Letters to Editor: Coach bites back over double down burger

Coach bites back over double down burger

As the health coach who was "derided" in your article "Diabetic derides advice on burgers" (May 28), I wanted to clarify a few points that appear to have been missed in your article.
Firstly, I'll address the question of whether I am a qualified nutritionist and whether that gives me the right to comment on such subjects.
I am a Level 3 Certified Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach from the CHEK Institute in California, one of the world's leading academic institutions for fitness and health-care professionals. My training and practice revolves around the complex relationship between food and nutrition, and the human body.
Over the course of six years, over 4000 New Zealanders have been through my nutritional programme with an estimated combined weight loss of well over 25,000kg.
But, more importantly, a pilot study of the eating principles I recommend, featured on 60 Minutes, demonstrated that the changes I made to the diet of the participants had a direct link to a reduction in HbA1c scores - a measure of damage to haemoglobin from high blood sugar levels, used to assess diabetes.
Applied over time, this eating advice can potentially enable diabetics to control their disease through diet alone, without the need for drugs.
Diabetics can take their pin-prick blood sugar monitors and start testing their blood glucose levels after everything they eat and drink.
Timings initially of one hour after food, two and three hours will give a very quick indication of their blood glucose response levels from the food they have eaten.
They will quickly find that protein, fat and complex carbohydrates yield the most stable results. Exactly as found in the grilled Double Down and salad.
I question whether Mr Smith and Ms Perols realised they were commenting on the grilled version of the KFC Double Down burger. The grilled version that I recommended has fewer calories, comparable fat (25g to 21.9g) and nearly double the protein value of a Chicken and Bacon 6-inch Sub from Subway or an average kebab and fares significantly better than a McDonald's Quarter Pounder or Big Mac.
I'll add to this that the predominant fat found in chicken is the highly beneficial monounsaturated fat. A grilled burger of chicken, with no bun, will therefore predominantly contain a high degree of this "good" fat. Many nutritional studies have shown that replacing carbohydrates with monounsaturated fat results in significant positive outcomes for diabetics.
Your article quoted me as saying "if a diabetic wanted a fast-food option ..." People seem to have missed the if part in there.
And as was pointed out to your reporter, who failed to mention this, I'm not advocating that a diabetic has carte blanche to eat these burgers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My point was that if they have a need to find a fast-food option, they should choose this one.
Ben Warren, Havelock North
Locals lack security
Since the first announcement of plans to build a mental health establishment on a site in Riverbend Road, I have been following the developments of the situation.
I have spoken out before and I still feel that the concerns and questions of the residents in the area have not been adequately addressed. I know that it may seem repetitive, but a big part of their concern is for the security of the establishment; for the local people and for the people in care. I would like to know if provisions have been made to fence the area.
I have lived alongside Atawhai home for many years and can tell you that in early years it was quite a regular thing to see patients wandering around on the street having no idea of where they were or where they were going.
This is not a criticism of the staff, as the security was very hard to maintain at that time. Even with the closest of supervision, people can get out of these types of establishments. I feel that the owners of the centre still owe the residents of Riverbend Road the courtesy of giving them adequate assurance that their concerns have been noted.
Brian Bulford, Taradale
Migrant ban unfair
After reading Saturday's (May 28) paper about the elderly women wanting to stay here, I thought why not?
Immigration can be inhumane at times, but if Ana Leha and Luisa Lata Fifitas' family can look after them financially and medically and guarantee this to Immigration NZ 100 per cent, why can't they stay?
If they're not a drain on the taxpayer and the family take full responsibility for them, what harm is there in that?
We knew of a South African couple in their 70s who were fit, financially independent and their son who lived and worked here was prepared to take all responsibility for his parents, and Immigration NZ sent them back to their country because they were too old.
That is inhumane.
So maybe the Immigration Department has to look at things differently if people are not a drain on the taxpayers of New Zealand and can be provided for by their families in all ways - let them stay.
Val King, Clive

Perfect property
Open letter to planners/developers/architects/builders:
Looking ahead a bit I know I will have to sell my property. Right now, I'm fit and well, but this is about ageing, house maintenance and a big garden, so, the time will come.
This is a request for medium-density housing, in, or close to town which meets the practical and aesthetic needs of their owners.
For my sake, and for the sake of babyboomers who will soon be in the same situation, I want to convey to you a wishlist for the ideal retirement home.
While we are the target market for Lifestyle Villages, the local developments with strings of villas facing each other offer little privacy are not my choice and I don't relish living 100 per cent with seniors, not yet.
Most age 60+ people are on a limited or retirement income plus savings, so keep the dwellings modest, with an affordable price in the $250k to $350k range.
On my wish list is a sound two-bedroom dwelling with sufficient open living space to be able to socialise, with generous windows and high ceilings so the light moves around the room and absorbs the warmth of the sun.
It needs to face north/north-west and have a courtyard which is not overlooked, where I can sit in my comfortable chair with a book.
I prefer a compact but private site which has a natural aspect perhaps a view to a park, mountains or stream, or with trees nearby.
Finally, I want a workshop where I can potter for hours on my hobby; this could be a third bedroom or a well-lit and warm space in the garage, but could just as easily be a shared workshop.
We have an example in the John Scott development of three modest, but interesting townhouses on a small site backing onto Windsor Park in Hastings (which featured in my 'garden chat' column in HBToday last Friday).
They are remarkable for their use of interior space, intimate courtyards and built of natural materials, affording privacy and an aesthetic quality of life for the residents.
Despite shared walls and with clever use of space, there is no overlook of one property by the other.
I hope that when I do move from this property there might be a similar alternative in Havelock North or Hastings.
Kay Bazzard, Havelock North