Current nut recommendation practices differ between health professionals in New Zealand

Abstract

Dietitians were most likely to recommend consumption of nuts in accordance with current guidelines, but there are opportunities to improve the adoption of nut consumption recommendations for all professions. This may be a viable strategy for increasing population-level nut intakes to reduce chronic disease.

Barriers and Facilitators to Nut Consumption: A Narrative Review

“…When examined as a group, the health professionals surveyed agreed that nuts were healthy, high in protein and fat, and were filling, with approximately two-thirds of participants reporting that they recommended their patients consume more nuts [73]. However, findings differed between groups of health professionals, with dietitians found to be significantly more likely to recommend their patients eat more nuts than general practitioners or practice nurses [72]. While this finding is likely reflective of the focus on dietary advice provided by dietitians, in comparison to the broader areas of health covered by general practitioners or practice nurses, the results of this survey also indicated differences between professionals in terms of knowledge relating to nut intake.…”

“…The role of health professionals in promoting nut intake was further explored in a cross-sectional survey of 759 dietitians, general practitioners, and practice nurses selected from the electoral roll in New Zealand [72,73]. When examined as a group, the health professionals surveyed agreed that nuts were healthy, high in protein and fat, and were filling, with approximately two-thirds of participants reporting that they recommended their patients consume more nuts [73].…”