Third Edition E-Magazine | April 2013 | www ... - Oshwal Centre

Interview with Kavita Shah
Harrow Heroes Award
Kavita Shah, 27, is Natural
Health (North Finchley)
Nutritionist, having studied
BSc Nutrition at University
of Nottingham and MSc
Nutrition at King’s College
London, has been involved
in a range of voluntary work
within Harrow. Let’s hear
what Kavita says about her
voluntary work.
Exercise is also very important in maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. As little as 20 minutes of walking a day can have
benefits to your health.
What would you like to see happen with
regards to the Children’s Centres in harrow?
i.e. what additional resources / support is
required?
Additional funding to help staff set up cooking/ healthy
eating workshops is always required.
How did you get involved in volunteer work?
While looking for work in 2010, I contacted the Nutritionist
who works for the NHS Harrow Public Health team and
she got me involved in the work that they do which
involves helping to set up and run Cook & Eat sessions
and Healthy Eating Workshops, providing Nutritional
support for families and providing staff training within the
16 Children’s Centre’s in Harrow.
What has been the best bits about working
at Children’s Centres in Harrow?
Being able to make a difference to people’s health and
wellbeing. Meeting new people and working with children.
What has been the most challenging bits
about working at Children’s Centres in
Harrow?
None
What advise / tips / guidance would you give
to people to help between understand the
importance of health eating?
How did it feel to win the 2012 Harrow’s
Heroes Award?
I didn’t even know I had been nominated for the award so
when I received the invite to the awards ceremony I was
quite surprised. I felt very pleased and honoured to have
won the award and I think it is fantastic that volunteers
are shown appreciation with such awards.
How can someone get involved in the
volunteer work you do?
They can contact me directly (you can provide my email
address kavita-shah@hotmail.co.uk) or they can contact
Lauren Hayes- Public Health Officer NHS Harrow
(lauren.hayes@harrow.gov.uk)
What would you like to see happen in terms
of health and wellbeing within the Oshwal
community?
A reduction in type 2 diabetes which is very common in
the Oshwal Community. Also for the community to
understand the importance of uncontrolled type 2
diabetes as in the long term this can lead to a variety of
other health complications.
Everything in moderation! Try and eat fruit and
vegetables raw as cooking/ heating foods destroys many
of their vital nutrients. Avoid eating deep fried foods
which contain saturated fat as this type of fat increases
the cholesterol in our blood and high levels of blood
cholesterol increase our risk of heart disease and stroke.
Oshwal News E-magazine of the O.A.U.K. 15 April 2013 Edition