‘Nutrition Plain and Simple' begins March 17

Thursday, March 18, 2010

"Nutrition Plain and Simple," a series of five workshops with registered dietician and nutritionist Jennifer Giffune, R.D., L.D.N., will be held at Elms College Wednesdays, March 17 through April 14.

Are carbs bad for you? Should you eat a lot of protein? What happened to eating heart-healthy fat? What should you eat, and how much? This easy-to-understand program will clarify nutrition information, and explore the best food choices you can make for optimal health.

Are you at risk for heart disease? It runs in families, but do you have to give in to it? Learn about risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and about many actions you can take to protect yourself, like physical activity and the use of supplements and vitamins.

In this "how to" program to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis, you'll learn about foods that enhance calcium intake and prevent bone loss, the use of supplements, and the benefits and types of exercise that enhance bone strength. The course will also discuss vitamin D, which plays a huge role in bone and body health. It is estimated that at least half the people in the U.S. are low in vitamin D, and there is emerging evidence that outdated concepts about vitamin D are dangerous for our health. Low vitamin D levels are being linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disease (such as MS), weight gain, depression, autism, and a host of other health issues.

Overweight and obesity are at epidemic levels in our country, and everyone seems to be on a diet at some point. Weight loss is the easy part; the tough part is keeping it off. But it can be done. Join us to learn about the successful steps that have been taken by people who have made changes for a lifetime.

Are you armed and ready to fight another cold and flu season? Don't accept sickness as a given. There are many nutrient-packed foods you can pack into your lunch box in order to protect yourself. This course will take a close look at foods that contain vitamin C, vitamin A, antioxidants, and other nutrients that can help you stay healthy.

Instructor Jennifer Giffune is a registered dietitian (R.D.) and licensed dietitian and nutritionist (L.D.N.) who has been in practice for more than 23 years. She received her bachelor of science degree in nutrition and dietetics from Syracuse University, and is certified as a weight specialist by the American Dietetic Association.

Giffune's areas of expertise include weight management, diabetes, wellness and disease prevention, heart health, cancer prevention, menopause, osteoporosis, and allergy and hypersensitivities. Her goal, she says, is to make nutrition plain, simple, real, and ready to use immediately. She is constantly on the prowl for new and tasty ways to make healthy eating possible for all people for a lifetime.

The Wednesday workshops will be held in the Alumnae Library Theater from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ten CEUs or PDPs are available. All participants will receive certificates of attendance/completion. The cost is $120 for the complete series, or $30 for individual workshops. Courses and times may be subject to change.

For more information or to register, call Jane McCarry at 413-265-2490 or email mccarryj@elms.edu.