PEN eNews 4(5) February 2015

Milestone birthday celebrations

This past November, I celebrated a milestone birthday. While I don’t especially love the fact that I have hit this milestone, I did have fun celebrating with family and friends by hiring a chef to cater an in-home cocktail party featuring a variety of delectable appetizers. Each time I celebrate a birthday, I think about this sentiment: “Add life to your years, not years to your life.” I use this as a guidepost in my life because it represents a beacon of hope for a bright and positive future. It helps me reframe how I think about having yet another birthday, but more importantly, it reminds me that, like a fine wine, I can get better with age. 

It has been said that a woman should never reveal her age so I'll leave that to your imagination. However, this year, PEN^® will reach a milestone. We are shouting out loud and proud that PEN^® turns 10 years old this September! In lead up to this PEN@10 milestone, we have created a PEN^® Community webpage where we launch our storyboard video which shares our story of how we have grown to become a global resource for nutrition practice. What did we look like 10 years ago? We will post PEN^® archives so you can see how PEN^® has grown and developed. We will also share stories of how dietitians have been impacted by evidence-based dietetic practice. We are proud of the “life” we have added to our years, and hope you will join us in celebrating this PEN@10 milestone birthday.

In this issue of PEN eNews 4(5), we showcase examples of how dietitians are translating evidence-based recommendations into practical guidance. Are plant-based beverages suitable for infants? describes recently published data on infants consuming plant-based beverages and outlines when these beverages can be safely introduced. Using evidence to answer popular questions - all in a days work as a media spokesperson profiles UK dietitian Gemma Sampson (formerly Critchley) and her advice for dietitians engaging in media relations. Australia’s Healthy Weight Week profiles dietitians as the experts in weight loss and healthy eating advice highlights an exciting advocacy campaign occurring this month, including new factsheets, a cookbook, social media toolkit and a Twitter Chat. All this and more in eNews 4(5).

Kristyn Hall MSc, RD
Editor, PEN^® eNews


PEN^® eNews may contain links to other external websites. PENnutrition.com is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such external websites. Dietitians of Canada, Dietitians Association of Australia, Dietitians New Zealand and The British Dietetic Association do not endorse the content, products or services on other websites.

Welcome to the Association for Dietetics in South Africa 

DAA Fellow awarded Member of the Order of Australia

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is extremely proud of one of our esteemed members, Professor Linda Tapsell AM who was announced as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day, 26 January 2015.

Linda received the AM for her outstanding service and dedication to Australian Nutrition and Dietetics; in dietetic education and training, the development of professional competency standards, basic and applied nutrition and dietetic research, national nutrition policy development and publication and editorial leadership.
She spent the first 14 years of her career in hospital clinics and public health before she moved into research, where she has written more than 200 scientific publications while editing journals and chairing various research committees. Linda was appointed a Fellow of DAA in 2005 and previously received an Outstanding Contribution Award. In 2012 she was awarded Honorary Life Membership of DAA. To receive an AM is a wonderful achievement and well-deserved.

What's New in PEN^®

Below is a quick glance at some of the new and updated content in PEN^®. Look for the new and updated symbols in PEN^® to see more new and enhanced content! 

Webinar: Producing PEN^® Pros: 10 Tips and tools to power your practice 

Have access to the PEN^® knowledge database, but need help with how to use PEN^® more efficiently?

How do I…find alerts on PEN®?

 

 

 

Timely alerts and recalls are released from government agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K. regarding food recalls and health risks.  Did you know that timely alerts and recalls are posted in the PEN^® knowledge database?  There are two places one can access alerts and recalls information:

Click on the Food Alerts and Recalls link, and this will you to government links for recalls from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K.2) Within an individual knowledge pathway:
The PEN^® Team receives the Canadian alerts from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and immediately posts nationwide alerts on the website to warn users about items to be aware of. We are evaluating the process for adding nationwide alerts from our partner countries.Each notification is placed in the specific Knowledge Pathway that it relates to. For example, if an alert involved undeclared peanuts being in a certain food product, that alert would appear in the Food Allergies Knowledge Pathway.The Alerts and Recalls notification label automatically appears in the right hand menu bar if there are any alerts listed.If there are no alerts in that Knowledge Pathway, “Alerts and Recalls” does not show up in the right hand menu bar.Some Knowledge Pathways tend to have more alerts and recalls compared to others. For example, the Food Allergies and Food Safety Knowledge Pathways usually have several alerts listed at any given time. This is because a lot of alerts tend to be related to undeclared allergens in packaged foods, concerns around foodborne illness or foreign materials appearing in food products. 

Using evidence to answer popular questions - all in a days work as a media spokesperson

How often can you eat chocolate? Is birch water the next coconut water? Should everyone be eating Paleo? How can you make Christmas healthier? These are typical questions circulated amongst the British Dietetic Association (BDA) media spokesperson team waiting for comment from a dietitian.

Being involved in media relations is time-consuming - why do you do it?

It’s fun! I’ve found that being a media spokesperson really challenges me to stay up-to-date with current nutrition trends, what’s popular and what people are eating and talking about. It’s a good way to stay on my toes as well ensuring my practice is up-to-date. Plus, all that research into the health benefits of the latest ‘superfood’ counts towards continuing professional development (CPD).

What advice do you have for dietitians engaging in media relations?

Establishing strong relationships with journalists are important, because if you are reliable and can provide accurate information within a timely manner they are likely to ask you again. I’ve been approached a number of times this year by freelance journalists working on behalf of leading UK women’s magazines and Tesco Living to comment on pieces they are working with. It doesn’t always end up in print, but it’s establishing those relationships that are important. If they aren’t getting advice from dietitians, they will ask someone else. On a positive note I’m discovering that a number of journalists are actively seeking dietitian out and are now looking for nutrition advice that has solid scientific evidence behind it which is very reassuring.

How do you create a message that is evidence-based while also media-friendly?

One of the first things I do when I have a media request is to check whether there are any reviews on PEN^® relating to the topic of interest. The knowledge pathways and questions are great for quickly finding high quality research on a given topic that can form the basis of my message. I’ll always have key points that I aim to get across with research & references to back them up (if asked). The BDA Food Facts are also great resources and tools to refer to.

Getting straight to the point is key, but doing so in an interesting an engaging way that is approachable and realistic. Knowing your target audience is also important, as that will influence your language and the phrases you might use during an interview or within comments. If it’s a phone interview I’ll also prepare notes on related topics as there is a tendency to get thrown curve balls to try to catch you off guard.

Why do you think it’s important for dietitians to be active within the media?

We live in a media-savvy society where people turn to Google and online bloggers for their standard nutrition and health advice. Many people are still unsure of the differences between dietitians, nutritionists or nutrition experts leaving wide gaps in the quality of information out there. By getting involved as dietitians on social media and engaging with journalists and media in all its formats we can further promote our profession and address inaccurate advice.

If you are thinking of getting involved in social media, there are some great resources with the BDA, or DAA on dietitians within social media, within PEN on social media and media relations as well as regular training workshops which I’d thoroughly recommend.

Written by Gemma Sampson (formerly Critchley), RD, APD, MSc PHN
Senior R&D Dietitian Vitaflo International & BDA Media Spokesperson
www.dietitianwithoutborders.com
@dietnoborders

Are plant-based beverages suitable for infants?

While there is evidence that eating more plant foods is of benefit to our health, the trend for consuming plant-based beverages has recently highlighted concerns of feeding these beverages to infants and young children. 

Australia	After 12 months of age and under the supervision of a health care professional, fortified soy drink or calcium-enriched, full fat rice or oat drinks may be introduced (5). Alternative sources of protein and B12 should be added to the diet.
Canada	After two years of age, soy, rice, almond and coconut beverages may be introduced (6). After six months of age, full fat, fortified, unflavoured soy can be given as an occasional complementary food.
New Zealand	For toddlers, plant-based beverages fortified and supplemented with vitamin D, B12, riboflavin and calcium may be provided (7).
United Kingdom	After 12 months of age, full fat, fortified, unsweetened soy beverage may be given as part of a good, mixed diet (8). Rice milk is not recommended for toddlers and young children due to the potentially high levels of arsenic (8).

 

An international dietetic exchange program prepares future dietitians for culturally competent practice and dietetics

While the language of evidence is universal, how evidence is applied to practice can be different. An international exchange program between Wayo Women’s University (WWU) located in Japan and Brescia University College (BUC), located in Canada, provides an experience where students from each university can begin to learn about these differences.
Brescia University College, Canada

Wayo Women's University, Japan

Both WWU and BUC are all-women universities that work to empower their students to prepare them to be leaders in their chosen careers. The program began with a dream between myself and a dietitian friend working in Canada, to help students learn about leadership and diversity in practice settings. My friend introduced me to BUC; following discussions among the department heads at each university a Memorandum of Academic Cooperation agreement was signed and the program officially began in 2012!The education the girls receive through our exchange program goes beyond the classroom to teach them about the education, health care system and dietetic practices in each country. During their three-week exchange, students are exposed to the culture, food, major health issues that are affecting the country's health system, and dietetic education, training, regulatory, policy and practice standards unique to each country. Each year, the students have a great experience and I am very happy to be able to bring my students to Canada each year as a leader.Moreover, my experiences in Canada have deepened my understanding of the dietetic education system, which allowed me to critically reflect on dietetic practices and education in Japan. While in Canada, I was able to speak to the professors at BUC to learn about their specific research goals and objectives and in the future we hope to collaborate in some research endeavors. I have also made connections with many other Registered Dietitians in Canada, and each year we continue to learn through our cross-cultural connections.Registered Dietitians around the world all share the similar goal of trying to improve the health of their population. One tool that has been helpful to the students in understanding dietetics around the world is PEN^®. And although English is a second language for many WWU participants, following the exchange program, many of the students learn the value of PEN^® as a global resource and make strides to use it.This exchange program has operated for the last four years, and I hope it will continue for a very long time. The maximum number of students that can participate each year is six. From BUC, there were two students in 2012, six in 2013 and four in 2014. From WWU, there were three students in 2012 and in 2013 and two in 2014. An overview of the program to date was presented at the Women's Education Worldwide Conference in January, 2013: Increasing Collaboration and Cultural Competence of Students in Food and Nutrition Through International Exchange Programs.

PEN^® is turning 10!

In lead up to this PEN@10 milestone, we have created a PEN^® Community webpage where we have launched our storyboard video which shares our story of how we have grown to become a global resource for nutrition practice. Come by our page and watch our storyboard video. 

Australia’s Healthy Weight Week profiles dietitians as the experts in weight loss and healthy eating

Kick-start healthy eating habits – cook more meals at home!  These are the themes of this year’s Australia’s Healthy Weight Week (AHWW), an initiative of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) celebrated from 16 – 22 February.  Of course, we are also promoting Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) as the experts in weight loss and healthy eating advice.  

AHWW provides Australian consumers with nutrition fact sheets, including information sourced from PEN’s Food Skills Background. Our online cookbook and social media toolkit are available to download and use for free. There are more 350 events (the most since AHWW began in 2008) registered by APDs around the country, and DAA will be hosting a live Twitter chat on Wednesday 18 February, 8.00pm – 9.00pm AEDST for an hour of healthy cooking inspiration. Nutrition experts, cooks, foodies and health enthusiasts will join in the conversation with the official Australia’s Healthy Weight Week Twitter handle, @HealthyWtWk. Participants will be encouraged to hashtag their Tweets with #AHWW. Twitter Chat: What you need to know
When: Wednesday 18 February 8pm-9pm AEDST  (Note: find out what time and date it will be in your part of the world: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
Where: On Twitter. Follow the chat by searching #AHWW
Topic: Inspiring adults to participate in healthy home cooking and to choose the correct portion sizes. DAA contact: Emma Jones APD ejones@daa.asn.au 02 6163 5226

11 Resources to help you communicate around cleanses and detoxes

Unless you’re a heroin addict, you probably don’t need to detox. Here’s why.  When we shared this story on our PEN® Facebook page, we had no idea it would become our most popular post yet, reaching over 72,000 people!  Between this story, and a whole host of stories on detox, written around the world, we know this is a topic that dietitians continue to be asked about in their professional and personal networks. 
A recent review described detox diets as “short-term interventions designed to eliminate toxins from the body, promote health and assist with weight loss.” (1).  Detoxes range from total fasting to food modification, with or without laxatives, diuretics, vitamins, minerals and specific foods. Detoxes and cleanses rest on the idea that the human body accumulates toxins due to exposure in the environment (pesticides, pollutants, plastics), in our food supply or from inadequate disposal of metabolic waste (2). In their review, Klein and Klat (1) outline a summary of environmental and food chemicals, as well as commercial detox diets designed to remove them. While evidence is lacking on the effectiveness of these diets (1,3), consumers remain curious about detoxes and cleanses.  Dietitians have responded to detox dietsWe know dietitians are working hard in the nutrition jungle to cut through the clutter of nutrition misinformation. We have all seen that when a poor quality diet is replaced with a diet that nourishes, feelings of improvement are often experienced.  We have observed several dietitians respond to stories on detox diets in popular media, in social media and in blog posts, highlighting confounding variables that may explain the espoused benefits of detoxing or cleanses (Examples are here, here, here and here). We offer congratulations to all dietitians who share an evidence-based perspective that at times may be opposite to popular beliefs or perceived as unsexy.One aspect of detox diets that we thought was a unique perspective from the dietetic community was around how detoxes may alter our relationship with food.  As stated in the concluding paragraph of Klein and Klat’s review on detox diets (1): “equating food with sin, guilt and contamination is likely to set up an unhealthy relationship with nutrition.” Talking with our clients and colleagues about detoxes and cleanses provides an opportunity to bridge back to healthful eating. “Sounds like you really care about your health” is one example of a neutral response in these kinds of conversations. Becoming curious about what is meant by the “cleanse” and “detoxes” can help provide a starting point for dietitians to build this bridge. To help you cut through the nutrition clutter of misinformation, we have pulled together 10 resources that can help you build your evidence-based responses to questions received around detoxes and cleanses.Eleven resources to help you cut through the nutrition clutter around detoxes and cleanses:

1. Evidence Clip – Is “Cleansing” Healthy?
2. Information on cleansing diets
3. Bowel Cleansing Toolkit  
4. BDA Food Fact Sheet – Detox diets
5. Ask a Food and Nutrition Specialist – Detox Diets: Do they Offer Any Health Benefits?
6. Evidence Clip – The Popular Paleo Diet
7. Mindful Eating Resources
8. Mindful Eating Presentation
9. Mindful Eating in Action
10. Mindful Eating Diary
11. PEN Handout Collection – Healthy Living

Reference:

1. Klein AV1, Kiat H. Detox diets for toxin elimination and weight management: a critical review of the evidence. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2014 Dec 18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25522674
2. Orwell S.  Detoxes: An undefined scam: why you feel good during a detox.  Jan 21, 2015.  Available from http://examine.com/blog/detoxes-an-undefined-scam/).
3. Dietitians of Canada.  Evidence Clip – Is “Cleansing” Healthy?  In Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition®.  2-15 Jan 26. December 2014 [cited Jan 26, 2015].  Available from http://www.pennutrition.com/KnowledgePathway.aspx?kpid=4495&trid=22026&trcatid=496

Written by: Kristyn Hall MSc, RD
PEN^® eNews editor and social media lead. eNews@pennutrition.com

thank you to our international working group PEN^® volunteers

PEN^® international working groups include dietitians with expertise to a specific topic areas from across all the partner countries who are working collaboratively to synthesize evidence for a practice area. Please take a moment to read and acknowledge your colleagues who have helped as authors, or peer reviewers for PEN^® content as part of our PEN^® International Working Groups. 

 

Nephrology

 

BDA

Harriet Williams

Jane Alderdice

Nevine El-Sherbini

Julie Hannah

 

DAA/DNZ

Ruth Dumont

Kim Ashcroft

Maria Chan 

Emma McMahon 

 

DC

Kim Fisher

Lynsay Clark

Colleen Bell
Bethany Singleton

 

Cystic Fibrosis

 

DAA/DNZ 

Nicole Saxby

Paul O’Neill
Catherine Painter
Angela Matson
Karen Herd
Jenna Stonestreet
Juliette Mahero
Annabel Biven
Catherine Bonifant
Katie Vardy
Aurora Avedillo
Andrea Kench
Tamarah Katz
Sarah McKay
Denise Wong See
Clare Rawcliffe
Kelly Josh
Nicole Sander
Kirrilee Waterhouse
Peter Maree
Johanna Boyle
Maria Makrides
Natalie Forgione
Jodi Grunert
Natalie VanderHaak
Bhey Orwin
Indi Swan
Jacqui Anderson
Rachael Cavanagh
Kirsten Ford
Audrey Tierney
Evelyn Volders
Lisa Guest
Jenny Heyward
Julie Graves
Tory Crowder

 

DC:

Daina Kalnins
Lisa Mannik
Sofia Alexantonakis

BDA:
Ann Ashworth
 

PCOS

 

BDA

Yvonne Jeanes