Profnet Wire: Health & Medicine 1-13-05

ROUND-UP: NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES

Following are experts who can discuss the updated dietary guidelines released
by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture on Jan. 12:

**21. GEORGE BROOKS, exercise physiologist and professor of integrative biology at the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKLEY, served on a National Academies' Institute of Medicine panel that spent 2.5 years reviewing nutritional studies conducted in the past decade, then issued a report in 2002 that provided detailed criteria yet for deciding what levels of fat, carbohydrate and protein Americans should aim for in their diet: "Instead of recommendations based on age, height and weight alone, we're basically saying, 'You tell me what exercise you do, and I'll tell you what you can eat.'"

**22. RONALD M. KRAUSS, adjunct professor of nutritional sciences at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY and a staff senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, studies how genes determine the body's response to dietary fats and cholesterol. Krauss served on a National Academies' Institute of Medicine panel that spent 2.5 years reviewing nutritional studies conducted in the past decade, then issued a report in 2002 that provided detailed criteria yet for deciding what levels of fat, carbohydrate and protein Americans should aim for in their diet.

**23. LISA TALAMINI, RD, chief nutritionist and program director for JENNY CRAIG, INC., has been involved in the nutrition field for nearly 25 years and works very closely with the members of Jenny Craig's Medical Advisory Board to incorporate the most effective philosophies, tools, and research into their weight loss and weight-management programs. Talamini can speak comfortably about steps families can take to make sure they’re meeting the new dietary guidelines.

**24. SHALENE MCNEILL, Ph.D., RD, senior manager of nutrition communications for the Austin-based TEXAS BEEF COUNCIL and board member volunteer for the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (Texas Division), currently serves as chair of that group’s nutrition and physical activity committee and is a member of the health science advisory committee. McNeill also is a member of the board of directors of the Texas Dietetic Association and serves as president. In addition, she is a member of the San Antonio Dietetic Association. In 1999, McNeill was named a Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year by the American Dietetic Association.

**25. DR. EARL MINDELL, professor of nutrition at PACIFIC WESTERN UNIVERSITY, master herbalist and registered pharmacist, is an authority on the proper and effective use of nutritional and dietary supplements, and is the author of "The Vitamin Bible" and "The Diet Bible." Mindell has also appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Live With Regis & Kathy Lee." Mindell is also a developer of a complete nutritional program that helps people cleanse, detoxify, fortify, replenish and protect their bodies. His new research is on the goji berry, a nutritionally dense food that can give arthritis relief, boost the immune system and provide anti-oxidants.

**26. DR. SUSAN HEWLINGS, assistant professor at STETSON UNIVERSITY in DeLand, Fla., is a registered and licensed dietitian who teaches nutrition, wellness and exercise physiology. Last year, Hewlings studied protein and fat metabolism at the University of Texas Medical Branch/Shriners Burn Institute. She is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist who has been involved in the fitness industry for more than 10 years. She is currently writing a nutrition textbook for Prentice Hall Publishing and has authored a section on eating disorders for the American Dietetics Association's online clinical care manual.

**27. KEECHA HARRIS, DRPH, RD, principal of HARRIS AND ASSOCIATES, a consulting firm based in Sterrett, Ala., has a clientele that includes community-based organizations, advocacy groups, local/federal government, corporations, academia and philanthropists. Harris is an expert on nutrition and has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, National Public Radio, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and the World Congress on Child & Youth Health. She was selected for the first class of WK Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Policy Fellows, a national group that communicates messages on food systems to inform consumers, media and decision makers.

**28. KAREN CHALMERS, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., manager of nutrition services and coordinator of the insulin pump program at the JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER and co- author of "16 Myths of a 'Diabetic Diet,'" moderates nutrition and insulin pump discussion boards on Joslin's Web site. She is an excellent resource on nutrition guidelines, healthy eating, fad diets, exercise, diet myths for people with diabetes, diabetes education and online discussion boards.

**29. JOANNE IKEDA is co-director of the Center for Weight and Health at the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY and a nutrition education specialist at the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. Ikeda's research and outreach encompass fad diets; weight-loss products; children and weight; child obesity; body image and body satisfaction; semi-starvation diets; healthy weight management; diets of minority population; cross-cultural nutrition education; and cultural food habits.

**30. PATRICIA CRAWFORD is the co-director of the Center for Weight and Health at the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY and a nutrition specialist for the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. Crawford’s research and outreach covers child obesity, assessment of child growth, childhood eating patterns, osteoporosis prevention in childhood and building community coalitions to promote healthy environments.

**31. TONI LIQUORI, director of food and nutrition services at the COMMUNITY FOOD RESOURCE CENTER (CFRC) in New York City, has focused on the quality of foods available through publicly funded programs in schools and emergency food programs. Responsible for the development of several initiatives that feature cooking as a touchstone of community engagement, Liquori has most recently been involved in establishing market relationships between regional farms and food purchasing institutions. She teaches in the graduate nutrition and education program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

**32. SUSAN L. ROBERTS, president of SUE ROBERTS HEALTH CONCEPTS, a health and wellness consulting firm, and consultant for the Drake Law School Agricultural Center, integrates food, agriculture, health and law in developing strategies for safer, sustainable food systems. Roberts' education, experience and passion gives her a visionary approach to address and solve problems, from working on international food security and health, engaging individuals through the media, providing innovative ideas to business, collaborating with legal firms or working on policy with institutes, NGOs or government. Roberts has appeared on CBS News Radio and PBS' "NewsHour."

**33. OSAMA HAMDY, M.D., PH.D., obesity researcher and clinician at the JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER and faculty member at HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, is an endocrinologist and an expert in obesity as it relates to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, the role of body fat, type 2 diabetes prevention, health policy issues related to obesity, and the role of exercise in managing diabetes and its complications. His research focuses on the effects of lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) on vascular function in the obese with and without type 2 diabetes.

**34. LIZ MARR, M.S., R.D., registered dietitian and co-founder of MARR BARR COMMUNICATIONS in Longmont, Colo., is an expert in dietary guidance to the public with 20 years of nutrition education experience. Marr consults with numerous food and beverage marketers regarding nutrition and health and her expertise includes how consumers make meaningful, sustainable changes related to food, nutrition and health.

**35. FERGUS M. CLYDESDALE, Ph.D., functional foods expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, served on the USDA expert panel that recommended revisions for the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines. He is an expert in diet and health; dietary guidelines and advice; functional foods; food laws; policy and regulations; food additives and more. He is the chair of the forthcoming Expert Report on Functional Foods commissioned by the Institute of Food Technologists. Clydesdale is also the former chair of IFT's expert panel on food safety and nutrition.

**36. MARY ELLEN CAMIRE, Ph.D., functional food expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, is an expert on diet and health; functional foods; fortification; diabetes and diet; fiber; dietary guidelines and advice; health claims; herbs and botanicals; dietary supplements and more. Camire specializes in dietary supplements and healthful food components, and sensory evaluation during new product development.

**37. ERIC ZALTAS M.S., staff nutritionist at POWERBAR INC., is available as media resource for comment on the new dietary guidelines and to offer health, exercise and lifestyle tips to help consumers follow the government’s new recommendations. Zaltas holds an M.S. in nutrition. At PowerBar, Zaltas oversees nutrition research and assists with new product development.

**38. ROGER A. CLEMENS, Ph.D., M.P.H., functional foods expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, is an expert on diet and health; dietary guidelines and advice; nutrition and metabolism; vitamins/minerals; dietary supplements; fad diets; functional foods; nutritional factors influencing public health and more.

**39. JOANNE L. SLAVIN, Ph.D., R.D., nutrition expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, is an expert on diet and health; nutrition; cereals and grains; fiber; carbohydrates; antioxidants; cardiovascular disease; cancer and diet; phytochemicals; probiotics and more.

**40. MARK A. KANTOR, Ph.D., nutrition expert at the INSTITUTE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS, is an expert on dietary guidelines and advice; public health aspects of nutrition; weight management; diet and health; vegetarian diets; cancer and diet; cholesterol and more.

**41. MEREDITH H. LUCE, M.S., R.D., LD/N, of DIET DIRECTIVES, is a nutrition and diet professional with 20 years experience, including 14 years counseling in private practice. Luce's media experience includes TV, radio, local and national publications, and public presentations. She has the ability to integrate the science of nutrition with the art of eating in informative and creative presentations. Luce is also the co-author of "The Winning Edge of Sports Nutrition: From Amateur to World Class."

**42. DR. DIANA SCHWARZBEIN, of the ENDOCRINOLOGY INSTITUTE OF SANTA BARBARA and author of "The Schwarzbein Principle," is an expert on fat, hormones, anti-aging and metabolic healing.

_____ LEADS

**1. MANAGEMENT: 2006 MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT TO DRAMATICALLY IMPACT NURSING HOMES. DAVID J. FARBER, partner at PATTON BOGGS LLP, is counsel to the nation's leading long-term care pharmacies and an authority on existing Medicaid drug reimbursement issues and the new 2006 Medicare drug benefit: "The MMA, and especially its implementing regulations, will fundamentally alter the way nursing-home residents receive their prescription drugs. Many of the changes are only now just becoming known. As important, the entire drug distribution and long-term care pharmacy structure will be affected by these changes, and new winners and losers, many to be determined, will emerge in the coming months and years."

**2. MANAGEMENT: PHYSICIAN, DIGITIZE THYSELF -- RETURNING TO IT REALITY. JOHN R. THOMAS, CEO of MEDSYNERGIES: "Physician, digitize thyself -- this will be the rule in 2005. The heady promise of federal funding for health IT, made in the election year, has disappeared. Physicians and medical groups will need to fund new IT systems themselves. Fortunately, new types of financial software pay for themselves by increasing revenues and reducing denied claims. This makes it possible for physicians to take the first step towards a paperless office."

**3. MENTAL HEALTH: THE LIFE OF ROSEMARY KENNEDY'S LOBOTOMIST. JACK EL-HAI, author of "The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness," a biography about Walter Freeman, the infamous physician who lobotomized the late Rosemary Kennedy (JFK's sister) and some 3,400 other Americans between 1936 and 1967: "When Rosemary Kennedy died on Jan. 7, we lost a promising life and one of our last survivors from the lobotomy era. Freeman built his astounding career on his scientific brilliance and personal flaws."

**4. NUTRITION: AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. DR. MARK IZZO, renowned food scientist at ORAFTI ACTIVE FOOD INGREDIENTS, believes Americans need to be better educated about the safety of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners: "Aspartame is found in Equal, while Sweet'N Low is a saccharin product. Splenda is made by bonding sucralose with chlorine, and Ideal You is made with all-natural ingredients and insulin. And now that the feds have introduced yet new dietary guidelines again, Americans need to hear a clear and consistent message to make the most informed decisions."

**5. NUTRITION: A LOW-CARB DIET MAY INCREASE FERTILITY. DR. RONALD FEINBERG, founder and medical director of the REPRODUCTIVE ASSOCIATES OF DELAWARE and author of "Healing Syndrome O": "With approximately 29 percent of people on diets this month, this month's Low-Carb Awareness Month is bringing increased attention to low-carb dieting. It may seem a fad to some, but what most people don't know is that low-carbing is a lifestyle for not only those with conditions like diabetes and Syndrome O, but women who are trying to conceive. Excess sugar or insulin in the blood caused by excess carbs can disrupt hormones, thereby making it difficult to conceive."