Moving Forward After Over 40 Years Of Guidance: Innovation And Partnerships To Reduce Sodium Intake

Recorded August 9, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Unit (CPEU) for completion of this recorded webinar until August 8, 2025.

Description: Sodium is ubiquitous in the food supply and plays multiple important functional roles in food beyond taste, including preservation, safety, shelf life, dough performance, texture and flavor enhancer. The specific combination of roles and levels needed to achieve e.g., safety differ for various foods. Sodium reduction is therefore not a one-size-fits-all-foods approach; new tools, along with technical innovation and food science expertise, will be required to help the food industry achieve the targets for sodium reduction issued in October 2021 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while producing products that are satisfactory to consumers. Success will require dedication and partnership across suppliers, the food industry, and regulatory and public health agencies. In this session, an update on FDA efforts to support sodium reduction in foods will be provided. An overview of why and how sodium is used in foods, tools for its reduction, and possible ways to maximize the value of sodium-contributing foods will be covered. Finally, the need for cross-sector partnerships and innovation to achieve new goals will be discussed.

Webinar program:

Naomi Fukagawa, MD PhD, USDA ARS – Moderator
Robin Mckinnon, PhD, MPA, US Food and Drug Administration
Mavra Ahmed, PhD, University of Toronto
Christine Nowakowski, PhD, General Mills

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based research and literature in decision-making
  • 6.2.3. Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations
  • 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

“Crash Course” On Design And Interpretation Of Gut Microbiome Research

Recorded July 21, 2022

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is an accredited CPE provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 CPEU for completion of this recorded webinar until May 31, 2024.

Description: Dietitians and other practitioners will be working in the evolving field of gut microbiome science for decades to come. Understanding the fundamentals of research design and interpretation are likely to be core skills. Once research is generated, interpretation and application of findings requires an appreciation for dynamics that extend beyond the food, nutrient, or intervention of interest. Effective application of gut microbiome research requires clinicians to critically appraise methodological elements of research when interpreting results. In this webinar, an overview of best practices for designing and conducting diet-microbiome research in humans will be provided. Topics will include not only intervention study designs but also recruitment tips, sampling methods, important metadata to collect, and more. Attendees will likewise understand important elements to consider when interpreting and applying gut microbiome research.

Webinar program:

Moderator: Mary Lesser, PhD, RD, University of California, Berkeley
Speaker: Sarah Comstock, PhD, Michigan State University
Speaker: Levi Teigen, PhD, RD, University of Minnesota

Q&A and discussion

 

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based research and literature in decision-making.
  • 6.2.2 Selects and uses appropriate tools and skills to collect and interpret research data.
  • 8.1.1 Interprets and applies evidence-based literature and standards for determining nutritional needs of target audiences.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

What Is “Sweetness”? The Biological Drive For Sweet Taste And Role In Quality Of Life For Individuals With T1DM

Recorded July 19, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Unit (CPEU) for completion of this recorded webinar until July 19, 2025.

Description: Several authorities recommend reduction or avoidance of intake of e.g., “sweet flavors”, and suggest that intake of sweet taste in the diet promotes the desire for more sweet, resulting in greater energy intakes. However, the effect of limiting sweet taste on reduction of sugars or energy intake is unknown. In addition, the role of sweetness in the context of sensory perception and the total diet is complex, and the ability to change preference for sweet remains under investigation. Given the biological drive for sweet taste, low- and no- calorie sweeteners (LNCSs) have been acknowledged as a tool for reducing the intake of total carbohydrates, and particularly added sugars, in the nutritional management of diabetes. Although water is the standard of care for individuals with diabetes, LNCSs may help to improve Quality of Life (QoL) when some sweet taste is desired. Reduced QoL can negatively affect diabetes-related outcomes. In this session, the biology of sweet taste and its role in the total diet will be reviewed. In addition, new data from a study assessing the relationship between LNCS use and QoL in adults with Type I Diabetes will be presented.

 

Webinar program:

Ann Coulston, MS RD FADA, Stanford University Medical Center (Retired) – Moderator

Nancy Rawson, PhD MS, Monell Chemical Senses Center

Halis Akturk, MD, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes

Q&A and discussion

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based research and literature in decision-making.
  • 6.2.5 Applies research/evidence-based findings to improve practice, service delivery, and health of customers.
  • 8.1.2 Applies knowledge of food and nutrition as well as the biological, physical, and social sciences in practice.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

IAFNS ACNC: Maternal and Child Diet & Physical Activity

Recorded May 26, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) for completion of this recorded webinar until May 26, 2025.

Description: The session will present the work of Drs. Aline Andres and Taren Swindle, affiliated faculty members at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, exploring life course determinants of health during several critical periods, including preconception, pregnancy and early childhood. Progress in our understanding of maternal programming of offspring metabolism will be summarized, followed by a review of interventions that may mitigate such effects. In addition, maternal determinants of human milk composition that affect child’s growth and body composition will be explored. After a brief presentation of an implementation science framework, the session will focus on the results of an early childcare intervention intended to improve intake of fruits and vegetables in children aged 3 to 5 y. In closing, a review of other implementation projects aiming at improving physical activity in pregnant women and preschoolers will be provided.

Webinar program:

Prenatal and postnatal programming of health - Dr. Aline Andreas, University of Arkansas ACNC

Implementation Science to improve diet and physical activity in early life - Dr. Taren Swindle, University of Arkansas ACNC

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 6.2.3 Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations.
  • 6.4.2 Demonstrates serious inquiry, examination, and experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of knowledge, or the revision of guidelines, theories, policies or laws.
  • 8.1.2 Integrates knowledge of biological, physical, and social sciences with knowledge of food and nutrition to make decisions related to nutrition care.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

IAFNS ACNC: Focus on the Gut and the Brain

Recorded May 23, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) for completion of this recorded webinar until May 23, 2025.

Description: The goal of this webinar is to discuss the effects of the fetal environment and postnatal feeding behaviors on infant gut, immune system and brain health. The speakers will describe data on the role of maternal weight status on brain development, and the impact of chosen feeding regimens on brain and cognitive development and on infant gut and immune system. This will lead to additional information concerning the impact of weight status in children and adolescents on cognitive function and academic achievement. There is increasing interest in the functional interactions between gut and brain development over the lifespan, and the speakers hope to develop this theme over the course of the webinar and to engender discussion on mechanisms to further research in this area.

Webinar program:

The impact of feeding behaviors on cognitive development in children - Dr. Linda Larson-Prior, University of Arkansas ACNC

Diet, activity and body weight status: Impacts on the developing brain - Dr. Xawei Ou, University of Arkansas ACNC

Milk, microbes, and immunity: Lessons from animal models - Dr. Laxmi Yeruva, USDA -ARS, University of Arkansas ACNC

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 6.2.3 Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations.
  • 6.4.2 Demonstrates serious inquiry, examination, and experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of knowledge, or the revision of guidelines, theories, policies or laws.
  • 8.1.2 Integrates knowledge of biological, physical, and social sciences with knowledge of food and nutrition to make decisions related to nutrition care.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

IAFNS ACNC: Early Life Determinants of Metabolic Health Impact of Fitness and Physical

Recorded May 17, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) for completion of this recorded webinar until May 17, 2025.

Description: Maternal obesity predisposes offspring to excessive weight gain in early life. Pediatric obesity impacts normal growth and development and increases cardiometabolic disease susceptibility across the lifespan. In adults, physical fitness is a strong predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause morbidity and mortality. However, the role of early life physical activity and fitness in modifying cardiometabolic health trajectories, and whether the impact of exercise/physical activity interventions vary across different periods of development, are poorly understood. Further, it is unclear how trainable physical fitness is in offspring from parents with obesity and/or low physical fitness. At Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, these questions are studied in the Laboratory for Active Kids and Families and in preclinical novel models.

Webinar program:

ACNC Overview - Dr. Mario Ferruzzi, University of Arkansas ACNC

Obesity, fitness and cardiometabolic health in children - Dr. Elisabet Børsheim, University of Arkansas ACNC

Development and optimization of rodent models to study metabolic health across the lifespan - Dr. Craig Porter, University of Arkansas ACNC

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 6.2.3 Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations.
  • 6.4.2 Demonstrates serious inquiry, examination, and experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of knowledge, or the revision of guidelines, theories, policies or laws.
  • 8.1.2 Integrates knowledge of biological, physical, and social sciences with knowledge of food and nutrition to make decisions related to nutrition care.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

Understanding Gut Microbiota, COVID-19, and Nutrition: Interactions, Interventions, and Unknowns

Recorded April 21, 2022

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is an accredited CPE provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 CPEU for completion of this recorded webinar until April 21, 2025.

Description: It is well-established that the gut microbiota plays a role in regulating the immune system, including modifying the response to viral infections. In fact, research indicates that the severity of COVID-19 is related in part to the composition of the gut microbiota. A microbiota configuration characterized by increased pathobionts and reduced immunoregulatory microbes was associated with poorer outcomes following infection. How can diet and nutrition support the microbiota-dependent immunoregulatory functions? What do we really know today, and what is under investigation? In this webinar, Prof. Liam O’Mahony of APC Microbiome Ireland provides an updated review of these relationships and what is ready for prime-time (or not!) in the patient and client nutrition counseling sphere.

Webinar program:

Maria Morgan-Bathke, MBA, PhD, RD, CD, FAND, Viterbo University  -Moderator

Liam O’Mahony, PhD, APC Microbiome Ireland - Speaker

Q&A and discussion

 

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the state of the science related to how various characteristics of the gut microbiome impact outcomes of COVID-19.
  2. Describe the elements of diet that can support immune responses mediated through the gut microbiome and the strength of the evidence for these relationships.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 6.2.3 Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations.
  • 8.1.1 Interprets and applies evidence-based literature and standards for determining nutritional needs of target audiences.
  • 8.2.1 Engages in educational activities to maintain knowledge and to obtain new knowledge of diseases and clinical conditions.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

Beyond The Headlines: Communicating The Science Of Caffeine

Recorded March 21, 2022

IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.5 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) for completion of this recorded webinar until March 21, 2025.

Description: Approximately 85% of Americans say they consume caffeine every day, but conflicting headlines on caffeine often produce more questions than answers. Is caffeine really safe to consume? How much caffeine is in various products? Are some people more likely to experience negative side effects from caffeine than others? While questions around the safety of caffeine are not new, identifying appropriate methods for responding to consumer concerns in light of scientific advancements and sensationalized media can be a challenge for practitioners, who often serve as a trusted source of information on caffeine for their patients.

This webinar is designed for practitioners who seek to enhance their understanding of the science of caffeine and how to communicate evidence-based messaging to consumers. Participation in this webinar will support the ability of practitioners to evaluate the science of caffeine for various populations and respond to consumer perceptions related to its safety.

This webinar is organized jointly by the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) and the International Food Information Council (IFIC).

Webinar program:

Overview of Caffeine Safety and Sources
Brienna Larrick, PhD, PMP, Scientific Program Manager, IAFNS

Caffeine, Health and the Role of Genetics
Marilyn C. Cornelis, PhD, Associate Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Consumer Perceptions and Behaviors Toward Caffeine: Highlights from IFIC’s Consumer Research
Ali Webster, PhD, RD, Director, Research and Nutrition Communications, IFIC

Using Science Communications to Address Consumer Perceptions
Tony Flood, Sr. Director, Ingredient Communications, IFIC

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 2.1.3 Tailors messages and communication methods to meet the needs of target audiences.
  • 2.2.3 Delivers accurate and credible messaging.
  • 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based research and literature in decision-making.
  • 8.1.2 Integrates knowledge of biological, physical, and social sciences with knowledge of food and nutrition to make decisions related to nutrition care.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

Back to Basics: Understanding Terms and Methods in the Gut Microbiome Space

Recorded March 16, 2022

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is an accredited CPE provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 CPEU for completion of this recorded webinar until March 15, 2025.

Description: Microbiome or microbiota? Healthy microbiome or dysbiosis? Whole genome or shotgun sequencing? Gut microbiome science continues to evolve at a rapid speed – challenging the non-expert to keep up! As nutrition and other healthcare practitioners across many specialties are, and will continue to be, required to respond to questions about gut microbiome, nutrition, and health it is of value to step back and ensure a foundational understanding.

This webinar is designed for the non-expert that seeks to improve the understanding of gut microbiome science – with a focus on common terms and continually evolving methods. Participation will support the ability of practitioners to review and evaluate gut microbiome research and the degree to which it supports dietary recommendations and guidance – now and in the future.

Webinar program:

Sarah Comstock, PhD, Michigan State University - Moderator

The Language of the Microbiome: Terms and concepts (and the danger of jargon)

  • Vincent Young, MD, PhD, University of Michigan

Methods in the gut microbiome space: Common and emerging

  • Henrik Munch Roager, PhD, Copenhagen University

Q&A and discussion

 

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  1. Define and distinguish across terms that are commonly used in the gut microbiome space to support accurate interpretation of research.
  2. Describe both commonly used methods and emerging methods for sample analysis and data translation in the gut microbiome field, to include strengths and limitations of the techniques and the information they provide.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Performance Indicators:

  • 2.1.3 Tailors messages and communication methods to meet the needs of target audiences.
  • 4.1.2 Interprets and integrates evidence-based research and literature in decision-making.
  • 6.2.2 Selects and uses appropriate tools and skills to collect and interpret research data.
  • 8.1.1 Interprets and applies evidence-based literature and standards for determining nutritional needs of target audiences.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey

Establishing in vitro Protein Digestibility as an Alternative to Animal Testing

Recorded June 17, 2021

Continuing Education Hours: IAFNS is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 1.0 Continuing Professional Education Unit (CPEU) for completion of this recorded webinar until June 17, 2024.

Description: As an alternative to animal testing, this session provides the rationale and approach for an inter-laboratory study protocol for the purpose of gaining an official method of analysis status for determining protein digestibility using in-vitro approaches. The primary aim is to gain feedback on this approach from differing stakeholders involved in calculating protein quality for foods and food ingredients.

Opening and Introductions

Kathy Greaves, PhD, Principal Nutrition Scientist, The Kellogg Company

Substantiating Protein Content Claims:  Are there Alternatives to Bioassays?

James House, PhD

Professor, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences

University of Manitoba

Panel Discussion

Additional Panelists

Maya Villeneuve, RD, Health Canada

Elaine Krul, PhD, EKSci, LLC; and others

Q&A

Performance Indicators

  • 4.2.7 Integrates relevant information with previous learning, experience, professional knowledge, and current practice models.
  • 6.2.5 Applies research/evidence-based findings to improve practice, service delivery, and health and nutrition of customers.
  • 8.1.2 Applies knowledge of food and nutrition as well as the biological, physical and social sciences in practice.
  • 8.1.1 Interprets and applies evidence-based comparative standards for determining nutritional needs.

If a CEU certificate is needed, please complete the survey