9/5/25: 'Rucking-lite': Should You Buy a Weighted Vest?; New Guidelines for BP intervention; The Academy's Nutrition Fact Check; RD Swag & more
Nutrition News YOU Can Use
More “fun” days ahead for anyone in public health…anyone in medical care….anyone who is immunocompromised…anyone with pre-existing health conditions…😢etc. …buckle up!
🎁RD Swag and Gifts
@healthateverystyle offers custom designed stickers, tote bags, t-shirts, and more for registered dietitians. Visit the website to browse the current collection healthateverystyle.com/?ref=BuildUpDietitians and be sure to use code BuildUpDietitians to save 10% on your purchase!
💡Teaser: Look for a Bonus Newsletter next week for PAID subscribers. It’ll be on AI with some information on how nutrition students and dietitians can use it, the concerns/pitfalls of AI, how to spot AI images and how to advise your patients about AI/ChatGPT. If you become a PAID subscriber by the end of September, you’ll not only get to see this BONUS newsletter, but you’ll also get 15% off!
🆕New Intervention Guidelines for Blood Pressure
2025 ACC/AHA High Blood Pressure Guidelines
The biggest difference isn’t the numbers; it’s the emphasis on earlier lifestyle and pharmacological intervention.
From American Heart Association Journal 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines
✅Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics ‘Nutrition Fact Check’
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics announced their new ‘Nutrition Fact Check’ site. The site “…summarizes today's best available science and evidence on hot topics in nutrition and provides practitioners with a scientific review paper, as well as information that can be shared with patients and clients.”
Right now, the site has information about food dyes, seed oils and ultra-processed foods. It’s a good start! These are some of “hot” topics that RDs are getting the most questions about right now.
🤢Research:
Thanks Kate Hilton, RD for highlighting this in her LinkedIn post HERE. Some of Kate’s takeaways:
“💩 Psyllium husk was found to be the most effective fibre supplement to increase stool frequency, consistency and reduced straining at doses >10g/day for at least 4 weeks, following a gradual introduction phase to manage side effects.
💊 Magnesium oxide was shown to be effective at increasing stool frequency, consistency and reducing incomplete evacuation, beginning at a dose of 0.5g/day and increasing to no more than 1.5g/day.
🦠 Multi-strain probiotics have been shown to soften stool consistency but had no impact on other symptoms. Specific strains, such as B. Lactis DN-173/ HN019/ LMG P-2138 have been shown to increase stool frequency but no other symptoms. Synbiotic supplements (probiotics + prebiotics) were shown to have no impact on constipation symptoms.
🥝 Kiwi and prunes were shown to be as effective, if not more effective, than psyllium supplementation, particularly with stool frequency and softening consistency of stool.
🌰 Flaxseed currently has a lack of evidence behind it to support their use in chronic constipation.
🍞 Ryebread increased stool volume and decreased gut transit time in comparison to white bread, however significantly increased global gut symptoms secondary to its fructan and fructose content. There is a general lack of RCT's on other cereal based foods.
🥛 Fermented dairy foods need more research, as the current body of research is generally uncontrolled.
💧 High mineral-content water may be beneficial in managing chronic constipation. There is no evidence to suggest that consuming excess water above general recommendations improves constipation outcomes.”
❓Substack: Should You Be Wearing a Weighted Vest?
Abby Langer, RD
The idea of walking with a weight on your back is not a new one. Members of the military often put weights or extra gear into a backpack (rucksack) to train for longer field training exercises requiring long marches with a full backpack, this is called rucking. The added weight during training can increase the intensity of a workout and may build strength and endurance. Rucking for Exercise Can Boost Strength, Stamina, and Power
Now we have a sort of ‘rucking-lite’ by using a weighted vest. You may see people (mostly women?) wearing snug vests that can hold 6 lbs. or more of sand that is in pockets in the vest or can be added to those pockets. The goal of these vests isn’t to train for military exercises, it may ostensibly be to burn more calories, build or maintain muscle or bone mass.
In this Substack, dietitian Abby Langer looks at some of the claims around weighted vests vs the reality and the research and concludes: