Nutrition Conversations

Few nutrition topics have generated as much heat—and as little clarity—as seed oils. They are often blamed for inflammation, chronic disease, and poor metabolic health, yet they are also some of the most studied fats in human nutrition. Dr. Jessie Burns is a clinical scientist and consultant with a PhD in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Guelph, where her doctoral research focused on dietary fatty acids, inflammation, and chronic disease prevention. She also completed postdoctoral training in clinical women’s health research at Carleton University before transitioning from academia into a non-academic career in clinical science and evidence-based medicine. In her current roles, she collaborates with clinicians, industry partners, researchers, and health organizations to review, appraise, and synthesize complex scientific evidence for clinical guidance, knowledge translation, and education. Though she has formally left academia, she continues to collaborate with academic researchers on projects related to dietary fats and women’s health. In this episode, Dr. Burns discusses the role of seed oils on our health, challenge common fears, and distinguish evidence-based facts from social media misinformation.

Food is central to our health, but the work that goes into making food happen every day—planning, shopping, cooking, negotiating, and cleaning up—is often invisible. This foodwork shapes not only what we eat, but how food, care, responsibility, and power are shared within households. Yet it’s rarely measured, named, or addressed in health research or policy. Dr. Leah Cahill is a registered dietitian and associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She completed her undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences at the University of Manitoba, a dietetic internship with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and her PhD in medicine focusing on interactions between nutrition and genetics at the University of Toronto, and then moved to Boston to work as a postdoctoral scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. During her five-year postdoc at Harvard, Dr. Cahill worked in the Department of Nutrition collecting skills in nutritional epidemiology and research methodology as she investigated the dietary and genetic origins of cardiometabolic disease in large cohort studies. She is currently the Howard Webster Research Chair in the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health where she leads a research program named nourish that investigates nutrition, biomarkers, and clinical patient-oriented research initiatives. In this episode, Dr. Cahill discusses foodwork as a critical—but overlooked—determinant of health and wellbeing, and what it means to study food not just as nutrients, but as a social and relational practice.

Nutrition plays a role in nearly every major chronic disease, yet the science behind what we eat often feels confusing or contradictory. Nutritional epidemiology is the field that tries to make sense of these patterns by studying diet and health across populations. In this conversation, we are going to explore what this field can—and can’t—tell us about how food affects our health. Dr. Russell de Souza is a registered dietitian and Associate Professor in the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine and the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University. His passion lies in understanding how what we eat and the environments we live in shape our health throughout life. He conducts everything from clinical trials to in-depth interviews, and works with teams to use cutting-edge ‘omics’ science to dig deeper into our diets. What really drives him is finding ways to help communities that often get overlooked, like pregnant women, South Asian immigrants and Indigenous Peoples, reduce their risk of chronic diseases. Along the way, he has earned prestigious recognition, including the 2023 CNS Young Investigator Award, and his department’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award. In this episode, Dr. de Souza discusses how nutritional epidemiology shapes our understanding of diet and health.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are one of the most widely consumed sources of added sugars in our diets, and their impact on health has become a major focus of nutrition research and public policy. Governments around the world are exploring tools like taxation to curb intake, but how well do these strategies work—and for whom? Dr. Scott Harding is an Associate Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland. His research interests include glucose metabolism, cholesterol biochemistry, and the effects of public health policies on reducing obesity and chronic disease, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr. Harding's research lab focuses on cardiometabolic diseases, using animal and in vitro models, human trials, and population studies. His team studies public health initiatives like sugar taxes and the metabolic impacts of dietary sugars and fats under varying intake levels. They also investigate how diet and lifestyle factors, such as short or disrupted sleep, activity, and dietary patterns, affect disease risk and nutrient metabolism. Dr. Harding earned his PhD in Human Nutrition from McGill University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Manitoba and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He has previously held an academic position at King’s College London before joining Memorial University and is currently the Co-Editor of the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. In this episode, Dr. Harding discusses the evidence behind sugar-sweetened beverages, what drives consumptions, and what policies including taxation might actually move the needle.

The first months of life are a special time for the health development and protection of infants. Breastfeeding is the natural and best way of feeding an infant, and positively influences their development and health. Human milk provides the ideal balance of nutrients for the infant and contains countless bioactive ingredients such as immunoglobulins, hormones, oligosaccharides and others. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a very important and interesting constituent of human milk, and are the third most abundant solid component after lactose and lipids. Dr. Lisa Renzi Hammond is the Leonard W. Poon Professor for Innovation in Public Health at the University of Georgia in the United States, interdisciplinary group lead for Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, and founder of the Human Biofactors Laboratory. She is also Director of the University of Georgia College of Public Health’s Institute of Gerontology, a research institute that studies lifespan development, from infancy through older adulthood. Her latest project is the development of the Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center at the University of Georgia – a state of the art facility dedicated to lifespan neurodegenerative disease prevention, starting in infancy and early childhood, through behavioral intervention, neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and post-diagnosis support. She has presented this research in a wide variety of national and international venues, including the TED stage. This episode is sponsored by Abbott Nutrition.

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges worldwide, affecting approximately 589 million adults between the ages of 20-79 years and shaping the way we think about diet, lifestyle, and long-term health. While advances in medicine have transformed treatment, nutrition remains one of the most powerful tools for both prevention and management. Dr. Hertzel Gerstein is an Endocrinologist and Professor at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, where he holds the Population Health Research Institute Chair in Diabetes. He is also the Executive Director of the Population Health Research Institute, former Director of the Boris Clinic Diabetes Care and Research Program, and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Gerstein pioneered and firmly established international long-term patient-important cardiovascular outcomes trials as the norm for clinical diabetes research. Throughout his career, he’s received many awards, including the 2012 Canadian Diabetes Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2022 American Diabetes Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Diabetes Research Award. Ms. Keri Howell is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with Diabetes Care Guelph. She is also a member of the PEACH Sustainable Food Services Committee and has contributed to the Sustainable Food Services Business Case and Implementation Guide. She has dedicated her career to exploring the personal, cultural, and community-focused aspects of nutrition, emphasizing that nourishment extends beyond physical health to emotional and spiritual well-being. Ms. Howell believes that integrating nutrition into patient care requires an understanding of what food means to each individual and asserts that when patients see their cultural foods represented and have autonomy over their food choices, their health outcomes improve. In this episode, Dr. Gerstein and Ms. Howell discuss how nutrition shapes the prevention and management of diabetes. This episode is sponsored by CONTOUR NEXT.

Food security is a critical issue that affects communities worldwide, yet the challenges and solutions are deeply rooted in local contexts, cultures, and policies. Disadvantaged groups, including Indigenous Peoples in Canada, face unique barriers to food access, deeply tied to historical, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Ensuring culturally relevant and sustainable food systems requires evidence-based policies and community-driven solutions. Lynn Blackwood is a Nunatsiavut beneficiary born and raised in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. She currently serves as Food Security Programs Manager with the Nunatsiavut Government, leading initiatives to improve food security in the region and is the first Inuk dietitian and one of the few Indigenous dietitians in Canada, with over 25 years of professional experience across the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Lynn has served as a jury member for the Canadian Space Agency’s Deep Space Food Challenge and as a past director on the boards of Dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Foundation of Dietetic Research. Dr. Farzaneh Barak is an Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton and Waterloo Universities, where she conducts research on Canada’s and global food security. She also serves as Senior Policy Advisor and Food Security Lead at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national representative organization for Inuit in Canada. She has over fifteen years of experience in national and international research and practice—including work in Uganda, Malawi, Canada, and Iran. With expertise in food policy, intersectional gender analysis, and public health nutrition, Dr. Barak is dedicated to addressing systemic barriers to food security and promoting policies that advance food sovereignty and sustainable community-driven food systems. In this episode, Lynn and Dr. Barak discuss food security in Inuit communities, highlighting the unique challenges they face and the culturally grounded, community-led solutions needed to support sustainable and equitable food systems.

The first 1,000 days—from conception to a child’s second birthday—represent a critical window for growth, development, and long-term health. Nutrition during this period lays the foundation for growth, cognitive development, immune function, and chronic disease risk. Research in this area helps inform global strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Dr. Kyly Whitfield is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University and is passionate about international nutrition, with interests in identifying and combating micronutrient deficiencies during ‘the first thousand days’ window. Her research focuses on maternal thiamin deficiency and infantile beriberi, mainly in rural Cambodia, an area where thiamin-related infant mortality remains a major public health issue. Alongside a few fellow CNS members, Kyly also co-edited a book titled ’The biology of the first 1,000 days’ which is a cross-disciplinary deep dive that explores the biological underpinnings of this critical developmental window. In this episode, Dr. Whitfield discusses global micronutrient deficiencies in the first 1000 days with a focus on thiamin.

Les personnes âgées représentent le groupe démographique qui croît le plus rapidement au Canada, avec 19 ? la population âgée de 65 ans et plus, soit environ 7 millions de personnes. L’exercice, l’activité physique et la nutrition sont des éléments essentiels d’un vieillissement en santé, contribuant au maintien de la santé musculosquelettique et à la réduction du risque de sarcopénie. Dre Stéphanie Chevalier est diététiste, professeure agrégée à l'École de nutrition humaine de l’Université McGill et chercheuse à l’Institut de recherche du CUSM. Spécialiste du métabolisme des protéines, elle étudie le rôle des nutriments dans la perte musculaire liée au vieillissement et à certaines maladies comme le cancer et le diabète. Ses recherches récentes portent sur les liens entre nutrition, santé musculaire et cognition chez les aînés. Son programme est financé par les IRSC, le FRQS, la Société canadienne du cancer et la FCI. Elle est présidente de la Société canadienne de nutrition et membre du comité directeur de l’étude NuAge. Dans cet épisode, Dre Chevalier abordera le rôle de la nutrition dans le vieillissement, un sujet au cœur des préoccupations liées au vieillissement en santé. Please note that this podcast has been recorded in French; however, you may view the script in English hereOlder adults represent the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada, with 19% of the population aged 65 and over—approximately 7 million people. Exercise, physical activity, and nutrition are essential components of healthy aging, helping to maintain musculoskeletal health and reduce the risk of sarcopenia. Dr. Stéphanie Chevalier is a registered dietitian, Associate Professor at the School of Human Nutrition at McGill University, and a researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. A specialist in protein metabolism, she studies the role of nutrients in muscle loss associated with aging and certain diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Her recent research focuses on the links between nutrition, muscle health, and cognition in older adults. Her research program is funded by CIHR, FRQS, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. She is President of the Canadian Nutrition Society and a member of the steering comity of the NuAge longitudinal study on nutrition and aging. In this episode, Dr. Chevalier will discuss the role of nutrition in aging—an issue at the heart of healthy aging concerns.

Digestive health plays a crucial role in overall well-being, impacting everything from nutrient absorption and immune function to mental health. At the heart of this system is the gut microbiome—a complex network of microorganisms that helps regulate inflammation, metabolism, and even the risk of chronic diseases. Despite its importance, digestive health is often misunderstood, with myths about probiotics, fibre, gluten, and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and celiac disease continuing to circulate widely. Kelsey Moore is a Registered Dietitian with a retail nutrition background and experience in the digestive health space. Kelsey graduated from The University of British Columbia in 2019. She started her career as a sports dietitian and then moved into the retail space where she worked as a Nutrition Operations manager for a local BC food retailer. She is currently working as the Senior Account Manager of Nutrition for the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation where she works with food and supplement brands to help deliver digestive health resources to Canadians. Kelsey is passionate about providing evidence-based information on digestive health and is currently on track to becoming a Monash FODMAP-trained dietitian. In this episode, Kelsey discusses common myths and misconceptions around digestive health. This podcast is in collaboration with the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (https://cdhf.ca/en/).

Over the past decade, food and food systems have emerged as key to tackling non-communicable diseases, sustainability, and food security. This has spurred major investments in technologies that transform how we produce and consume food. Yet, regulation and policy remain major barriers to innovation, access, and identifying foods that support healthy diets. Dr. William Yan earned his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Alberta and joined Health Canada in 1995. As Director of the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences (2010–2022), he led key Healthy Eating Strategy initiatives, including sodium reduction, trans fat elimination, and front-of-package labelling. Now retired, he is a CNS-SCN Fellow, and teaches at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Samuel Godefroy, former Director General of Health Canada’s Food Directorate and Vice Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, has over 25 years of experience in food regulatory science and policy. He is President of both the International Union of Food Science and Technology and the Global Food Regulatory Science Society. Currently, he is a Full Professor at Laval University, where he leads the Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Excellence Platform. In this episode, Dr. Yan and Dr. Godefroy discuss regulation and policy as a barrier and facilitator to addressing food system challenges, with a primary focus on food manufacturing and consumers as targets for food system modernization. This podcast is sponsored by Protein Industries Canada.

Research shows that adipose (fat) tissue isn’t just stored energy—it plays a critical role in metabolism, inflammation, and disease risk. Biological, environmental and nutritional factors contribute to differences in how people store fat and develop conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Kafi Ealey is an assistant professor in the School of Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Ealey obtained her MSc and PhD from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral training at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Yokohama, Japan, as well as in the Department of Translational Medicine at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children Research Centre. Dr. Ealey’s research is focused on understanding the biological and cellular processes that govern the diverse functions of metabolic tissues to promote overall health. Her work employs a range of experimental models to determine how nutrition can affect fat storage, the immune system, and how the body uses energy, and helps us better understand how to prevent or manage chronic metabolic diseases. Dr. Ealey is particularly passionate about examining the biological variations in metabolic systems that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes. In this episode, Dr. Ealey discusses how fat storage and metabolism vary across individuals and populations, and why these differences matter for health.

Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, yet gaps in care persist, including limited healthcare access, social isolation, and rising cognitive decline. Addressing these challenges through diet and physical activity is key to promoting healthy aging and quality of life. Dr. Lora Giangregorio is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science. She leads the Bone Health and Exercise Science Lab, also known as the BonES lab. The BonES lab team leads research on physical activity for older adults and people with osteoporosis. Dr. Giangregorio is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Osteoporosis Canada and was on the leadership team that developed the 2020 Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines. She also led the Exercise Working Group for the 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention in Canada. In this episode, Dr. Giangregorio discusses the vital role of exercise in supporting mobility, bone health, and muscle strength in older adults.

Sodium is essential for our bodies, but too much can have serious consequences for our health, including raising blood pressure and increasing the risk of heart disease. Dr. JoAnne Arcand is an Associate Professor and Registered Dietitian in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She leads a research program that explores evidence-based approaches to the implementation of nutrition policies and interventions to enhance population-wide strategies aimed at supporting healthy eating, including dietary sodium. Her research addresses behavioural nutritional risk factors across the lifecycle, from children to older adults, for both the general public and people affected by chronic diseases. Her work is recognized by awards such as a Heart and Stroke Foundation National New Investigator Award, Hypertension Canada Young Investigator Award, and a CIHR-INMD New Investigator Award. In this episode, Dr. Arcand discusses the role of sodium on our health and strategies to reduce its intake.

The world's over-65 population is expanding rapidly, and the risk of malnutrition is prevalent in this population. Meeting nutritional needs is a recognized strategy to reduce and address multiple debilitating adverse health outcomes associated with malnutrition. Dr. Agnes Siew Ling Tey, Senior Lead of Clinical Science & Nutrition at Abbott in Singapore. Her research centers on pioneering dietary strategies to prevent and manage malnutrition, cardiometabolic diseases, and obesity. With over 50 contributions to international peer-reviewed journals, and an evidence-based position statement for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Dr. Tey is also an esteemededitor and reviewer for various scientific journals. Prior to joining Abbott in 2016, Dr. Tey was a Research Fellow at the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). At Abbott, she has provided scientific leadership as the Study Chair and Lead Scientist for the Strengthening Health In ELDerly through nutrition (SHIELD) study on elderly nutrition and has led several randomized controlled trials in diabetes. Her broad expertise includes clinical research on malnutrition in older adults and cardiometabolic diseases in populations who are overweight or living with obesity. In this episode, Dr. Tey discusses the role of nutrition in healthy aging with a focus on the Strengthening Health in Elderly through Nutrition Study. This podcast episode is sponsored by Abbott.

Alcohol is regularly used to relax after a long day at work, at dinner, and on the weekend as well as in connection with social events or to mark special occasions; however, we have learned that even low levels of regular use increases health risks. Dr. Erin Hobin is a Senior Scientist at Public Health Ontario, an Associate Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Collaborating Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria. Her research program focuses on developing and evaluating population level interventions for chronic disease prevention, specifically in the areas of alcohol control policy and consumer product labels. Dr. Hobin has served on several scientific advisory committees focused on alcohol policy, including for the World Health Organization, Eurocare, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, and the 2023 Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Report focused on substance use health. In this episode, she will be discussing the role of alcohol on our health and how policy can promote healthier decisions.

Malnutrition in Canada is an overlooked health issue that can have a huge impact on individuals and the health care system. When it comes to pediatric malnutrition, the stakes are even higher, calling for urgent transformation in how we address and prevent it. . The Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, a group of clinicians, researchers and decision makers, has been advancing nutrition care research and education to address the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition across many health sectors. Dr. Jessie Hulst is a staff physician in the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children, and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Toronto. She previously served as a Staff Gastroenterologist at Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, Netherlands (2011-2018). Her PhD focused on nutritional assessment in critically ill children, development of a nutritional risk screening tool (STRONGkids), and she has authored > 100 peer-reviewed publications. She has been involved in the implementation of the Dutch Malnutrition Taskforce pediatric malnutrition pathway and mandatory National Hospital Quality Indicators and is the co-chair of the pediatric working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Taskforce. Daina Kalnins is a registered dietitian and Director of Clinical Dietetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, which includes the Breastfeeding Program. Daina is a strong advocate for supporting evidence-based practice and has engaged her Clinical Dietetics team in caring safely practices, as well as quality improvement initiatives. She also works in the CF clinic and the lung transplant program, and has authored/co-authored over 16 publications and chapters related to CF, as well as several books on infant and children’s nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Hulst and Daina discuss transforming pediatric malnutrition care.

L'alimentation et la nutrition sont des sujets populaires dans les médias et sur les réseaux sociaux. L'omniprésence des médias sociaux a créé de nouvelles opportunités pour les experts qualifiés ou accrédités de la communauté scientifique de communiquer avec leurs clients et le public. Elle a également créé des défis. Dre Sophie Desroches est professeure titulaire et diététiste à l'École de nutrition à l’Université Laval et chercheuse au Centre NUTRISS de l’INAF. Ses travaux de recherche visent à identifier des stratégies de transfert de connaissances en nutrition et à favoriser leur implantation dans les pratiques cliniques des diététistes afin d’améliorer l’adhésion aux recommandations nutritionnelles. Les plus récents travaux de recherche effectués dans son équipe portent sur l’utilisation des médias sociaux comme stratégie de transfert de connaissances dans les domaines reliés aux habitudes de vie incluant la nutrition. Dans cet épisode, Dre Desroches discute de la désinformation en nutrition sur les réseaux sociaux. / Food and nutrition are popular topics in the media and on social networks. The ubiquity of social media has created new opportunities for qualified or accredited experts in the scientific community to communicate with their clients and the public. It has also created challenges. Dr. Sophie Desroches is a professor and dietitian at Université Laval's School of Nutrition, and researcher at INAF's Centre NUTRISS. Her research is aimed at identifying strategies for transferring nutrition knowledge and implementing them in dietitians' clinical practices, in order to improve adherence to dietary recommendations. Her team's most recent research focuses on the use of social media as a knowledge translation strategy in lifestyle-related fields, including nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Desroches discusses nutrition misinformation on social media . Please note that this podcast has been recorded in French; however, you may view the script in English.

Most of us are familiar with vitamin and mineral supplements, but did you know that there are foods and drinks on the market called “supplemented foods”? These products have added ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and caffeine. While they can offer additional nutrients, some can pose a risk to your health if consumed excessively or by vulnerable groups (e.g. pregnant individuals). Elaine De Grandpré is the Manager of Knowledge Translation and Exchange in the Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration of the Food and Nutrition Directorate at Health Canada. She is an innovative and energetic leader with over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors and has extensive knowledge of public health nutrition, behavioural science, food and nutrition policy and regulatory development and evaluation, stakeholders’ consultation & engagement as well as education. Elaine is also a professor at the University of Ottawa in the Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs program. In this episode, Elaine discusses Health Canada’s new Supplemented Foods Awareness Labelling Initiative. You can learn more about supplemented foods at www.canada.ca/supplementedfoods.

Chronic conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease are major public health concerns and on the rise worldwide. Dietary interventions that include foods such as fruit and vegetables may help improve health outcomes, but what about adherence? Could providing foods directly to people as part of health services be a solution? Dr. Dylan MacKay is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Chronic Disease in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences and the Department of Internal Medicine Section Endocrinology at the University of Manitoba. He has a background in Human Nutritional Sciences, with training and experience in clinical trials and patient-oriented research. He is also a person who lives with type 1 diabetes and his work focuses primarily on glucose metabolism, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Dr. MacKay also has a strong personal connection with type 1 diabetes research in which he is both a researcher and a person with lived experience. In this episode, Dr. MacKay discusses the nutritional strategies such as home delivery of foods for chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Mentorship, often described as the art of guiding and nurturing, holds a special place in the fabric of human development. From ancient traditions of apprenticeship to modern-day corporate mentorship programs, the practice has evolved, yet its essence remains unchanged: the passing down of wisdom, experience, and support from one generation to the next. Dr. Sharon E. Straus is a geriatrician and clinical epidemiologist who trained at the University of Toronto and the University of Oxford. She is the Director of the Knowledge Translation Program and Physician-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Translation and Quality of Care and has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and 3 textbooks in evidence-based medicine, knowledge translation and mentorship. She has received national awards for mentorship, research and education and was named to the Order of Canada in 2021. In this episode, Dr. Straus discusses the art and science behind effective mentorship, exploring strategies, challenges, and enduring rewards that define this practice.

Food and nutrition literacy are concepts that may be important factors in supporting healthful dietary habits. Building these skills and knowledge at a young age is important for skill retention, confidence in food practices and supporting lifelong healthy eating habits. Dr. Maude Perreault is a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Professor at Université de Montréal. Her clinical and research interests are centered around family nutrition, and how we can support children and parents to have healthy eating behaviors. Dr. Perreault has also supported parents through her online private practice, with a focus on helping parents team up and tackle “picky eating” with their toddlers. More recently, she has developed an interest for food literacy as a way to explore the skills required to feed ourselves in the complex food system, and where inequalities might lie. Through her research and clinical work, Dr. Perreault’s mission is that everyone can enjoy eating, with autonomy, for their own well-being and that of their community. In this episode, Dr. Perreault discusses the emerging results around food literacy and considerations when it comes to teaching kids about it as well as in the context of chronic health diseases requiring dietary changes, namely celiac disease.

On March 8, 2024 we celebrated International Women’s Day where the theme was to “Inspire Inclusion”. Over the past 20 years, studies have shown persistent gaps in gender representation at the top levels of parenteral and enteral nutrition societies. Why does this matter? It's not just about numbers; it's about equality, opportunity, and the ability for all voices to be heard.Dr. Carla Prado is a Professor and Registered Dietitian at the University of Alberta, and a Campus Alberta Innovates Chair in Nutrition, Food and Health. She is the Director of the Human Nutrition Research Unit and expert in assessing nutritional status through the precise measurement of body composition and energy metabolism. Dr. Prado is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and has received the title of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100. She is also a Clarivate™ Highly Cited researcher. Dr. Leah Gramlich is a gastroenterologist and physician nutrition specialist who works at patient, provider and systems levels to understand and enhance the impact of diet and activity strategies to improve health and reduce disease at the University of Alberta. She is the Founding President of the Canadian Nutrition Society and a CNS Fellow, an honour bestowed upon a CNS member by their peers in recognition for outstanding contributions to nutrition science and/or practice. In this episode, Dr. Gramlich and Dr. Prado will discuss sex disparities in parenteral and enteral nutrition societies and gender equity in clinical nutrition.

With each passing year, our understanding of nutrition evolves, driven by scientific research, cultural shifts, and changing consumer preferences. As we enter 2024, we find ourselves at the forefront of a nutritional revolution, where sustainability, personalization, and mindful eating take center stage. Nishta Saxena is a Registered Dietitian and founder of Vibrant Nutrition, a full-service clinical nutrition and nutrition education practice. She is also a proud mother of two, living the strategies she preaches to families across the globe. Her years of specialty expertise in paediatrics and family dynamic nutrition has positioned her as an authority in paediatric nutrition and feeding issues. She is also known as a “nutrition myth-buster,” promoting evidence-based nutrition rather than diet trends. Nishta regularly appears on CTV as a nutrition health expert and shares her expertise on her Instagram page @nishtasaxenard. In this episode, Nishta discusses what nutrition topics are trending, how nutrition pop culture and trends drive science and how people are trying to incorporate these in their own lives.

In 2023, Manitoba opened Canada's first public facility for egg research, education and training. Eggs are a low-cost and nutrient-dense whole food that is an important source of high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and choline. Egg consumption has regained global popularity in recent years as they are recommended as a healthy component of diets when consumed in moderation. Dr. Jim House is a Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba and has served as Past-President of the CNS, is a CNS Fellow, and recently awarded the Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein with the mandate to lead strategic research priorities attracting investment in the Manitoba protein sector for long-term economic growth. In this episode, Dr. House discusses the nutritional profile of eggs, their role on our health, and the new facilities for egg research at the University of Manitoba.

Sports Supplements are Natural Health Products, such as plant extracts, sports drinks, protein powders, sports bars, fatty acids, and vitamins and minerals, that are frequently used by many athletes worldwide to enhance sport performance and recovery. According to recent data, the global sports nutrition market and supplements was valued at about 27 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, and expected to increase in value to over 37 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. Dr. Mojtaba Kaviani is an Associate Professor in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia University and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP). He is also the lead of the sports nutrition group providing nutritional support to all Acadia University varsity teams. His research focuses on the effect of nutrients and food components alone or in combination with physical activity on whole body physiology and health status as well as sport performance in athletes. Dr. Kaviani also investigates the effects of sport and dietary supplements on health and performance outcomes and has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Acting Department Chair and Canada Research Chair in Brain Lipid Metabolism. Dr. Bazinet and his team are currently taking a kinetic and biochemical approach to studying the mechanisms by which dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids regulate the metabolism of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids within brain phospholipids. He is also former President of the International Society Association for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Oil Chemists’ Society as well as the French Society for the Study of Lipids. In this episode, Dr. Bazinet will discuss the role of DHA in the developing brain and its impact across the rest of our lifespan and life stages. This podcast is supported by Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition.

According to our most recent data, 2.3 million Canadians aged 40+ are living with diagnosed osteoporosis. Foods and food components help support bone health throughout the lifespan. Dr. Wendy Ward is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow at Brock University. She is passionate about understanding how foods and food bioactives modulate a healthy skeleton throughout the lifespan along with supporting organizations that advocate for bone health. Dr. Ward is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism and holds other leadership positions within Osteoporosis Canada and the Canadian Nutrition Society. She is actively involved in continuing education for health professionals and community education activities on topics about nutrition and health. In this episode, Dr. Ward will address the role of nutrition for supporting a strong skeleton and the connection with osteoporosis.

Malnutrition in Canada is an overlooked health issue that can have a huge impact on individuals and the health care system. Professor Heather Keller is the Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition & Aging and a Professor at the University of Waterloo and a founding member of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, also known as CMTF. She is an internationally recognized expert in geriatric nutrition, assessment, and treatment and her interests include translating research into practice and advocating for improvements in nutrition care across multiple health care settings. Professor Keller has led several national research and knowledge translation & implementation projects. She has published more than 275 peer-reviewed articles and translates much of this evidence into practice with tools and resources. In this episode, Professor Heather Keller will address the role of malnutrition on health, its impact on the healthcare system, and the key initiatives of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force

Veuillez noter que ce podcast est enregistré en français; cependant, vous pouvez voir le script en anglais / Please note that this podcast has been recorded in French; however, you may view the script in English.L'intelligence artificielle (IA) est un domaine en pleine évolution qui offre des possibilités inégalées de progrès et d'applications dans de nombreux domaines de la santé, y compris la nutrition. Le Dr Benoît Lamarche est professeur titulaire à l'École de nutrition de l'Université Laval et directeur scientifique du Centre de recherche sur la nutrition, la santé et la société (NUTRISS), financé par le FRQS. Il a publié plus de 425 articles évalués par des pairs sur des questions physiologiques, cliniques, épidémiologiques et de santé publique liées à l'alimentation et à la santé. Dans cet épisode, Dr Lamarche présentera de nouvelles perspectives sur le rôle de l'intelligence artificielle dans la recherche en nutrition.Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that offers unparalleled opportunities for progress and applications in many areas of health, including nutrition. Dr. Benoît Lamarche is a Professor at the School of Nutrition at Université Laval and Scientific Director of the FRQS-funded Centre de recherche sur la nutrition, la santé et la société (NUTRISS). He has published over 425 peer-reviewed articles on physiological, clinical, epidemiological and public health issues related to diet and health. In this episode, Dr. Lamarche will provide some new perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence in nutrition research.

With the increase in the use of digital devices also comes with the harmful impact of digital marketing for unhealthy food and beverage products, particularly to children, affecting their attitudes, habits, dietary intakes, and health. Dr. Mavra Ahmed is a Research Fellow in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and at the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition. Her research on the food and nutrition policy initiatives at the population level has contributed to improvements in the Canadian food environment. She is also passionate about developing equitable population-level interventions to enable healthier dietary decision-making. She also teaches an excellent and newly developed course on public health nutrition and food policy at York University. In this episode, Dr. Ahmed will discuss the restriction of marketing unhealthy foods to children.

One of the biggest challenges that students face in their training is figuring out what path to take, what skills to obtain, and how to get started on their career journey. In this episode, a diverse group of panelists from major career areas in nutrition discuss the invaluable lessons they have learned during their inspiring career paths, exploring the intersections of nutrition, research, and personal growth. Megan Nechanicky, RD, MSc is the Nutrition Manager for North America Retail and Global Health & Wellness communications at General Mills where she and her team provide strategic direction for business and Research and Development partners related to health and wellness. Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier, PhD, RD an assistant professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval and researcher in the Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS) of the Institut sur la nutrition et les aliments fonctionnels (INAF) where he focuses on the prevention and management of cardiometabolic diseases with diet and medication. Shirin Panahi, PhD is the Scientific Director at the Canadian Nutrition Society where she provides scientific leadership, guidance for programs and educational initiatives. She is also an adjunct professor at Université Laval where she focuses on the role of diet and its components in the prevention and management of obesity. William Yan, PhD is a Scientist Emeritus from Health Canada where he was Director of the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences in the Food Directorate and led several high profile ministerial priorities under the Healthy Eating Strategy. Dr. Yan has also been an adjunct and part-time professor at the University of Ottawa for over 25 years. This podcast is supported by the CIHR INMD Training and Community Support Grant.

WHAT we eat and HOW we eat includes determinants such as the environment and genetics, which influence appetite and body weight control, metabolic health and eating behaviours in children and adults. Dr. Vicky Drapeau is a professor in the Département d’éducation physique at Université Laval, a dietitian, co-founder and co-ordinator of the Clinique de Nutrition and Scientific Director of the sustainable health consultation committee at the university. Dr. Drapeau’s current research is supported by CIHR, SSHRC, and Dairy Farmers of Canada. In this episode, Dr. Drapeau will discuss the role of certain foods in body weight management, metabolic health, and eating behaviours. ----------------------------------------------------------------------This podcast is sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Roughly 90% of Canadians with diabetes are living with type 2 diabetes. Among the foods in the diet, there is growing evidence suggesting a protective role of dairy products in diabetes risk. Dr. Anthony Hanley is a Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and a Scientist at the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Dr. Hanley’s research is supported by Diabetes Canada, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Dairy Farmers of Canada, and the University of Toronto Banting and Best Diabetes Centre. In this episode, Dr. Hanley will discuss his perspectives on the role of dairy in type 2 diabetes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This podcast is sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Whole foods and meal combinations need consideration in the control of postprandial glycemia and appetite. There is also a need to improve nutritional quality of highly processed plant-based substitutes for dairy and other animal products. Therefore, it is important for nutritionists and consumers to understand that caution is required when selecting plant-based processed products and that regulations and labelling also need attention. Dr. Harvey Anderson is a Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Physiology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. He is Director of the NSERC University-Industry Program in Food Safety, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs (PFSNRA) and past-Director of the Child Centre for Nutrition, Health and Development.In this episode, Dr. Anderson will explore the role of the food matrix and meal combinations in metabolic health and appetite control. ---This podcast is sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada.

Maintaining muscle mass is one of the key elements of longevity. As we age, our protein requirements increase, but that is only part of the picture. Exercise is a key ingredient too. Dr. Stuart Phillips is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health, Professor of Kinesiology at McMaster University, and Director of the McMaster University Physical Activity Centre of Excellence. In this inaugural conversation, Dr. Phillips will dive into aging, muscle loss and the increased importance of dietary protein and exercise.