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Editor's E-Note
It Starts With the Soil
Nourishing and nutrient-dense foods rely on the health of the soil beneath our feet. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is famously quoted in a 1937 speech as saying: “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”
This is a sentiment that many permaculture and regenerative agriculture enthusiasts echo in their effort to promote more sustainable farming and agricultural practices around the world.
According to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the term “soil quality” considers the following characteristics of soil: organic matter content, salinity, tilth, compaction, available nutrients, and rooting depth. The soil-based microbial ecosystem also plays a critical role in shaping soil health.
Soil is formed in layers, building from the bottom up over extended periods of time. Though it takes many years for Mother Nature to sculpt robustly healthy soil, it unfortunately takes far less time to undo those advances. What practices nourish the soil? What practices strip the soil of its vitality? The answers are paving the way for the future health of our communities and planet.
In this month’s E-News Exclusive, Today’s Dietitian explores the practice of using regenerative staple crops as one elegant solution to addressing climate concerns, soil health, and the nutritional needs of a growing population.
Please enjoy the E-Newsletter and give us your feedback at TDeditor@gvpub.com, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.
— Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN, editor |
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Sustainability: Food Security Through Regenerative Staple Crops
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN
Interest in sustainable agriculture has been on the rise for years, but an escalation in extreme weather events around the world has increased demand for sustainable food solutions from environmentally savvy consumers. This demand could fuel sales of regenerative staple crops that require fewer inputs and replenish the soil instead of stripping it of nutrients, as well as encourage vegetative crops that reduce land use.
Ancient Grains for Food and Climate
Ancient grains are generally defined as grains that have been in use for hundreds of years or longer without modification.1 Examples include einkorn, emmer/farro, sorghum, teff, millet, quinoa, and amaranth. These grains have more in common than just history, culture, and nutrient density—they also have benefits for the environment.
Ancient grains’ lack of modification means they have maintained deeper root structures and taller aboveground growth, allowing them to deposit more organic matter and sequester more carbon in the soil. They’re also resilient, often thriving in drought or inconsistent rainfall and sometimes in poor soil, with lower fertilization needs and higher resistance to pests and disease.
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Childhood Sedentariness Causes Excessive Insulin, Raising Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
An increase in sedentary time from childhood is associated with a significant increase in blood insulin concentration, a new study shows. However, light physical activity (LPA) could reduce the risk of excess insulin and insulin resistance. The study was conducted in collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Exeter and the University of Eastern Finland, and the results were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Based on the University of Bristol’s Children of the ’90s data, the study included 792 children followed up from 11 to 24 years of age. At baseline, they spent an average of six hours per day in sedentary activities, which increased to nine hours per day during the follow-up.
This increase in sedentary time was associated with continuously higher insulin levels in fasting blood, especially among youths with overweight and obesity, whose risk of excess insulin increased by 20%. On the contrary, an average of three to four hours of LPA per day throughout the follow-up decreased the risk of excess insulin by 20%. Higher LPA was also associated with lower insulin resistance.
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Skipping Meat for One Meal Helps Liver Disease Patients
A new study finds advanced liver cirrhosis can create dangerous levels of ammonia in the blood, but modestly reducing meat daily intake can help, reports U.S. News. Just skipping one meal with meat could help reduce the effects and promote positive change.
USDA Raises School Nutrition Standards in Attempt to Fight Diet-Related Disease
The USDA has unveiled new nutrition standards for school menus that limit the sodium and sugar content of foods, reports Fox News. Schools are expected to limit added sugars for the first time by 2027. |
CPE Monthly
Discover the role RDs have in dysphagia management and explore the new evidence-based standard for defining texture-modified foods and thickened liquids in this month’s issue of Today’s Dietitian. Read the CPE Monthly article, take the 10-question online test at CE.TodaysDietitian.com/CPEmonthly, and earn two CPEUs!
2025 Spring Symposium
Registration for our 12th annual Spring Symposium is now open! Take advantage of the Early-Bird Registration Rate of just $249 and plan to join us in San Antonio, Texas, from May 4 to 7, 2025. Each day will offer a full array of learning opportunities, fitness activities, great food, networking, and exploration of new products. Additional details are forthcoming.
Want a chance to be a part of the Spring Symposium presenter line up? The 2025 Call for Abstracts is open—learn more and submit your proposal here! |
Find Local Produce Easy
Finding local in-season produce for new recipes doesn’t have to be a guessing game. SeasonEats is an app that lets users see produce that’s in season nearby. The app also allows browsing of other seasons to plan ahead or search specific produce. SeasonEats is available on iOS.
Get in the Blue Zone
The Blue Zone region of the world is associated with some of the most healthful diets, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Blue Zone Diet app helps consumers search for recipes and ingredients to find the meals they want to make. The app also provides an FAQ section that dives deeper into the science of these diets. |
In the August/September Issue
• Taste of the Twin Cities: Your Guide to Minneapolis Cuisine
• Thriving in Private Practice
• The Evolving Landscape of Gestational Diabetes Management
• Today’s Dietitian 11th Spring Symposium Recap |
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COVER STORY
Circadian Rhythms and CVD
Often, people solely focus on common lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation or a healthful diet in the prevention of heart disease, but the timing of habits may play an equally important part. Discover the latest research on how one’s daily schedule—such as eating and sleep patterns—may impact their cardiometabolic health.
FEATURE
Diagnosing Malnutrition: AAIM or GLIM?
Malnutrition has garnered increased focus in the health care community in recent decades due to the importance of its identification for nutritional interventions. Learn about the current criteria models for diagnosing malnutrition, their controversies, and how their use impacts RDs.
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