Will You Pea My Valentine?

Will You Pea My Valentine?

Apple A Day, Keeps The Dr Away!

They are robust for your handbag, unlike a banana, can be eaten with one free hand and incredibly versatile.

The apples of the moment in my life are of the jazz variety.

‘You can always trust a Jazz apple to be crispy and juicy!’

http://www.jazzapples.co.uk/site/home

The Jazz variety first occupied my fruit bowl about year and half ago. Whilst shopping in Waitrose I spotted them, how could I pass them with a name like that, although I must say I did fall into the trap of picking them up in a very characteristic jazz hand manner!

Personal Statement

Lola Tait Biggs

Hippocrates said in AD 390 —

“let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food”.

To me the above statement makes perfect sense, yet in today’s modern society of

Technological advancement and drug-dependency, we seem to have long forgotten this simple philosophy. This became apparent whilst studying Biochemistry and Human Nutrition at A-Level, and it is now clear to me that these are areas of expertise I need to pursue further, through higher education and a career in dietetics.  I have always had a hunger for scientific knowledge, and I feel my A-Level studies gave me a strong fundamental understanding of Biochemistry and Human Digestion and an insight into their relationship, which is vital for a career in dietetics. I also studied Science for Public Understanding, which explored the public’s relationship with food and the role that the media plays in food and health promotion. In my coursework assignment for SPU I chose to undertake the subject: “The Media, is it Responsible for Eating Disorders?”, and for this I received an A-grade. Within a learning environment I have always shown great enthusiasm and communication skills, whether absorbing the knowledge of a lecturer or participating in discussions, and I am especially fond of the chance to vocalize my thoughts on a subject.

Edison said —

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest patients in the

care of the human frame, diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.”

Through undertaking a module in “Human Health and Disease”  I realized just what an important role preventive measures are in tackling major diseases in the UK.  Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, draining the economy of millions of pounds each year in transplant and treatment costs. Yet comparative costs of proactive, preventative measures such as consultation and lifestyle advice is fractional. This methodology also has the advantage of encouraging long-term benefits to the patient, and even promotes the concept of healthy eating to family and friends through the patient.

Lab practice in Biology and Chemistry allowed me an insight into the physical experiments used in the food industry to determine the presence and quantity of certain macronutrients. I also choose Mammalian Physiology as an option of Biology A-Level, learning the mechanics of human digestion and homeostasis, which should prove invaluable in the first year’s modules of the Human Nutrition & Dietetics course.

The destructive and beneficial capabilities of food fascinate me, and my enthusiasm and passion for the subject allows me to demonstrate effort and commitment in undertaking my own research and adhering to deadlines. I work well with others, as I do managing my own projects, something I have learnt from managing a team in London. From a young age I have demonstrated a willingness to care for others and involve myself in teamwork, attending St John’s ambulance cadets for a period of four years. I hope that my interpersonal and communicational skills, matched with my passion and enthusiasm for the subject means I have the personality to succeed in a career in dietetics.

Being brought up by a mother who trained as a chef before becoming a mental health charge nurse has educated me with the importance of balancing good food with good health. It also led to the opportunity of speaking to a practicing dietician at Newcastle General Hospital’s Young Person’s Unit. This proved to be a valuable insight into the career; the challenges I will face and the rewards I can achieve, and only further reinforced my desire to pursue dietetics as a line of work.

I am attracted to the opportunity of working with individuals, with each new Patient offering a new, unique challenge to overcome. I appreciate that effective treatment in the field of dietetics does not always have to come from a textbook, but the dietician is required to take an integrative approach, adapting their advice to the specific requirements of the patient.

Spending two years working in London prior to returning to education has allowed me to succeed in sales, becoming a counter manager in a prestigious skin care company within a year of leaving college. I believe this opportunity arose due to my determination and commitment to whatever challenge I am presented with, and this experience has helped to further develop my excellent people skills.

Over the past two years I have strived to continue learning by frequently reading texts on Human Nutrition, as well as online articles written by the BDA and Nutrition Data websites. This has further fuelled my desire to study Dietetics at university and I hope the effort I have gone to will put me in good stead to be a successful student. In Patrick Holford’s “The Optimum Nutrition Bible”, he quotes Dr Linus Pauling

“optimum nutrition is the medicine of tomorrow”.

The concept of promoting health and wellbeing through optimum nutrition greatly excites me and I feel is beginning to give rise to a movement in the world of healthcare that I would very much like to be part of. I hope that you will consider me for enrolment onto the Human Nutrition and Dietetics course and agree that through undertaking this course I will be able to achieve my goals in a career in Dietetics.