Vitamin & Mineral Supplementation in Canada

  Image credit: 500 mg calcium supplements with vitamin D

This afternoon I was reading the June issue of the Dietitians of  Canada (DC) newsletter that, among several articles pertinent to my practice,  features Dr.  Susan Whiting's recent presentation on Vitamin & Mineral Supplementation in Canada.

Some much-anticipated preliminary research results were presented on Thursday, May 8 at the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research's annual Partners' Breakfast.  Susan Whiting, PhD, University of Saskatchewan, spoke about her project on vitamin and mineral supplementation in Canada.

The research project, which is nearing completion, is a collaborative project between CFDR and Dietitians of Canada. The project had three main objectives:

1. to identify who in Canada is at risk for nutrient deficiency

2. to look at the attitudes, knowledge and practices of vitamin and mineral use, and

3. to identify research knowledge gaps with respect to vitamin and mineral use.

While the research team is still gathering data and the project is not quite complete yet, Susan was able to answer some preliminary questions....

If you are a DC member, you can read the entire newsletter article here.  But the main reason I'm highlighting this article is that everyone can download Dr. Whiting's presentation from the public side of the DC website.  (Kudos to DC for uploading this Powerpoint presentation and making it widely available.) 

More notes to self

Not elegant or particularly innovative but it's been getting the jobs done this past week: the latest version of my daily worksheet:  Worksheet (version 2.0)

This version has a second page for recording information about patients who are eating.  In my work environment, this means keeping track of  dysphagic patients' specific diet modifications and intakes.

 Feel free to tweak the content and format to meet your needs.  I'm still aiming for a simpler format so you will probably see version 3.0.

Notes to self

 

Image credit: Squiggy gets things done in his dreams by bulldog1. 

 

Note to readers: This post likely will be of interest only to dietitians, dietetic interns, and dietetics students but as always, everyone is welcome to read it.  

Today I'm sharing a simple tool for coping with some of my workday complexity:  a template for recording patient information and workload measurement data.  Even though I read and/or print several computer lists and reports every morning (e.g., patients listed by unit, patients' diet orders, lab reports) as well as write nutrition notes in the medical record, I need a supplementary, quick-to-use system to keep me on track and on time. I also need a concise summary of patients' statuses and care plans for colleagues who may be taking on my patient assignment if I'm away.

So this afternoon I "tweaked" the latest version for tube feeding patients. (I have a slightly different form for dysphagic patients who are eating.)  While scrutinizing the form just before publishing this post, I thought of another helpful feature: a section to list time-sensitive tasks or activities such as meetings or project deadlines. Then,  after reviewing my calendar in the morning,  I wouldn't need to refer to it again that day,  except to record new entries.

Feel free to copy and adapt any parts of the worksheet that might help you cope with information volume and complexity,  competing demands on your time and attention,  detours and distractions.  This tool may not  come close to meeting your needs. But I also have another reason for sharing it: to stimulate discussion and find out  your preferred method for "remembering the milk" and freeing up your mind for thinking? Do you prefer paper-based or computer-based systems and tools?

Link to Worksheet

Greens, berries & other traditional foods of the Nuxalk Nation

 

Image credit: Yellow-salmonberries by Apv.

Today while helping a colleague find information on the nutritional composition of indigenous foods,   I discovered the Community Food System Data Tables of the Nuxalk Nation, part of the McGill University's Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment.

For quick and easy access, I'm including the links to the specific data tables here but I encourage you to read the  background information and user notes on the web page so you can appreciate the research behind the tables as well as understand and apply the food and nutrient information knowledgeably.

Fish and Seafood [.pdf]
Game [.pdf]
Wild Berries [.pdf]
Greens, Roots and Other Plants [.pdf]

Even if you don't need this information now or think you will in the near future, it's fascinating and well worth a look.  In particular and not unexpectedly,  I'm interested in learning more about the wild greens and berries.

What to Eat: Personal Responsibility versus Social Responsibility

 

Image credit: InsideLoeb by Sean Lavallée

Usually I don't recommend a resource until I've finished reading it -- or in this case, listening to it. But I think it's safe to make this exception:  What to Eat: Personal Responsibility versus Social Responsibility, the podcast of Marion Nestle's presentation at Stanford University on iTunes U.

Yesterday during my afterwork walk,  I listened to  Dr. Nestle discuss research on why people eat more, supermarket "rules" and marketing to children. Her talk entertained, informed and, I admit, dismayed me.  But I think my dismay will be turning into optimism.  I've saved the  last 25 minutes for this afternoon's listening pleasure.  The topic:  the social movements arising from current food issues, e.g.,  eating local, slow food, organic food, humane treatment of animals.

Here's how to find this podcast on iTunes U.

• Go to the iTunes Store. 
• Select iTunes U. 
• Then select these links:  Stanford -> Health and Medicine ->  Healthy Living. This talk is #13.