AlphaCare nutrition seminar on October 9, 2020:
Everything is new in May

Bernd Dobbert and Barbara Pixa, SHG Cologne

„"Actually" – a word often used these days – yes, actually, Barbara and I, along with our Cologne group, should have been co-organizing a seminar, this time with AlphaCare from the company Grifols, represented by Mr. Böhlefeld. We had originally chosen the topic of vacation, and the initially scheduled date in May would have been the ideal time for the seminar.

But a well-known virus had other ideas, and we had to rethink everything. We switched from the topic of vacation to nutrition, because when you're spending more time at home, you might eat a little more than usual. Then the idea of an online seminar came up, and suddenly we were able to invite members from other groups as well.
AlphaCare was venturing into uncharted territory, and many things had to be arranged internally beforehand. Finally, the date was set for October 9, 2020.
Some technical details had to be exchanged beforehand, and finally all participants throughout Germany were able to join the presentation via the provided link.

New format in practice

After a brief welcome from the Cologne group, Mr. Böhlefeld explained how to ask questions via the chat function. He then handed the floor to nutrition expert Ms. Amely Brückner from Hamburg.
She is a certified nutritionist and regularly gives nutrition seminars for various target groups. Among other things, she works in hospitals to support cancer patients with their nutritional needs during various therapies.
Ms. Brückner began her presentation with some information about the food pyramid, using clear and informative slides. Questions quickly arose, which Ms. Brückner was able to answer comprehensively and directly. It became clear that she has a deep understanding of nutrition and is familiar with the latest research in the field.
Even though some may have thought beforehand, "Another boring nutrition seminar," they were proven wrong. The presentation was engaging; Ms. Brückner captivated us all with her information.
After presenting the building blocks of a healthy diet, the discussion moved on to the topic of body weight and energy requirements. The additional problems faced by overweight individuals with Alpha-1 diabetes were also explained, as the diaphragm, the primary respiratory organ, is subjected to excessive pressure in cases of excess weight, further impairing breathing.

Camembert and other small items

Ms. Brückner talked about protein, selenium, iron and phosphorus, polyphenols, zinc and sulfides, which left some people confused. But she quickly solved this puzzle of familiar and unfamiliar details. Once a week, please, meat; twice a week, fish; and the rest of the time, vegetables, vegetables, and more vegetables.
Don't eat fruit too often because of the fructose (= sugar), drink 30 to 40 milliliters per kilogram of body weight, and if the hunger for chips or chocolate drives you crazy, then please resort to popcorn (preferably lightly salted) or dark chocolate.
Their motto became increasingly clear: everything in moderation and don't overdo it. Whole-wheat pasta makes enjoying pasta less of a chore; paprika goulash instead of goulash with spaetzle; and Camembert with bread instead of baked Camembert.
Eat fatty fish like wild salmon, thick organic yogurt, and choose 3.8% milk over 1.8% milk because the higher-fat milk contains healthier fats. Taking your time while eating, regular exercise, and eating pork in moderation are just a few aspects of her philosophy.

Interactive communication

Mr. Böhlefeld collected the written questions during the presentation and chose the right moments for the Q&A session. Why only wild salmon and not farmed salmon? The answer came in a flash. Farmed salmon is kept in too confined a space in the sea farms and grows too quickly. Wild salmon is healthier and provides a much more concentrated source of Omega-3.
There were also a few direct comments. The topic of veganism sparked some controversial discussions. One member spoke very strongly in favor of a vegan diet, citing his positive experiences. He even claimed his FEV1 value had improved. Ms. Brückner vehemently disagreed, arguing that vegan diets would only lead to short-term improvements and that, in the long run, they were actually harmful. The two did not reach an agreement and remained firm in their convictions.

ConclusionIt was a successful event in every respect, and all participants agreed that it was a very interesting format. Ms. Brückner had previously held her seminars in smaller groups. She had never before spoken to nearly 40 participants. Our Cologne group would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Böhlefeld for the excellent organization and to Grifols for their AlphaCare program. I hope that Ms. Brückner will soon treat us to another such wonderful evening on nutrition, in whatever form that may take.

With that in mind: eat well and stay healthy!