a patient with endometriosis. Well actually, how could I post stories like that every day, but I also don't want to. I've noticed that if I show too many positive stories on my social media, a lot of my patients watching who aren't coping write to me saying I wish I could do that too, but I can't, and I take up that so many people are coping and I'm not coping. So I try to. To dose, to smuggle in that kind of information about my patients who are succeeding just to motivate other people that you can.

Monika Rachtan
It's very.

Hanna Stolińska
Motivating. Yes, but too much can't work the other way either. And this was a patient with endometriosis, with insulin, resistance and overweight.

Monika Rachtan
And this change in eating habits is making those changes.

Hanna Stolińska
They acted very quickly.

Monika Rachtan
It is amazing the reduction of menstrual pain, diet, diet has to do with. Menstrual pain.

Hanna Stolińska
Very large.

Monika Rachtan
So what if we have such a condition? Even if it's not strictly a disease like type two diabetes? I don't know if diet also has an impact.

Hanna Stolińska
Of course it does.

Monika Rachtan
They could.

Hanna Stolińska
I myself am that case who got rid of a migraine this way.

Monika Rachtan
Really? That is, even if it is not a serious illness, but if it is, it is also worthwhile. But when there is no serious illness, but you are just measuring yourself with, for example, menstrual pain, sleepiness after meals or insomnia at night, then you can go to a dietician. And quite possibly your doctor will advise you something.

Hanna Stolińska
Well, of course I do. And if patients listen to me, there are always positive results. The problem is, unfortunately, that a lot of people don't come back.

Monika Rachtan
After one visit.

Hanna Stolińska
After one visit they give up because they say they can't cope. They are ashamed of me. Although I always explain that you don't go to the doctor to show that you're healthy, but just when something is.

Monika Rachtan
It.

Hanna Stolińska
It is more to come to ask for this help. I am always open to my patient. I once heard from people close to me that it's important not to let things get to your head. But I really like it when a patient asks in the meantime if they can't do something, if they write that something nice has happened to them. I can see the person's commitment. Of course it suits us, it comes into my private life a little bit, but that's the way I've decided in my life, that's the way I'm going to go, and it's so important to me that maybe I don't see any problem to write back to a patient at any time of the day, regardless of the day of the week. Also when I think it is necessary to take a step back and, for example, rest and not go to.

Monika Rachtan
Holiday.

Hanna Stolińska
I do that too. So it's not that I'm a workaholic here. On the other hand, you have to be open to the other person and help. Yes, that is the most important thing.

Monika Rachtan
I'm going to ask what such a first visit to a dietician is like, Because I think about the fact that people, especially those who are struggling with obesity, overweight, are ashamed, as you said, this first visit they are afraid, because he had to undress, you will see the folds, they will have to undress.

Hanna Stolińska
I do a body composition analysis. I subtract, say, a kilo for clothes, so as not to stress anyone out, and I just try to approach the visit with humour. I try to loosen the other person up a bit when I see that there is a need to say something about myself, e.g. someone who doesn't like it says I don't like oatmeal, I don't like it either. And to show that I'm human too and that's normal. But you know. Well people are different. And it's also not the case that every patient comes to me and is positive and is great, because there are energy vampires, like in any profession, where I feel tired after such a patient and I know that nothing will come of it further, because this person won't put up a fight, because they are offended at the whole world.

Monika Rachtan
I understand then it's time to rearrange my head. A few episodes ago I had an expert with me who is a healthy eating coach and we talked about this. How you have to rearrange certain things in your head to start these changes, because going to the doctor is already that first step, and even the second or third step. Once we're ready to make this change, we said to ourselves yes. We want to change our way of eating because something is not working. But that stage, before you get to that decision, is also very.

Hanna Stolińska
Very long.

Monika Rachtan
And labour-intensive.

Hanna Stolińska
Sometimes. My patient says your business card, I carried in my wallet and decided at the clinic. Well, sure, but it's about giving yourself time, but also taking responsibility. It's not like saying you'll go to a nutritionist and suddenly everything is great. No, it's work that starts at home.

Monika Rachtan
What do you mean? The lady doesn't have a magic wand with which she does magic and the patient simply comes out 20 kilos lighter, used to eating only healthy things and can immediately go on holiday in a beautiful swimsuit.

Hanna Stolińska
You have to take responsibility, you have to be consistent. These are very important things to do. Well, because as we know, it's not just about food. It's about our head first and foremost, if you don't change your ways. Well, then there is no chance.

Monika Rachtan
How do you prepare for your first visit to a nutritionist? I can come in just off the street, because I felt the surgery. Is it worth coming in, but do I need to spend the week beforehand so that such a first visit will have some results?

Hanna Stolińska
I always ask the patient to take their test results if they have done any in the last six months. If not, I have on the website or suggest which tests are worth doing. But I also have a separate subject of knowing about tests, about treatment. I have the experience that I just know, but I am not a doctor. I will never take that role away from the doctor, although I would like to, but I can't. Recently, I even thought to myself that maybe I would go for that medical. I thought, I thought, because that's how I was supposed to pass my matric again. I didn't pass maths, no? Unfortunately, I'm going to have to live through it. Whereas. But I'm also working with wonderful doctors. I suggest, however, that you already come with a diagnosis, rather than just looking for one. Although I am often the one looking for the diagnosis, especially when it comes to intestinal problems, which I now specialise in after my own health experiences and those of my patients. So that's what I say please take the research and a good mood, nothing more.

Monika Rachtan
OK, so we encourage you all. If there are any ailments, such a visit will take us some time. We don't have to prepare for them somehow, not even specifically. What is important, because we were talking about this, this type two diabetes, I would also like to point out. And you will probably confirm that even if someone cannot afford a commercial visit to a dietician, it is possible within the framework of coordinated care, for example, for patients with type two diabetes to visit a dietician. Clearly there is also advice that is valuable and worth taking advantage of.

Hanna Stolińska
Of course it is. All manner of education as much as possible. Just no. The internet.

Monika Rachtan
Internet, influencers who are not. That's exactly how I'll elaborate, because today if I can, I think I could say that I have an influencer in front of me who knows the way.

Hanna Stolińska
Don't ask me to be named. I am a specialist in my field. I am, I am. I absolutely dislike the word influencer. Maybe it just applies to everyone who is active on the internet somewhere?

Monika Rachtan
Or perhaps to all those who know what they're saying on the internet, Because, after all, there are doctors who are influencers. Today, yes and they are talking. I observe many who talk about cancer prevention.

Hanna Stolińska
Sure, it's a nice way to educate, it's just as you know that writing a post or filming a minute-long roll isn't one-to-one advice and I often have that, I don't even know, Throw in. I'll get back to that reflux. Throw in a roll. What foods can aggravate reflux and already a whole litany underneath. And you didn't say about this And this, and that, and that, I'm sorry, and I can't do that. Come to a dietician and talk. It's not one-to-one advice. It's a one-minute roll. People, stop picking on each other. Yes, yes a little bit. Really people can get that knowledge from the internet, but it's not the approach all the time. It's not me with a specialist eye to eye.

Monika Rachtan
I'm going to ask you about one more trendy thing - the box diet. What do you think about it? Maybe let's start with.

Hanna Stolińska
This. I helped open a lot of catering many years ago. I used to have a small catering business myself. When I was still, graduating from university, starting a job, I used to cook for a couple of my patients who would come and collect these meals themselves. But that was a very, very long time ago and I gave that up because those people started to treat me as their cook and not as a nutritionist. I understood, I got a bit nervous about it, that I wanted to pass on knowledge though. I used to put interesting things in those bags for them, for example a nice article. And this bag would come back to me with this article squashed in with my plan, this food and so on. Oh no, we won't, we'll talk. But when it comes to catering, I wouldn't want to criticise it so much, but I'm not a fan after all. Why? First of all, the balance of catering.

Monika Rachtan
Not good.

Hanna Stolińska
Maps very much. That's business, that's money. And what's the cheapest? Potatoes, groats? Those things are the cheapest. Yes, we push patients with carbohydrates. There is a very small amount of complete protein. There is a very small amount of vegetables, because I tested a lot of catering. It's not that I ordered them because I wanted to, I was just thrown at this catering to see. Someone asked me if I could try it out. Well unfortunately I can't recommend any catering at the moment. There are some, because new companies are opening up and it's like I'm not up to date and I can't lump them all together. But there are definitely catering companies where there are these vegetables, where, where it's protein or whatever, but you have to pay for it, and unfortunately people want to buy everything cheap and cheap. Catering is a drama. It is not linked to the balance with healthy eating. It's not linked to building any eating habits, because the catering ends and what happens next? Because we take the catering for 5 days and at the weekend we go crazy because we don't like it.

Hanna Stolińska
We throw it away, we eat something else it doesn't work. It's like that. That to me is going to a restaurant, not healthy weight loss.

Monika Rachtan
And if you have already decided on this box diet, for example, that you are reducing your weight by 5 kilos a lot for many people and the catering stops.

Hanna Stolińska
So what next? And what next? The yoyo effect.

Monika Rachtan
That is, I am now asking for advice from a specialist dietician to tell me what I should do to maintain the success of these 5 kilos.

Hanna Stolińska
To start gaining knowledge about proper nutrition, because catering doesn't involve any knowledge, because we don't focus on what we eat, we just automatically eat what we have. That's exactly right. So patients also often come to me with catering and then, for example, when I say what calories to choose, what meals to choose, because catering now has so that you can choose something, what to pay attention to, which meal, which to swap with, which to give up and what you can eat yourself at home, where to add vegetables. But it's hard.

Monika Rachtan
It's getting pointless. It's why catering subtracts something, anything.

Hanna Stolińska
What a lot of people use nevertheless.

Monika Rachtan
You talked about a vegetarian diet.

Hanna Stolińska
It's fashion that doesn't want to be called that? Absolutely. It is a diet, it is a way of eating. A diet is not weight loss. Yes, I always explain this to my patients, that it is a way of eating. The vegetarian diet is one of the dietary models that we can follow.

Monika Rachtan
Is this a model that is currently fashionable?

Hanna Stolińska
And that is such an approach. I think not. I think it wasn't that way anymore. There was a time when even that veganism was more so popular. Very many vegan products started to appear on the market. And that's very cool. But I don't like to differentiate between vegan and non-vegan products, because what carrot is for a vegan but not for a normal person anymore? Well, no, no. It's just that it's a food product that's supposed to be part of any diet, so well, there are such strictly plant-based products emerging, and that's very cool, although I'm not a fan, because most of it is the Periodic Table. That's true, but if someone is just starting the story with a plant-based diet and has to limit meat or is totally eliminated and has to use such products of course I'm all for it. However, now I think it's calming down a little bit.

Monika Rachtan
Poles like to eat meat and in most Polish homes in Silesia, for example, they eat meat for breakfast.

Hanna Stolińska
America eats and without it.

Monika Rachtan
An afternoon snack would also be meat. What is the optimum amount of meat that each of us should eat each week?

Hanna Stolińska
He can eat. He shouldn't, maybe so to speak, 300 grams a week actually.

Monika Rachtan
So every so often a little more meat. So it's difficult for me.

Hanna Stolińska
That's about the size of, say, three portions a week.

Monika Rachtan
And how now? And apart from reaching for those healthy products of which you said unhealthy only substitutes for products, meat products? How? Apart from how to start reducing the number of meat meals per week? I'm not asking about performance in my head, I'm more asking about some way, some method. How about shopping differently? What to advise these people?

Hanna Stolińska
First of all, reading the label of sausages is and familiarising yourself with what the label means and what's in there will put most people off. Yes, I have healthy poultry sausages, no? All sorts of things are in there in the ingredients and I think it's worth familiarising yourself with it, but in simple language like that. Well I don't. Make yourself a sandwich with a vegetable paste, not a sausage paste. These pastes are plentiful, even ready-made ones, and they have really good ingredients. But mixing chickpeas with sun-dried tomatoes is no longer an exquisite culinary feat, but makes a nice paste for a sandwich. I think you could throw chickpeas into a salad instead of chicken, and make a bean cutlet instead of a meat cutlet. Only well maybe the bean cutlet, but I haven't eaten meat myself for twenty-three years. A very long time yes, even twenty years. And I don't sit down and glue those cutlets either. I just go for simplicity, because everyone and I noticed that I used to go and someone was afraid of such a person. Of course, meat in big cities is not a problem. Yes, I'm talking about smaller towns.

Hanna Stolińska
It was the person who stood on their head, bought unbelievable things to get me some meatloaf for the barbecue, and I don't need that. Give me really chickpeas, broccoli and potato. I'm happy. It doesn't have to be exquisite stuff and that's what vegetarian cuisine should be, not processed. A plant-based diet is the only one that works. I've also already thrown in a roll like that at my place a while ago about just a plant-based diet, that you can spread a nice paste on dark bread, put lettuce, tomato and cucumber, and you can take a white bun, throw in vegan cheese, vegan sausage and pour ketchup on it. And that's a vegan diet too.

Monika Rachtan
Yes, it's true. And the vegan dessert has terrible ingredients.

Hanna Stolińska
So, too, I don't allow my patients on plant-based diets to negatively show a plant-based diet that we can be deficient, that we can be emaciated, anaemic, weakened and eating dull. I forbid it.

Monika Rachtan
And I would ask if, as a vegetarian, you have ever been to a wedding.

Hanna Stolińska
And I was served? And sure enough, I was in the years when I started this diet, and I started it because I just didn't like meat as a child and one day I said come on, I spent in Poland, I don't eat meat, and that's how it stayed. That's how I was the biggest object of interest. My wife only eats potatoes off the plate, a. Often and not, because they were topped with some kind of crackling.

Monika Rachtan
This is true.

Hanna Stolińska
But, but I never saw it as a problem. Like I didn't focus on food in my life despite being a nutritionist, because there are many more enjoyable things than food and I say that out loud. And my patients also tell me that they hear it from me in different places. Food is not the main pleasure in life. It is supposed to be enjoyable. Because, for example, even when it comes to feeling satiety, if we eat a meal that we enjoy by 44%, we feel satiety faster.

Monika Rachtan
Really?

Hanna Stolińska
Yes, it is very different.

Monika Rachtan
You have to eat what.

Hanna Stolińska
We like, you have to eat what you like, but don't treat food as the main pleasure, because food is supposed to be the engine for our body to do thousands of other pleasurable things in life.

Monika Rachtan
You said I don't want to show the vegetarian diet from this negative side, but I will ask if when I don't eat meat, should I supplement anything? Is that also the fashion now?

Hanna Stolińska
It all depends on the extent to which we eliminate animal products. Because if we eat fish, eggs and dairy products, then really the whole society vitamin D Omega3. Whereas if there are no animal products, whether we have various health problems, additionally whether we are young children simply or elderly people then of course supplements. We take vitamin B12. I would like to take the opportunity of being with you and perhaps draw your attention to how we treat people who are different, with different body weights, that we convince people who weigh a lot, but we also convince people who are underweight.

Monika Rachtan
Yes, this is hardly talked about.

Hanna Stolińska
This is not much talked about. And it is very important that you can weigh little but be a healthy person, have good test results, have a lot of energy on a daily basis and, above all as far as women are concerned, menstruate and not have any problem. It is also important to note that it is not possible to be. Even though we are anonymous on the internet, let's not be cheeky people and write strange comments, because we can hurt the other person and we don't know what kind of story they have and what they have been through in their life. And everyone has some kind of health history most of the time or stress related. There are different situations, so that's my appeal always as I am today, to just think about what we can, what harm we can do to another person by convincing them for their appearance. And maybe look at ourselves for how we look, our health situation and how we behave.

Monika Rachtan
Thank you very much for these words, because they are very important words and I even experienced such a comment recently in this programme, where in one of the episodes of the programme we were cooking with an expert, we were opening the barbecue season just by cooking healthy food and someone wrote that maybe she would also lose weight better.

Hanna Stolińska
And I have my mum's anorexia. I find out all sorts of things, and really people saw me eating it would shut their mouths.

Monika Rachtan
I'm going back for produce, something to eat will you bring?

Hanna Stolińska
Exactly, I have to say that my period is every day I don't have a problem, but I also recently got a comment that you don't have a period because you are so low in body fat, but I suppose if someone is looking in my pants whether I have a period or not. Where does this come from? Simply because we have a problem with ourselves and don't accept that another person can have energy, can be thin, smiling and positive towards other people.

Monika Rachtan
I think what patients should take away, because not even patients, but each of us should take away from this episode has already resonated very well, but I will ask the three most important things that every viewer should remember after watching today's episode of Patient First.

Hanna Stolińska
What I would like to convey for sure is that taking care of yourself is turbo pleasant. We really change our quality of life. It's whether we want to make ourselves cool, dress up, go out to another person, have that wonderful person around us and attract cool people with our good energy. And we only get this good energy from within and from a positive attitude. Secondly, vegetables. This is my message. We are supposed to eat vegetables because we are eating less and less of them. Unfortunately. And this soloist is just talking about these vegetables. And that's fine. I can only be associated with this parsley, other green stuff. I don't have any problem with that. And the third thing is hard to say. I think I would stick with those two.

Monika Rachtan
So maybe I will now ask what is this lady humanising medicine? And I think it is. That's the third thing to remember.

Hanna Stolińska
The humanisation of medicine. Such a human approach to the patient.

Monika Rachtan
The reason I ask this is because a partner in this podcast programme is the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education, which talks a lot about the humanisation of medicine, that the patient and the doctor should, or rather the dietician should, stand on one side of the barricade and strive to make the patient healthier. Today in Poland, unfortunately, this is not always the case. We are often so ashamed of these specialists. We do not believe in their competence. But patients are also often not treated by specialists as people they are supposed to help, but as just another number, of course. And this programme was set up, among other things, so that we would all learn to work together, so that we as patients would be better for you specialists, but also so that specialists would look at patients' problems a little differently. So that's why I asked about these humanisations of medicine and this approach. Because for me it's very important to change this reality of both patients and doctors.

Hanna Stolińska
Yes, it's a very important approach and I try to implement this too, I implement it in my work, that I just treat the person who sits opposite me as a human being.

Monika Rachtan
I am convinced that all these patients feel this way in your practice.

Hanna Stolińska
I am already looking forward to today's patients and the next.

Monika Rachtan
I would then encourage you once again to visit all the doctor's social media, because you can really look at beautiful things there. I look at it every day, I like it, I use the recipes, the advice and I think that there is something for everyone. And of course I ask you all to like our profile, subscribe, watch, comment. Write us something about your diet. I am also in touch with the doctor, so maybe we can get in touch a little bit. Thank you very much for your attention. Thank you very much. Thank you for meeting with us today. I am very pleased that we could meet today in this programme.

Hanna Stolińska
Thank you very much.

Monika Rachtan
Thank you.

Hanna Stolińska
Very.