Hospital patients may now see improved quality and timeliness of nutrition health care and hospitals will save hundreds of millions of dollars annually because of a new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has reached the highest level in the Academy’s 97-year history, representing the ninth consecutive year of membership growth. The Academy’s membership as of April 30 was 75,609, an increase of 542 members from the previous year.
A new USDA mandate calling for access to free drinking water during lunchtime at schools participating in the National School Lunch Program went into effect at the start of the 2011-12 school year. Researchers from the University of Michigan and University of Illinois at Chicago examined compliance with the new requirement as well as perceptions about drinking fountain cleanliness and water quality. The study found that most schools met the new requirement; however, additional measures are needed to promote better access and encourage students to drink more water. Their findings are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Effective nutrition education programs are key to improving the nation’s health, and a new tool from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation is available to strengthen nutrition education programs. The Guide for Effective Nutrition Interventions and Education (GENIE), a validated online checklist tool funded with support from the ConAgra Foods Foundation, is now available to help nutrition education program planners and program evaluators.
Changes announced today to the Nutrition Facts label found on most foods sold in stores represent a significant step forward in helping people understand the label, and connect the label more closely to consumers’ actual behavior, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
With more than one-third of American adults and 17 percent of children categorized as obese, the health of our nation and future generations is truly at stake, making obesity a top priority for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its members.
March is National Nutrition Month®, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to return to the basics of healthful eating. It is also the time of year when the Academy celebrates the contributions and expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists as the food and nutrition experts.
When it comes to choosing what to eat, nutrition is important but flavor is likely the true motivator and also the key to eating right, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This March, during National Nutrition Month®, experiment with new flavors and flavor combinations in healthy meals and “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.”
While taste drives most food choices, eating nutrient-rich foods that provide the most nutrition per calorie is one of the best ways to “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As part of the 2014 National Nutrition Month® theme, the Academy encourages everyone to choose the most nutritionally-packed foods you can from each of the five MyPlate food groups every day.
Make mealtime a family time. If you can get together for meals even a few times a week, family meals mean healthier eating – and more. For National Nutrition Month®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages all families to make a commitment to eating more meals together and “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.”
While social, emotional and health factors play a role in the foods people choose to eat, the foods we enjoy are the ones we eat most. That is why, as part of National Nutrition Month 2014®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right.”
Research confirms that taste is the number-one reason why one food is purchased over another. So what are consumers to do when the taste of favorite foods starts to lose its luster? As part of the 2014 National Nutrition Month® theme, “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right,” the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to explore new foods and flavors, keeping taste and nutrition on your plate at every meal.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Kids Eat Right program joins forces with Team USA Women's Hockey forward Hilary Knight and USOC registered dietitian Alicia Kendig to talk about the importance of kids and families eating right and getting plenty of physical activity. Learn more at www.KidsEatRight.org.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds Congress for passing the Agriculture Act of 2014, a bill commonly referred to as the Farm Bill. The Academy supports this piece of legislation that protects vital nutrition assistance and education programs; includes new initiatives that will improve the health of the nation; and enhances funding for nutrition and agriculture research.
The science of nutritional genomics is an emerging discipline and holds potential for targeting dietary intervention that may affect health, according to a new position paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Healthy adults should consume between 20 percent and 35 percent of their calories from dietary fat, increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, and limit their intake of saturated and trans fats, according to an updated position paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Nutrition education improves fruit, vegetable and low-fat dairy consumption among low-income children and the elderly, according to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed). The results support the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ commitment to nutrition education programs, many of which are directed by registered dietitian nutritionists and Academy members.
While dietary supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs, eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way for most people to obtain the nutrients they need to be healthy and reduce their risk of chronic disease, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Each new year brings family pledges of adopting a healthier and more active lifestyle. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages parents to help their kids learn to make healthier food choices and engage in regular physical activity by being a good role model.
Food allergies are on the rise, and so is the likelihood that one or more of your holiday guests may have a food allergy, food intolerance or celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder that reacts to gluten. Keep guests safe this holiday season with tips from the Home Food Safety program, a collaboration between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and ConAgra Foods.
The reality of existing insurance coverage precludes effective implementation of four newly released cardiovascular guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Academy supports the new guidelines and urges public and private insurance carriers to follow the recommendations so that Americans will have access to health care they deserve.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics commends recent efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to lay the foundation for increasing access to healthy, nutritious foods in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and to improve the program’s integrity.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts, announced November 7, to reduce partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods. PHOs are the primary dietary source of artificial trans fats, which have been proven to raise low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, and increase people’s risk of coronary heart disease.
In the United States, children don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Instead, their diets typically include excessive amounts of sugars and solid fats, counter to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes. A team of investigators implemented a two-year intervention study in low-income, rural areas where a disproportionately higher risk of overweight and obesity habits among children persists, leading to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. The children enrolled in the study consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables. The results are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Consistent messages, effective policies and environmental support in all places where children live, study and play can improve their diet and physical activity habits and help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight, according to an updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Kids Eat Right—a joint initiative of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation which aims to educate families, communities and policy makers about the importance of quality nutrition—has expanded its resources for food and nutrition professionals to address the “hungry and overweight paradox” of food insecurity that threatens the health of the nation’s children.
The Farm Bill currently under debate on Capitol Hill contains many facets, but two may be the most important initiatives affecting the health of the American people: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. One begets the other, but both are crucial to improving the health of our nation and providing opportunity to those who need it the most.
Rising health care costs and people’s increasing desire to take more control of their health are reasons consumers purchase and consume products that potentially offer health benefits beyond “basic nutrition,” according to a newly updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The Academy’s updated position, “Functional Foods,” has been published in the August Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and can be found on the Academy’s website.
Food poisoning causes 48 million illnesses in the U.S. each year, and most recently more than 300 Midwesterners were sickened by an outbreak of cyclospora, a foodborne pathogen. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to reduce their risk with simple safety steps from www.HomeFoodSafety.org and by downloading the free Is My Food Safe? mobile app.
Preventing obesity and chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers is possible through healthful eating habits and a physically active lifestyle, according to a newly updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because diseases can take many years – sometimes decades – to develop, the best prevention is early prevention.
For the first time, researchers investigated enteral nutrition and caloric requirements (CR) among critically ill children in a new report published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This study also showed the value of including registered dietitians in the medical team. Providing early nutritional support through the intestine, or enteral route, to critically ill adults has been an effective strategy to improve the healing process. Using a similar approach with critically ill children, however, may present challenges, such as an inability to accurately estimate CR or an inability to administer the CR because of fluid restrictions, procedures, and other barriers. Despite these perceived challenges and a lack of data, many experts believe that early enteral nutrition should be considered in most Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds new changes by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that aim to lower obesity rates, improve educational achievements and reduce health-care costs. In calling for healthier standards for all foods sold in schools, the USDA has set healthier requirements for foods sold à la carte, in school stores, snack bars and vending machines starting in Fall 2014.
A promising bipartisan bill that increases vital access and reimbursement for obesity screening and counseling services has been introduced in Congress, thanks in part to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2013 represents nearly two years of work by the Academy and its partners, including the Obesity Care Continuum. Under the proposed bill, Medicare recipients would also benefit from improved coverage of new prescription drugs for chronic obesity management.
Prompted by a report issued today by the Institute of Medicine on the consequences of dietary sodium reduction, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to keep their sodium intake within the recommendations of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and to seek the expert advice of a registered dietitian nutritionist for help on their personal sodium intake.
Busy work and family schedules can often lead to women putting their own health on the back burner. During National Women's Health Week, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages women of all ages to make time for regular preventive screenings, as well as eating right and getting regular physical activity.
Celiac disease is estimated to affect one out of 141 of Americans, or just under 1 percent of the population. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages Americans to learn about celiac disease – it can affect your health or someone you love.
There is a strong connection between the food people eat and their oral health, according to a recently updated position paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The Academy’s position paper “Oral Health and Nutrition” was published in the May issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and can be found on the Academy’s website.
While many professional member associations in the United States are experiencing membership declines, membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics rose in the past year to 75,067 – the largest in the Academy’s 96-year history and the eighth consecutive year of growth.
Studies have shown that about 10 percent of men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an elevated resting energy expenditure (REE). Their bodies use more kilocalories for basic functions including circulation, body temperature, and breathing. Most studies have been conducted in men and those with solely women have had small sample sizes. A team of researchers has sought to rectify this with a matched, prospective, cross-sectional study. The results are featured in a new report published by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Consistent access to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food and water is a fundamental human right, and is particularly important in helping developing nations to achieve food and nutrition security, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in its newly updated position paper, Nutrition Security in Developing Nations: Sustainable Food, Water and Health.
This year, half a million Americans will lose their lives to cancer, and more than 1.6 million men and women will be diagnosed with the illness. During Cancer Control Month, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds Americans that eating right can help you prevent cancer and even support your treatment if you’ve already been diagnosed.
Spring is now upon us, welcoming flowers, warmer weather and of course spring cleaning. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics along with ConAgra Foods encourages Americans to give their kitchens a thorough cleaning with tips from the Home Food Safety program’s www.HomeFoodSafety.org.
All registered dietitians are nutritionists – but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. It’s an important distinction that can matter a great deal to your health. To mark Registered Dietitian Day 2013 and to strengthen the link between the science of dietetics and the overall wellness aspects of nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Commission on Dietetic Registration have approved the optional use of the credential “registered dietitian nutritionist” by all registered dietitians.
A system of food production that protects natural resources and the environment is important to everyone’s health, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Academy has published a practice paper to help registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered “meet the growing needs of those seeking guidance on food choices as they relate to ecological sustainability.”
Food preferences, lifestyles, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all affect our food choices. That is why, as part of National Nutrition Month® 2013, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.”
Eating right is essential to keeping your body running at its best. During National Nutrition Month®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds you to build an eating plan with your unique lifestyle and nutritional needs in mind. So whether you’re a vegetarian, student, an athlete, busy parent or a jet-setting executive, it’s important to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.”
March is National Nutrition Month®, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to return to the basics of healthy eating. It is also the time of year when the Academy celebrates the contributions and expertise of registered dietitians as the food and nutrition experts.
March 13 marks the sixth annual Registered Dietitian Day, a day when we recognize the important work of RDs in improving the public health through food and nutrition.
America is a nation of immigrants, with each group adding its cultural traditions, including food, to the country’s shared multi-ethnic experience. As part of National Nutrition Month®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers ways to “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” with foods from all corners of the globe.
If you have a chronic condition like hypertension or diabetes, a carefully planned diet can have a significant impact on managing your symptoms and improving your health. During National Nutrition Month®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages consumers to develop a healthful eating plan that is centered on personal health concerns and “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.”
A new study indicates that medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitians as part of a health benefit plan is an effective, low-cost way of helping people safely lose weight, and that MNT should be considered as a standard part of health insurance plans.