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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Soothing notes What's so important about a meditating pear? Yes, a meditating pear with a small 'chakra' coming out of its head! Well, when it comes to human nutrition, the shapes of the apple and the pear could be very important for it depicts all what an individual is or what he or she could be. "Apple and pear body shape is used to explain a complex relationship between body shape (fat distribution) and diet and lifestyle related non-communicable-diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a condition called Syndrome X. Body shape or how the fat is distributed within the body is more important than body weight, particularly, for south Asian people like us," says Dr. Damayanthi Perera, Managing Director, Nutri Life Centre, a recently established nutrition and lifestyle centre, in Colombo. by Vimukthi Fernando "The lotus gives Says the poem, depicting a picture of a lotus, blooming out of the murky waters. White, lilac and pink seem to be the theme colours. We sit in a cosy sofa enjoying the soothing notes of instrumental music as we wait to meet the Managing Director. Appearances could be deceptive at times. You cannot imagine that a small house on a busy lane could offer such a soothing atmosphere inside. We are at the Nutri Life Centre (NLC) which claims to be the first professional nutrition and lifestyle centre in Sri Lanka, opened recently in Colombo. The atmosphere is somewhat mystic too. I reflect on the apple and the pear which stands above a lotus, encapsulated in a triangle, depicted in the logo. May be depicting food, is not uncommon in a centre which offers advice on nutrition. But what about the little chakra on top of the pear? I am to find out, soon. We meet the centre's lithe and vibrant Managing Director, Dr. Damayanthi Perera, dressed in a smile all the time. She has a lot to say about nutrition, current lifestyle changes and nutrition changes and related diseases in Sri Lanka, nutritional research happening around the world, benefits of the eastern practices and integration of eastern meditation and western allopathic medicine. She is also proud about her achievement, a centre which not only offers advice on nutrition, that which helps modify nutrition and lifestyle thereby promoting a holistic and balanced lifestyle. Dr. Perera explains about the symbols in the logo. "They are used to communicate an important health message, the importance of body mind interactions or the importance of mind over matter. In brief, it symbolises a person with the right body shape who is also doing the right things in life. The lotus is used to signify the integration of Holistic Lifestyle Concept, which is purely an Asian Concept. The lotus also signifies life, Inner Beauty & Purity and it is used as the foundation of the Stress Management Advice offered by the centre, " she says. The reason behind the decision to establish the Nutri Life Centre (NLC) is the increase of diet and lifestyle related Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer, as a result of the rapid nutrition transition that is taking place in Sri Lanka, says Dr. Perera. "Many young individuals in the prime of their life are subject to chronic ill health and disability as a result of such diseases. Sadly, many young families lose the breadwinner causing much financial and psychological hardship on the spouse and the children," she says pointing out the recent deaths of a personal friend and an acquaintance as an example. "It has been scientifically proven that 'correct' dietary and lifestyle education leading to successful modification of diet and lifestyle can help prevent or minimize serious complications in those suffering from such diseases and most importantly, prevent or delay its manifestation in individuals with a family history," she explains. The services that NLC offers focus at three levels, control of NCDs, prevention of NCDs and stress management. The programmes or the packages could stretch from two to three months, with three or four consultations by the nutritionist. Packages are offered with flexibility for individuals and for the whole family. NLC's speciality is its focus on holistic and balanced lifestyle. "Those of us who belong to Asian cultures have much advantage over westerners. Our cultures have inbuilt mechanisms to prevent stress and promote a balanced lifestyle. NLC is a place that bridges the gap between the western allopathic medicine and eastern stress management methods. We strive to help people understand the scientific background behind the holistic lifestyle concept to find what is suitable for each individual." Dr. Perera, a UK qualified Consultant Nutritionist with specialised, post doctoral clinical training in dietary management of diabetes using the Glycaemic Index (GI) concept and lipid management at two hospitals in the UK and Canada, had been drawn to the holistic lifestyle concept introduced by Dr Dean Ornish, a world renowned American Cardiologist when she settled back in Sri Lanka. Dr. Ornish, a pioneer who introduced eastern practices to western allopathic medicine proved that heart disease (narrowing of the arteries) could be reversed without drugs or surgery through dietary and lifestyle changes that included practices such as meditation and yoga, by scientific research studies or clinical trials. In their quest to promote balanced and holistic lifestyle, NLC focuses on stress management. "Stress is a Buzz word in today's fast paced society. Modern societies are plagued with stress and stress related illnesses. Although there is a 'pill for almost every ill' in western medicine, there is no medicine for stress. But our ancestors knew how to control stress and achieve a balance in life through such practices," she points out. NLC introduces 'time tested' eastern practices such as Meditation, Yoga, Reiki etc. to their clients. "However, the centre does not teach such practices but, more importantly, educates the clients on the scientific basis of what stress does to the body and why we need to incorporate such practices into our stressful, fast spaced, ever busy lifestyles as a part of the stress management programme. This is important because stress precipitates chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer in susceptible individuals and affects the control of diseases," says Dr. Perera. Besides nutrition and lifestyle consultation, NLC provides nutrition education services such as seminars and lectures for the corporate sector and schools and nutrition consultancy services to the food and advertising industry.
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