How Registered Dietitians Can Improve the Health of Americans and Save Health Care Dollars

A registered dietitian (RD) serves as an integral liaison in helping individuals and communities make changes for a healthy delicious diet.

Here are some examples of how RDs can improve the health of Americans and save health care dollars:

1. You have prediabetes and want to stave off diabetes. A registered dietitian can change your life by teaching you skills that will help you lose and keep off weight and keep diabetes at bay.
2. Your community has high levels of obesity. A registered dietitian can work with public health, government, school and other local leaders to create wellness programs that promote healthful eating and physical activity for everyone.
3. You are a marketing manager for a large food company and know consumers’ preference for good-tasting food that is healthy. A registered dietitian can make the connection and work with your food scientists to develop new products that will be successful in the marketplace.
4. You want to improve your performance in sports. A registered dietitian can help you set goals to achieve results — whether you’re running a marathon, skiing or jogging with your dog.
5. You have had gastric bypass surgery. Since your stomach can only manage small servings, it’s a challenge to get the right amount of nutrients in your body. A registered dietitian will work with you to develop an eating plan for your new needs.
6. You realize you need to feed your family healthier foods but you do not cook. A registered dietitian who has special culinary skills can teach you how to cook in a simple, convenient way.
7. Your teenager has issues with food and eating healthfully. A registered dietitian can assist with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and overweight issues.
8. Your community wants more local foods to be available. A registered dietitian can lead efforts to make sure foods will not only be healthy but also will positively affect the local economy.
9. You just had your first child, are concerned the baby is not eating enough and need help and confidence for breastfeeding. A registered dietitian can provide guidance and assurance that you and your infant are getting enough iron, vitamin D, fluoride and B vitamins.
10. Your mother, who is increasing in age, wants to stay in her home. A registered dietitian leading a local congregate dining and home delivered meals program can obtain a nutrition screening to make sure this happens.

 

Information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). The Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.

20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables

Building a healthy plate is easy when you make half your plate fruits and vegetables. It’s also a great way to add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. All this is packed in fruits and vegetables that are low in calories and fat. Make 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables your daily goal.

 

Try the following tips to enjoy more fruits and vegetables every day.

1. Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza toppings. Try broccoli, spinach,   green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.
2. Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana.
3. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.
4. Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite low-fat salad dressing for dipping.
5. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
6. Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges.
7. Keep  cut vegetables handy for mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or a quick nibble while waiting for dinner. Ready-to-eat favorites: red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrots, celery sticks, cucumbers, snap peas or whole radishes.
8. Place colorful fruit where everyone can easily grab something for a snack-on-the-run. Keep a bowl of fresh, just ripe whole fruit in the center of your kitchen or dining table.
9. Get saucy with fruit. Puree apples, berries, peaches or pears in a blender for a think sweet sauce on grilled or broiled seafood or poultry, or on pancakes, French toast or waffles.
10. Stuff an omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese.
11. "Sandwich" in fruits and vegetables. Add pizazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumber and tomato as fillings.
12. Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
13. Top a baked potato with beans and salsa or broccoli and low-fat cheese.
14. Microwave a cup of vegetable soup as a snack or with a sandwich for lunch.
15. Stock your freezer with frozen vegetables to steam or stir-fry for a quick side dish.
16. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas or edamame (fresh soybeans). Top with low-fat dressing.*
17. Fruit on the grill: Make kabobs with pineapple, peaches, and bananas. Grill on low heat until fruit is hot and slightly golden.
18. Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.
19. Make fruit your dessert: Slice a banana lengthwise and top with a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of chopped nuts.
20. Dip: Whole wheat pita wedges in hummus, baked tortilla chips in salsa, strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt, or graham crackers in applesauce. 

 

Information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). The Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.

Flaxseed Benefits and Use

The nation’s interest in flaxseed has exploded in recent years as flaxseed is thought to have many beneficial effects on the body. Flaxseed is the seed from the Linum usitatissimum plant, and the seed and seed oil are used as food as well as in many medications.  Common food products that contain flaxseed include crackers and oatmeal. Flaxseed contains protein and offers many nutritional and health benefits. The main three nutritional benefits of flaxseed are:

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Flaxseed contains alpha-linoleic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. These fatty acids are considered “healthy fats,” and can help improve heart health, lower triglyceride levels, and aid in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. One tablespoon of ground flaxseed has around 1.8 grams of omega-3.
• Lignans. Lignans are compounds with phytoestrogenic properties. These properties allow lignans to help lower blood cholesterol and to treat atherosclerosis. Lignans in flaxseed have been shown to reduce total cholesterol levels and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in the blood. However, flaxseed does not appear to improve HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Lignans also have antioxidant properties which help protect the body’s cells from harmful compounds called free radicals. Flaxseed may contain as much as 800 times more lignans than most other plant foods.
• Fiber. Flaxseed contains both soluble and insoluble fibers. Fiber is an important part of digestive health, weight maintenance, and blood cholesterol control. Fiber from flaxseed may help manage constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or irritable colon, diverticulitis (inflammation of the lining in the large intestine), ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the large intestine lining), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), and enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine). Although flaxseed may help with the above conditions, it is not advised for all. If taken without sufficient water, flaxseed can cause constipation or even a bowel obstruction Most of the fiber found in flaxseed is located in the seed coat, so consuming flaxseed oil will not provide a significant amount of fiber.

In addition to the wonderful benefits discussed above, research indicates that flaxseed may play a protective role against cancer including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Flaxseed may lower blood glucose and A1C levels in some individuals, which is important for diabetes management. However, it is important that diabetes patients monitor their blood glucose closely when they supplement with flaxseed as their blood glucose can drop too low. Flaxseed is also thought to protect against cardiovascular disease. Additionally, flaxseed may be effective in managing mild menopausal symptoms. Taking 40 mg of flaxseed by mouth each day reportedly reduces the frequency of hot flashes and night sweats in menopausal women.  

Flaxseed can be purchased in multiple forms, including flax (or flaxseed) oil, flax meal (ground flaxseed), and whole flaxseed. Flaxseed oil should be kept refrigerated. To get the most nutritional benefit, consume flaxseed within 24 hours of grinding. Flaxseed can easily be incorporated into many foods such as baked goods, dark meats, oatmeal, and smoothies. Before supplementing your diet with flaxseed, consult your doctor. Until more information is known about flaxseed, pregnant and lactating women are not encouraged to supplement their diet with flaxseed. Furthermore, because flaxseed can slow down the blood clotting process, individuals with bleeding disorders should not use flaxseed supplements.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Heidel, MS, RD Eligible