Friday, May 27, 2011

National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month

May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones, the promotion of strong bones for life and the reduction of human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research.

The drastic consequence of osteoporosis is visible in the lives of the millions of sufferers worldwide. Researchers today know a lot about how you can protect your bones throughout your life. Getting enough calcium, vitamin D and regular exercise are important for your bones.


Feed Your Bones Today


Nutrition and Health: Osteoporosis
by The Dairy and Nutrition Council of Indiana and Indiana Dairy Farmers

You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones. Osteoporosis prevention should begin in childhood. But it shouldn’t stop there. Whatever your age, the habits you adopt now can affect your bone health for the rest of your life. Now is the time to take action.



Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Older Americans Month
May 25th: National Senior Health and Fitness Day

2011 Theme: "Older Americans:
Connecting the Community"


Resources and References
to Help Eating Well as We Age


Celebrate the 18th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day.100,000 older adults will participate in activities at more than 1,000 locations throughout the U.S. The goal is to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is the nation's largest annual health promotion event for older adults.

The Mature Fitness Awards are designed to encourage and recognize regular physical activity among adults age 50, 60, 70, and over. The program offers 25 activities with something for everyone, from beginning exercisers to long-time fitness enthusiasts. Many activities are appropriate (or can be adapted) for disabled participants. When selecting an activity, find one that you enjoy and that fits into your daily or weekly routine so you will be likely to stick with it.

Shopping and nutrition tips for senior citizens,
from Elisa Zeid, MS, RD


Gotta Dance The Movie captures the adventures of the first-ever senior citizen
hip hop dance team for the New Jersey Nets Basketball Team,
from auditions through to center court stardom.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

May 19 - May 22, 2011 Dietitians-Online



May 19 - May 22, 2011
Dietitian Blogs and in the News
Books and Up-coming Events


May 22, 2011
Fooducate Blog. Sunday Comic Strip: Isn’t Food One of the Ingredients?
In the early 1990's Congress enacted the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA), which gave the FDA power to require food manufacturers to label product.


May 21, 2011
When eating, try to focus on the food.  "Be aware of the fact that you're eating," advises dietitian Bethany Thayer, director of wellness programs and strategies for Detroit's Henry Ford Health System. "Pay attention to the food you're eating and the signals you're getting about your hunger level."

May 21, 2011
Soda addiction: Man sheds 70 pounds just 'kicking the can'. "The body doesn't know what to do with all that sugar", says Sue Cunningham, a registered dietitian with the University of Texas Health Science Center. "No more than 10 percent of calories should come from sugar".

May 21, 2011 
Nutrition experts partner to cut waste, foster healthy choices in school meals. The students who had recess before lunch tended to waste less food, said Stephanie Smith, a registered dietitian and graduate research assistant at Colorado State University

May 20, 2011

Food prices are rising, here's how to save $1,000 on groceries in a year. Cecilia Rokusek, registered dietitian and professor of public health and family medicine at Nova's College of Osteopathic Medicine provides seven tips to help avoid wasting food.

May 20, 2011
6 Foods to Eat If You're Skipping MeatKerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Editor, Nutrition for EatingWell Magazine states “having a balanced diet (meatless or not) is key to proper nutrition, so include these veggie foods in your diet to get critical nutrients your body needs.

May 19, 2011
Marilyn Wadum, Registered Dietitian compares Summer Time Treats and offers tips on how to make healthier choices when it comes to ice cream and other cool treats.


Up-coming Topics and Events


Monday, May 23.
National Taffy Day

Tuesday, May 24.
Sweets & Snacks Expo (May 24-26, 2011); Chicago, Illinois. All Candy Expo is now Sweets & Snacks Expo. It is the largest venue in the Americas to see New Products and New Trends, in New Categories, with New Merchandising concepts, from New Exhibitors, plus Invaluable Education and Industry Research.The largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in the Americas.

Wednesday, May 25.
National Brown-Bag-It Day
 
Thursday, May 26.
National Cherry Dessert Day

Friday, May 27.
Heat Safety Awareness Day
National Grape Popsicle

Saturday, May 28.
National Brisket Day



September 24 - 27, 2011.   The 2011 ADA Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), San Diego Convention Center. The ADA's annual meeting is the premiere event for food and nutrition professionals. Educational sessions will cover the hottest topics including obesity, alternative medicine, culinary trends, life-cycle nutrition and medical nutrition therapy. Meet with more than 8,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers and industry leaders, all in one place – at the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE).

Books by Dietitians

 















Wednesday, May 18, 2011

National Employee Health and Fitness Day
May 18, 2011


Employees’ Health And Fitness Programs
Workplace Wellness Programs enhance the
overall health and productivity of your organization.

Benefits For Employers
Increase employee productivity
Improve health care costs
Less illness and injuries
Reduce employee absenteeism

Benefits For Employees
Less stress
Improve physical fitness
Better eating habits or weight control
Increase physical and mental health 

6 Steps to Creating a Wellness Program
Presentor: Mitzi Dulan, RD
 

Bob Harper from the "Biggest Loser" provides
tips on how to stay
healthy at work.
 


National Employee Health and Fitness Day™ is the third (3rd) Wednesday in May each year. Administered annually by the National Association for Health and Fitness. NEHF is a national health observance, created to promote the benefits of physical activity for individuals through their work site health promotion activities. Founded in 1989 National Employee Health and Fitness Day has enlisted tens of thousands of participants from employers around the world.

For More Information on how to Improve
Employee Health and Fitness visit the following links:




Tuesday, May 17, 2011

May is National High Blood Pressure
Education Month
World Hypertension Day, May 17th

The World Hypertension League (WHL) is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), and is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Hypertension Day was established to highlight preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment.

What is Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body.

Know Your Blood Pressure Number.  The first number, systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure exerted as the heart contracts. A measurement over 90 and under 140 is generally considered normal for an adult. The lower number indicates diastolic pressure is a measurement taken between beats, when the heart is at rest. A measurement over 60 and under 90 is generally considered normal for an adult.

High Blood Pressure is a Global Epidemic. Over 1.5 billion people world-wide suffer from high blood pressure (or hypertension).

Prevention and Control of High Blood Pressure

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight
2. Eat More Fresh Vegetables and Fruits
3. Cut Back on Salt Intake
4. Exercise
5. Check your Blood Pressure Regularly
6. If you are on medication, take the medication as prescribed.


Resources
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). National High Blood Pressure Education Program

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High Blood Pressure Education Month

The International Society of Hypertension (ISH).
ISH's main objectives are to promote and encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of research and its application to prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.

The World Hypertension League (WHL).  The objectives of the World Hypertension League (WHL) are to promote the detection, control and prevention of arterial hypertension in populations.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN
on the Mediterranean Diet
and Supermarket Dietetics

“Larger national chains offer great career opportunities for dietitians,
especially if RDs aim for executive positions that implement
health and wellness as part of a company’s overall business strategy.”
- Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 

Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN is our guest blogger, the "Neighborhood Nutritionist", "Supermarket Dietitian" and Bashas' in-house dietitian. She provides grocery shoppers with the necessary tools and resources to improve health and manage a food budget.

Barbara graciously agreed to answer some questions about the Mediterranean Diet.

May is National Mediterranean Diet Month
1. What makes the Mediterranean Diet unique?
In 1993 when The Mediterranean Diet was introduced by Oldways and the Harvard School of Public Health, it was unique from other pyramids and eating plans as it introduced the idea of “healthy fats” and also made the dietary recommendation that some alcohol in moderation had health benefits.  This was somewhat radical information back then.

In addition, the concept of “traditional diets” being the basis of a healthy diet was quite foreign (literally) to Americans. What exactly is a traditional American diet?! Thanks to Oldways (literally, Old-Ways!), The Mediterranean Diet, emphasized the benefits of a “back to basics” approach – eating  WHOLE foods as well as setting a context (with family & friends) as a “method” as to how to maximize the benefits of eating a healthy diet. 

As a dietitian, I love the entire concept of the “Med” diet approach to educating consumers on how to choose a healthy diet. It’s practical and focuses on what to eat vs. what NOT to eat.

2. Is Bashas' only available in Arizona?
Yes, Bashas’ Family of Stores is a locally owned and operated grocery chain since 1932. Bashas’ Family of Stores is special in many ways as a retail grocer. The chain operates 4 different formats (store types). Bashas’ is the mainstream grocery chain. Food City is their Hispanic format featuring many exotic fruits & vegetables (nopales, agave, and nearly 30 different varieties of chili peppers). AJ’s Fine Foods is the upper-scale, gourmet format that offers locally-made chocolates, craft beers, gourmet cheese, a sushi bar, a gourmet deli destination with Panini’s, pizzas and more, as well as a gourmet produce section featuring unique items like baby portabellas and maitake mushrooms, a vast array of specialty produce items (dragonfruit, gooseberries) and more. Finally, Bashas’ is truly unique from any other retailer as they operate several reservation stores, “Dine” (there is an accent on the “e”)…pronounced “dee-nay.” This is a Navajo term that translates to “The People.” Dine stores are fully staffed with Native American residents living on the reservation(s) and 10% of all profits go directly back to a reservation scholarship fun. Bashas’ is truly a great company to work for!

3. How are the colored tags on foods useful to someone on the Internet?
The colorful nutrition tags are most useful to shopper in the stores as they are unavoidable reminders to shoppers of products unique nutritional qualities. It helps shoppers to find better nutritional values – a shopper can compare products for price & quality and now they can evaluate based on nutritional content too.

Online, the tags can serve as an educational tool to help any person learn how to shop for healthier options. The nutrition qualifications for the tags are in compliance with the FDA’s nutrition labeling standards. In addition, many of the tags have additional nutrition requirements. Making the criteria a bit stricter for products was a great opportunity for me as a dietitian to apply my skills from a variety of different career experiences. My background in public health, academics, athletics and private-practice allowed me to view this project as a possible solution to help a broad audience improve personal health.

4. Can someone in Florida easily follow the Mediterranean Diet?
Absolutely! Finding olive oil, avocados, beans, leafy greens, seafood, nuts and whole grains is as simple as visiting your local grocery store. You don’t need to travel to Italy to enjoy pizza nor do you need to be surrounded by the Mediterranean sea to enjoy traditional Greek favorites like tzaziki (yogurt dip with dill),  hummus (mashed chickpeas with tahini/sesame paste), or delectable kalamata olives. Feed your imagination!


In addition to working with Bashas’, Barbara has a thriving private practice specializing in Public Health and Nutrition Education, Retail Food/Grocery Industry, Sports Nutrition, Eating Disorder Therapy, Healthy Weight Management (Non-Diet Approach), and Entrepreneur-ism and Mentoring.

Supermarket Dietitians:
A New Paradigm for Public Health

by Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN

To learn more about Barbara Ruhs, visit the following links:




About Dietitians-Online.com

Dietitians and Dietetic Associations Worldwide provide an opportunity to explore numerous specialties, cultural diversities, advances in research, legislative news, current events, ADA campaigns, new recipes and creative ideas. 

When seeking nutrition advise, verify the organization and/or individual is a reliable resource. Check credentials, look for a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). If in doubt, contact your countries dietetic association for additional information.

a. USA: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the American Dietetic Association.
b. Australia: Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD); administered by the Dietitians Association of Australia.
c. United Kingdom: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the British Dietetic Association.
d. South Africa: Registered Dietitian (RD);  administered by the Association for Dietetics in South Africa.
e. Canada: Registered Dietitian (RD);  Dietitians of Canada.
f.  International Confederation of Dietetic Associations.


A dietitian . . . .
  • Is a person with qualifications in nutrition and dietetics, recognized by national authority(s). The dietitian applies the science of nutrition to the feeding and education of individuals or groups in health and disease.
  • Receives a minimum of a Bachelor's degree with course work approved by the national dietetic authority.  Courses include food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
  • Completes a supervised professional practice of at least 500 hours.
  • Passes a national examination prepared by the countries dietetic and nutrition authority.
  • Completes continuing education in order to maintain one's credentials.


Saturday, May 14, 2011

International Day of Families
May 15, 2011

The United Nations International Day of Families is celebrated each May at the United Nations headquarters and around the world. The Universal Peace Federation joins in commemorating this day because it considers the family as a microcosm of the global community and because sustainable peace is grounded in the family as the most intimate social unit, the school of love.

2011 Theme: "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion"

"On this International Day of Families, let us resolve to support families as they nurture the young, care for the old and foster strong communities built on tolerance and dignity for all."
- Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General's Message for 2011


The Family Meal
The Family Meal is a Tradition Celebrated All Over the World. Sharing family meals symbolizes love and communication. Eating dinner together keeps the doors of communication open. It's a perfect time to show your children they are your priority. Studies have shown children who eat dinner with their families are less likely to use alcohol, tobacco and/or illegal drugs and more likely to develop good eating habits.

 

Foods For Health:
Building Healthy Kids and Families

"Guyatitian" David Grotto offers healthy eating and physical
activity tips for building healthy kids and families.
Part of the International Food Information Council Foundation's
Foods For Health series

It's A Small World
A childhood favorite reminding me how special all Families are.
by Disney 
















Friday, May 13, 2011

Food Allergy Awareness Week
May 8 -14, 2011


The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was founded in 1991 and is the world’s largest nonprofit organization providing information about food allergy to the media, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials, as well as the food-allergic community.


FAAN’s mission is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Respect Every Bite


In 1997, FAAN created Food Allergy Awareness Week to educate others about food allergies, a potentially life threatening medical condition. This year they are celebrating the 14th annual Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW), May 8-14, 2011.

Food Allergy Awareness Week 2011


FAAN’s annual programs, include: Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference, Food Allergy News for Kids Poster Contest, Teen Summit, Trick-or-Treat for Food Allergy, Walk for Food Allergy, Kids’ Congress on Capitol Hill.

Allergic? Don't Ignore The Fine Print
Teresa Beach, Registered Dietitian
Camp Tag

Camp TAG is a 5-day, half-day camp for children ages 3-12 that is due to launch in summer 2011. It will provide a safe place for children with food allergies and their siblings to have fun with no worries about having an allergic reaction, as well as give them an opportunity to meet other children who share the same conditions and know they are not alone.



For further information on FAAN, visit:
Websites: http://www.foodallergy.org/
http://www.faankids.org/

http://www.foodallergyevents.org/
http://www.foodallergyalliance.org/
Facebook. FAAN 
Twitter: @FoodAllergy
YouTube Channel: FAANPAL

Contact Information:
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
11781 Lee Jackson Hwy., Suite 160
Fairfax, VA 22033
(800) 929-4040 
http://www.foodallergy.org/

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