Celebrated nutritionist and lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho practises integrated and lifestyle medicine, which covers holistic nutrition and lifestyle diseases.
He was in Chennai for a nutrition awareness programme at iSpark, the kids’ fitness studio in Chennai.
Along with co-founder Manisha Lohia, he also kick-started the ‘Stop the Junk’ campaign.
Luke, who is of Goan-Portuguese descent, shuttles between Goa and New York. He is an international collaborator with Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Centre, the U.S., and an advisor on several boards and schools around the world.
Excerpts from an interview.
How are nutrition and a holistic lifestyle interlinked?
I don’t prescribe medication, but I advise people how to get off it. This is done by first understanding the person’s ailment and then suggesting solutions to avoid unnecessary medication, by way of nutrition and healthy lifestyle practices.
You can either eat all the wrong food or eat the right kind. Having said that, even if you eat the right kind of food, it may not give your body enough nutrition if you don’t exercise. The holistic part comes from the mindset: a positive and happy outlook helps in better absorption of nutrients.
How do you design your programmes for children?
There’s a three-pronged approach — addressing parents, teachers and children. In isolation, children can be made aware of the dangers of junk food. But, when they see that their parents do not follow such a regimen, they go back to their old ways. Similarly, teachers have a lot of influence on children, and inculcating good eating habits and fitness during school hours has a long-lasting impact on young minds.
You mention five important things to look for in a food label…
Never trust the front of a box; most food products have eye-catching designs to ensure you pick them up. Turn back and read the ingredients. The longer the list, the faster you must dump the product. If the fibre content is less than 2 grams, it is not worth it. Your body will get more sugar and less fibre. If the first ingredient is sugar, then most of the product is made up of sugar. If the sodium value is anything more than 1500 mg for a single serving, you will be getting more salt than the body requires.
How do you attend to the needs of your clients across the globe?
I help most of my clients on a one-on-one basis. I communicate with them over WhatsApp, through which I receive regular feedback on their progress. I am able to immediately attend to their needs or take corrective measures without any delay. Since I travel around the world, I pre-fix appointments, depending on which city I am in.
