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"The AGE Limit" While browsing the November/December 2015 Food and Nutrition Magazine, I came across an article about AGE.   I had never heard of AGE so I read the article.   AGE is an acronym for A dvanced G lycation  E nd products, which are a group of compounds that naturally occur in the body as a byproduct of metabolism. However, the main source of the compound typically results from the diet.   Higher protein foods from animal sources are among the richest in AGE.   These compounds occur in the diet when animal products are cooked with high heat.   Newer research is showing that dry-heat cooking methods such as grilling, roasting broiling and frying may cause an increase in these potentially harmful compounds.             According to the article, “The AGE Limit”, AGE formation within the body occurs very slowly and accumulates over time. Excess AGEs promote oxidation and inflammation,...

            Food insecurity which is defined as “not having adequate quantity and quality of food at all times for all household members to have an active, healthy life” affects every one in six individuals across the United States (Seligman et al., 2015, p. 1956). The issue of food insecurity is known for its detrimental effects to healthy especially in regards to physical and mental development and health (Schaeffer, 2015). In addition, among food insecure individual with diabetes inadequate control over diabetes is observed. This is a concern due to the increasing widespread of this chronic disease.                        A study by Seligman et al., (2015) discusses how food pantries are ideal locations for diabetes education and diabetes management support due to their extensive reach to food insecure individuals wit...

The Latest on Lactose Intolerance: What It Is, How It's Diagnosed, and Tips for Counseling Clients - Today's Dietitian Magazine Lactose intolerance is a common condition that can cause extremely uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms.   Although the condition is benign, the nutritional consequences of being lactose intolerant are not benign. Those who are lactose intolerant will generally limit or eliminate dairy products which can lead to the lack of Vitamin D and calcium.   Lactose-free options and/or consumption of small amounts of dairy can be recommended. Lactose (milk sugar) must be broken down into the simple sugars glucose and galactose by the intestinal enzyme lactase in order to be absorbed in the intestinal tract. Lactase is usually able to break down lactose in the small intestine.   If you are lactose intolerant, this enzyme is lacking, so lactose cannot be digested.   When the undigested lactose moves from the small intestine to the large i...

What ’ s the Latest on Holiday Weight Gain? I’ve always believed that the average amount of weight gained during the holiday (Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day) ranged from five to 10 pounds.   However, according to the article “What’s the Latest on Holiday Weight Gain”, there is no research to support this belief.   A study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine proposed that on average, the gain is only about one pound.               The study was based on 195 participants who were weighed at six week-intervals before, during and after the holiday season.   Although most of the participants believed that they had gained at least four pounds, most only gained one pound.   Only 10% gained more than five pounds during the holidays.   Participants who gained five or more pounds were overweight or obese before the holidays. This may be an indication that the holiday season may present ...

Upton, J. (2015, October). More reasons to eat a Mediterranean style diet. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2015/10/20/more-reasons-to-eat-a-mediterranean-style-diet The benefits from following a Mediterranean diet are ample, decreasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, inflammation, depression, and asthma and helps reach weight loss goals.   It’s main focus is on consuming natural, plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and healthy fats in the form of olive, nut, or seed oil.   Almost every meal is begun with a salad or tomato based soup and finished with fresh fruit or fruit-based soup.   About 50% of energy comes from complex carbohydrates, such as oats, bulgur, couscous, bread, and pasta.   It is high in omega-3 fatty acids due to the availability of fresh fish and seafood from the Mediterranean.   It also encourages the consumption of walnuts as a protein source instead of ...

Advances in technology are contributing to the growing popularity of dietitians moving away from the traditional office counseling setting and toward telehealth and telenutrition services (Zanteson, 2014). Telehealth and telenutrition services are virtual forms of nutrition counseling which offer a convenient way to meet client needs. Many medical professionals are using virtual health services already, such as video conferencing, email, Internet counseling, and over smartphones. Dietitians have started to pick up on the trend in order to accommodate the needs of clients. In addition, these services are now officially recognized by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with formal definitions (Zanteson, 2014). According to the Academy, “telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration” (Zanteson, 2014). Subsequen...

THE STORY The face of public health and retail in America is changing. Because, supermarket dietitians. EXPLAIN. Supermarket dietitians are helping bridge gaps in community health one grocery store at a time. Dietitians are hoping that nudging customers toward healthier options, educating at the point of purchase, and providing shopping lists and menus for specific health concerns or diseases/conditions, to name a few, would fill these gaps (Webb, 2015). Right now, there are about 1,000 supermarket dietitians nationwide complete with corporate and retail dietitians (Webb, 2015). Supermarket dietitians offer unrivaled access to nutrition services and information to consumers. This is a big deal because it allows consumers to come into the store and speak directly with a dietitian with no added hassle. In-store supermarket dietitians are there to counsel shoppers, provide nutrition education, answer questions on the stores’ website, and help consumers make healthful choices (Web...

Long-term home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life-saving therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure (Fessler, 2011). The most common indications for parenteral nutrition (PN) in the home include “severe short bowel syndrome-insufficient enteral absorptive capacity; complete small bowel obstruction with failure of enteral tube feeding; malnutrition with malabsorption that has not improved with the use of medications or altered nutrient content of enteral formulas; malnutrition and motility disorder that has not improved with medications; high output enterocutaneous fistula with inability to enteral feed distal to it; inability to maintain nutrition/hydration due to high ostomy output that has improved with the use of medications” (Fessler, 2011; Nelson, 2007). Interdisciplinary involvement by the health care team is important for effective patient care in the home and is an area of ASPEN focus. Collaboration among team members including physicians, nurses, dietitians, a...

            With the large population of the ageing baby boomers generation focus on a healthier way of life is demanded especially in areas of the heart. Heart health a multifactorial issue is a serious concern among Americans due cardiac events and cardiovascular disease which can be a result of unhealthy dietary behavior or unhealthy lifestyle habits. According to the American Heart Association half of Americans will suffer a cardiac event in their lifetime, and 1/3 of Americans will die of cardiovascular disease. In regards to nutrition, dietitians play a major role in promoting heart health. Through appropriate nutrition, heart health can be promoted in a simply manner (possibly without medication). Therefore, dietitians play a crucial role in this area and should be up to date on emerging research in this area.              An article by Gillespie, (2013) d...