Appetite For Life with a Twist – Wednesday, September 16, 2020 “Nutrition Risks for COVID-19” was presented via Zoom by Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD. As Covid-19 continues to spread throughout the US, a number of scientists favor the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency provides an opening for infections with many respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2, based on observations in the US and elsewhere around the globe. It is well understood that several factors increase the risk that individuals are deficient in vitamin D: old age, obesity, dark skin tone, and common genetic variants. The currently available evidence is already leaning toward the view that prevention of severe vitamin D deficiency slows SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this premiere of Appetite for Life with a Twist, the NRI’s online series of science-based free, public presentations, Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD, will explain how vitamin D works, what happens to bodies when they are deficient in this nutrient, and what it takes to avoid deficiency. Quarantini Recipe Program Handout View video
Appetite For Life with a Twist @ Johnson & Wales University – Wednesday, October 21, 2020 “Immunity Boosting Recipes” was presented via Zoom. In collaboration with Johnson & Wales University, we were pleased to present this very special online event. Chef Megan Lambert, MS, RD, from Johnson & Wales and Sarah Hreyo, MAS, from the NRI, will come together to demonstrate delicious, healthy cooking while sharing tips for consuming a balanced, nutrition diet with particular focus on immunity boosting. Recipes Nutrition Notes Program video
Appetite For Life with a Twist – November 18, 2020 “The Gillings School of Global Public Health’s COVID-19 Research Response” was presented via Zoom by Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, Associate Dean for Research in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Gordon-Larsen became the Gilling School’s Associate Dean for Research in September 2018. In this role, she leads a schoolwide research program of approximately $200 million in research funding each year. She provides intellectual and strategic leadership and vision for research programs and for supporting and enhancing the School’s research enterprise. Dr. Gordon-Larsen is instrumental in the leadership of COVID-19 research response at the Gillings School. Program video
Appetite For Life with a Twist – Wednesday, January 20, 2021 “New Year’s Wellness Workshop with the NRI” featured multiple nutrition, fitness, and research experts from the UNC Nutrition Research Institute and our local community. The workshops built around some popular New Year’s resolutions and provided advice and inspiration to help you reach your 2021 goals! Program video
Appetite For Life with a Twist – February 24, 2021 “Folate in Human Health and Diseases” presented by Jaspreet Sharma, PhD, a research scientist in the Sergey Krupenko Lab at the NRI. Folate (vitamin B9) is a commonly known vitamin often associated with pregnancy and fetal development. Scientists are now realizing that the role of folate is so diverse, impacting everything from cancer to mental health. The Sergey Krupenko Lab at the NRI believes there are molecular strings in humans which can be impacted by the right combinations of nutrients. We need to identify these links and make them work with the correct balance. Though folate is necessary, over supplementation of folate has its own health concerns. This presentation highlighted the best ways to utilize the health protective properties of folate and prevent the possibility of its adverse effects. Program video. Program PowerPoint
Appetite For Life with a Twist – March 31, 2021 – Keto. Paleo. Mediterranean. We’ve all heard about the different diet options touted as ways to eat healthy. But what about the nutrients these diets provide? What do we really know about nutrients and how they impact our health? As NRI Associate Professor Natalia Krupenko, PhD, presented “Eating Healthy: What Do We really Know About Our Nutrients?” she discussed how to reframe our thoughts about healthy eating away from diets and on to what matters more: nutrients. Program video
Appetite For Life with a Twist – April 22, 2021 – Farm to Fork Cooking Demonstration with Chef Megan Lambert of Johnson & Wales University and the Carolina Farm Trust. This month we partnered with Carolina Farm Trust –just in time to learn more about the spring harvest that can be found on local urban farms in our area! As part of this special Appetite For Life program, after preparing a delicious dinner with Chef Lambert, we took a virtual visit to a local farm to learn more about the CFT mission and enjoy some live music as part of their 2021 Earth Week celebrations. Program video. Nutrition Notes and Recipes
Appetite For Life with a Twist – May 21, 2021 –“Mycotoxins: Invisible Threats to Food Safety and Public Health” presented by Blake Rushing, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition at the Nutrition Research Institute. As humans, we are exposed to many chemicals throughout our lifetime, and our diet is a primary route of exposure for many of these compounds. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring contaminants found in food supplies throughout the world that can have severe impacts on human health. This presentation will cover how mycotoxins make their way into foods, their biological effects, who is at risk of exposure, and how we can reduce our exposure to these food contaminants. Program video. Program PowerPoint
