Interim Paramedic Program Director Contra Costa College Walnut Creek, California
Description: Nutrition and wellness are rarely taught within medical education, yet it's endlessly proven that the importance of nutrition and wellness often supersede clinical algorithms and medical prescriptions. From basic nutrition and metabolism, to advanced dietary restrictions, we are not near as educated as we should be. "Healthy" eating is not as simple as choosing an apple over a brownie. Defining a healthy lifestyle and teaching how to create it, is important. Teaching how to make it a priority and successfully maintain it, is critical. As medical providers, we should have baseline knowledge about the importance and value of food as fuel. We should know lifestyle focused statistics, risk factors, and prevention for diseases. We need to learn how to prioritize our own health and lifestyles, not just so we can stay off the gurney, but also so we can be healthy role models for our sick patients.
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate understanding of risk factors for certain diseases that are modifiable with dietary and lifestyle changes
Define macronutrients vs micronutrients, including quality, quantity, and the balance of each
Describe why plant based lifestyles are medically proven to be significantly healthier than their animal based and dairy counterparts
Develop tips and tricks of how to shop smart and meal prep for the busy week
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