Nutrition and Diet Services in Turkey

Nutrition keeps shifting, and not always in the right direction. What people eat today barely resembles what fed past generations in the same cities. Changes in food systems, personal habits and medical concerns all intersect, shaping what ends up on the plate. Turkey reflects that shift like anywhere else, not more nor less. The patterns are visible, the effects are measurable and the urgency is real. 

Biruni Hospital has seen it unfold across demographics and cases, and the connection between diet and long term health is no longer up for debate.

What is nutrition and diet ?

Nutrition and diet play a major role in how the body functions, repairs itself and keeps things running smoothly. The words often get mixed up but they mean different things that work closely together.

Nutrition is about what happens after food hits the mouth, how the body breaks it down, absorbs what it needs and turns it into fuel or building blocks. It also looks at what happens when there’s too much or too little of something.

Diet is basically the food and drinks someone chooses day after day. It reflects not just taste but what’s available, what culture teaches and what health requires. Diet can help keep the body well or slowly wear it down depending on what’s on the plate.

Key points about nutrition and diet

• The nutrients like proteins fats carbs vitamins and minerals taken in
• How the body digests and makes use of those nutrients
• Food choices shaped by money culture and health needs
• The habits around when and how meals are eaten
• Patterns over time that either build strength or cause harm

What are the types of nutrition and diet approaches ?

How people approach food depends on more than taste. There’s health behind every meal, and often more pressure than choice. Some follow guidelines because of a diagnosis. Others do it to prevent one or just keep energy steady throughout the day. In real life, it’s not about perfection but about fitting the body’s needs into daily routines.

Clinical nutrition

When someone’s health is already off balance, food stops being casual. It becomes part of the treatment. Clinical nutrition works when the body isn’t functioning as it should, and food has to support medication, healing or organ function.

It’s used in hospitals and clinics, and it’s not always about eating more or less. It can be about feeding tubes, restrictions or removing foods that cause harm. Everything is adjusted based on labs and symptoms.

Some aspects of clinical nutrition

• Reviews blood work and medical history
• Matches nutrient needs to medical condition
• Builds a diet plan around symptoms, not preferences
• Uses feeding methods beyond regular meals if needed
• Adjusts meals with medication interactions in mind
• Tracks how food impacts treatment results
• Focuses on long term damage control and healing

Preventive nutrition

This one doesn’t wait for the problem to start. It tries to keep the body from slipping toward illness by watching patterns before they become symptoms. It’s not glamorous, and often ignored until damage shows up.

It relies on boring choices made often and consistently. Avoiding fast food, walking more, sleeping better, and putting fiber on the plate might not feel urgent, but that’s the point. It works before urgency sets in.

Some aspects of preventive nutrition

• Looks at family history and personal risk
• Pushes fiber, vegetables, and real food over trends
• Cuts back on sugar, salt, and bad fats
• Keeps weight stable with small decisions
• Tracks blood pressure and blood sugar long term
• Teaches people how to build meals that last
• Focuses on stability over quick results

Sports and performance nutrition

Athletes eat with a purpose. Every snack, drink, or shake has a role. Timing matters as much as content. It’s not about staying full, but about fueling muscles and recovery.

This isn’t limited to professionals. Even someone training three times a week sees results from adjusting food before and after sessions. Nutrition here becomes a tool, not just fuel.

Some aspects of sports nutrition

• Measures energy burned during workouts
• Matches food to activity type and timing
• Uses protein and carbs to support recovery
• Prepares meals based on training cycles
• Includes supplements when real food isn’t enough
• Keeps hydration on track with performance
• Builds routines around training, not cravings

Therapeutic diets

When symptoms take over and regular food causes pain or damage, a therapeutic diet becomes necessary. These diets aren’t a lifestyle trend.

They often feel restrictive and hard to maintain, but they help the body avoid flare ups and further harm. The rules are stricter because the risks are higher. These diets are usually built by professionals and adjusted as symptoms change.

Some aspects of therapeutic diets

• Begins after diagnosis, not for preference
• Removes foods that trigger or worsen symptoms
• Replaces common foods with safer alternatives
• Monitors for vitamin or mineral loss
• Works with medications or treatments
• Focuses on symptom control first, then flexibility
• Often needs long term specialist support

Personalized nutrition

This is the new direction where food meets tech. Instead of guessing what works, people now get plans based on their biology. DNA test, microbiome, gut bacteria, and lifestyle all combine to make something precise.

It’s not always accessible, and it can be expensive, but it’s changing how food is understood. No more one size fits all. This approach works when general tips fall flat, and people want results built around how their body actually functions.

Some aspects of personalized nutrition

• Uses lab work and genetic tests to guide diet
• Tracks sleep, movement, stress to see full patterns
• Identifies food sensitivities and gut health issues
• Adjusts meals to daily cycles and hormone shifts
• Adapts over time with lifestyle and body changes
• Requires active tracking with apps or journals
• Makes nutrition a long term experiment, not a quick fix

What are the types of diets you can follow ?

Most diets sound simpler than they are. The real work begins after the first week, when motivation fades and habits push back. Each one comes with trade offs.

Some are heavy on planning, others are tough on the body early on. Some people try one diet, stick to it, and adjust over time. Others move between different types depending on health goals, energy levels or daily routines. 

Mediterranean diet

This one doesn’t come with extreme rules or tight tracking. It’s more about rhythm than calculation. Built on what people used to eat in places like Greece and southern Italy, it leans into olive oil, legumes, whole grains and fish while keeping meat and sugar in the background. You won’t find dramatic short term changes here, but it’s hard to find another diet that holds up this well over time.

Aspects of the Mediterranean diet

• Focuses more on plants and less on red meat
• Relies on healthy fats instead of cutting fat completely
• Doesn’t eliminate carbs but avoids refined ones
• Known for long term sustainability, not quick fixes
• Works with most food cultures and doesn’t require constant measuring

Common foods in the Mediterranean diet

• Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and leafy greens
• Whole grains like bulgur, barley, and brown rice
• Olive oil as the main cooking fat
• Fish like sardines and anchovies
• Lentils, chickpeas, white beans
• Cheese and yogurt in moderation
• Fresh fruit instead of dessert
• Herbs like oregano, mint, thyme

Ketogenic diet

Keto is intense and often misunderstood. It cuts carbs down to the bare minimum and forces the body to burn fat for fuel instead of sugar. That shift hits hard in the first few days. Some people feel great, others crash fast. 

Either way, it’s a dramatic change. The rules are strict, and cheat meals throw off everything, but for those who respond well, the energy, focus and fat loss can be worth the cost.

Aspects of the ketogenic diet

• Removes almost all sources of sugar and starch
• Focuses on fat as the main fuel source
• Often comes with a difficult adjustment phase
• Used medically for epilepsy and sometimes for metabolic issues
• Can create nutrient gaps if not managed carefully

Common foods in the ketogenic diet

• Eggs, cheese, and full fat dairy
• Fatty cuts of meat and fish
• Butter, coconut oil, and ghee
• Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower
• Avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds
• No grains, fruit, or sugary foods

Intermittent fasting

This isn’t a food list. It’s a timing strategy. Instead of changing what you eat, it limits when you eat. Some people go all in with long fasting windows, others start small with delayed breakfasts. The hunger doesn’t always disappear, but over time the body adjusts. For some, it feels easier than counting every calorie, but it’s not ideal for everyone, especially those with intense physical routines or blood sugar issues.

Aspects of intermittent fasting

• Structures eating windows instead of banning specific foods
• Gives the digestive system longer breaks
• May help with weight balance without full restriction
• Can improve mental clarity once the body adapts
• Doesn’t suit people with irregular schedules or certain health conditions

Common fasting patterns

• 16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating
• 14 hours fasting, 10 hours eating
• Alternate day fasting or weekly 24 hour fasts
• Only eating between noon and 8pm
• Skipping either breakfast or dinner depending on lifestyle

DASH diet

The DASH diet was originally built to treat high blood pressure, but over time it’s been linked to more general health improvements, especially around heart disease and metabolic issues. It works by reducing sodium, boosting potassium and cutting out overly processed ingredients. 

The meals are simple, the portions are controlled, and the main idea is to reduce stress on the cardiovascular system through cleaner food choices.

Aspects of the DASH diet

• Created to manage blood pressure without relying only on medication
• Reduces processed foods and excess sodium
• Promotes fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins
• Balances fats without cutting them out
• Works best with consistent home cooked meals

Common foods in the DASH diet

• Leafy greens, berries, and root vegetables
• Brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole grain bread
• Skinless chicken, turkey, and fish
• Beans, lentils, peas
• Unsalted nuts and seeds
• Low fat yogurt and milk
• Limited red meat, sweets, and fried food

Plant based diet

Plant based eating focuses on shifting the center of the plate toward plants. It’s not necessarily vegan or vegetarian, but it pushes meat and dairy to the margins. For some, it’s about health, for others, the environment, or just feeling better after meals. Meals are heavier on fiber, lighter on processed food and often more filling than expected when done right.

Aspects of a plant based diet

• Prioritizes fiber rich foods like legumes and grains
• Cuts back on animal products without strict rules
• Usually lowers inflammation and supports digestion
• Flexible enough to include occasional meat or fish
• Often requires more prep and label reading

Common foods in a plant based diet

• Lentils, chickpeas, and black beans
• Quinoa, brown rice, and oats
• Sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini
• Leafy greens, spinach, and kale
• Fresh fruit of all kinds
• Flax, chia, hemp, and sunflower seeds
• Almond, soy, or oat milk
• Olive, avocado, or sesame oil

Where food choices actually lead

Most diets start with plans but end with adjustments. No one sticks to rules every day and most bodies won’t follow the same path for long. What matters more is knowing what drains energy, what keeps it steady, and what leaves things worse even when it feels right short term. 

Long term, it’s not about perfection, it’s about figuring out what meals actually work without turning food into something exhausting or complicated.