Build Up Catch Up - 10/13/23
Food Sensitivity Fake; Podcast Picks; This Week's Top Post; Back to the Office? No thanks!; 3 Things You May Have Missed...and more!
On Food Sensitivity Tests: What’s the Risk?
DIY home food sensitivity tests or food sensitivity panels that are marketed and promoted by various providers (usually alternative medicine) are not evidence-based? And yes, unfortunately a company that sells/promotes these tests (and recruits dietitians to recommend them to clients) has in the past exhibited and did exhibit this year at FNCE. Why you ask? That would be a question for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the staff that vet exhibitors and plan the Expo.
For explanations about why these food sensitivity/intolerance tests (IgG) don’t actually show food sensitivity and often do more harm than good, see this information from the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and particularly the videos featuring Dave Stukus, M.D (@allergykidsdoc).
What’s the harm of doing these food sensitivity tests? They can be expensive and result in unnecessary food restrictions which could create long-lasting food fears, trigger eating disorders/disordered eating (orthorexia), cause a person to spend more on food and potentially cause health problems.
Comments by Dietitians:
“I have a patient who does these food sensitivity tests monthly. Now the only thing she will eat is vegetables and even then, there are a few that she refuses to eat because of the test results. Her health is deteriorating fast, and I cannot get through to her. It breaks my heart.”
"I just had a client today who got sucked into food sensitivity and GI Map testing. She was told she needed to cut out over 60 foods and buy supplements. She's 86. This is fraud and AND (the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) is supporting it!"
"Several years ago, a board certified allergist(M.D) opened her practice. I was not nearby but urged her to have a relationship with a dietitian for referrals for food allergies. She checked into a dietitian in private practice who was a short distance away...only to discover this dietitian recommended food sensitivity testing and sold a slew of supplements…and now views many RDs with suspicion.”
“I’ve seen so many of my clients (and their children) fall victim to these tests. It’s a travesty to even call it science.”
BUT, even food ALLERGY testing panels (IgE) administered by a physician can be problematic and are not advised to be used as a stand-alone diagnostic tool to diagnose food allergies. Why? Check out these links for explanations:
Serum specific immunoglobulin E (s-IgE) assays to food can be used to confirm clinical suspicion of IgE–mediated food allergy, but specificity is poor, resulting in many false-positive results.
The use of serum s-IgE food panels is discouraged by current guidelines and major societies.
Unintended negative consequences of serum s-IgE food panels may include physical harm, psychological harm, financial cost, opportunity cost, and worsening of health care disparities.
Special offer for October👻🎃 (good til October 31st) for a discounted subscription
Last Week’s Top Post - Reach 41K
(thanks to a mention by @ThePunkRockFarmer)
When people say, ‘we weren't meant to drink milk’:
1. people all over the world drink milk
2. milk is used to make cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, kefir, ghee, butter, quark etc.
P.S . If you as a dietitian or nutrition professional follow a #vegan diet, remember our job ISN'T to tell people what to eat based on our personal preferences, but to LISTEN to what foods they enjoy and help them establish healthy and positive eating habits that work within the framework of their economic ability, cultural preferences, cooking skills, lifestyle…and address any diseases or illnesses they have...and to do this using evidence-based information…NOT because of our personal preferences.”
Back to the Office? #NotSoMuch
We asked a question in both our Build Up Dietitians JOBS group and the Buildup Dietitians Careers group.
❓“If you currently work remotely, what would entice you to go into the office full-time?”❓
-Nothing, I want to remain REMOTE - 52%
-A raise or promotion in order to go in - 14%
-Extra benefits like continuing education/gym membership - 13%
-Flexible schedule - 13%
-Free or low cost child care - 8%
-More vacation - 3%
Observation: The desire to work remotely or to continue to work remotely does not appear to be something exclusive to Gen Z. We can see this in our Build Up JOBS group in the appeal for positions that note if a job is remote. It’s interesting to watch the articles about corporations trying various inducements to get people to return to a brick and mortar office…they don’t seem to be working.
3 Things You May Have Missed
When California Speaks/Decides…It Means We Have to Listen
PASSED: "Assembly Bill 418 (AB 418), specifically prohibits the sale of food containing red dye 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propylparaben."
There's some fear-based language in this article from Food Safety News and we're not fans of EWG (Environmental Working Group) that is quoted, but the bottom line is that this action by California, since it is a large and populous state, will certainly have an impact on food makers nationally.
What foods will be affected? There’s been a lot of buzz about a ban on Skittles (candy), but no comprehensive list has appeared. If you spot a list, let us know.
**A Podcast Pick that puts ingredient safety and how decisions are made in government in perspective - Unbiased Science: “The United States of Science”
Build Up Mini Meet Up - FNCE
We had a small, informal Build Up Mini Meet Up at FNCE hosted by Mary Ramos and Lisa Richardson. Thirteen RDs attended representing many different career paths: academia, pediatrics, entrepreneurs, clinical, renal, senior care etc.…reports are that a good time was had by all! Build Up provided appetizers for the group and compensated the hosts with honorariums. If you are planning on attending a state/regional or national nutrition-related conference and would like to host a Build Up Mini Meet Up to meet other dietitians, let us us know! We’ll pay you an honorarium AND pick up the tab for appetizers!
email us: builduprdns@gmail.com
Semaglutide: Should You Source From Questionable On-line Sources or from Compounding Pharmacies?
No, just NO! and here’s why:
Compounding pharmacies and mail order entities offering lower price compounded versions of semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) are NOT using semaglutide , since the patent for semaglutide is owned by Novo Nordisk and this patent is currently not set to expire until December 2031. At this time there is NO generic semaglutide available. Therefore, there is no guarantee of what someone may be getting on-line or from a compounding pharmacy that claims they are selling “Ozempic”, in all likelihood it’s a semaglutide salt. “Semaglutide products made with semaglutide salts, chemicals for research use only, or ingredients from unregistered manufacturers do not meet FDA safety requirements.” The FDA warns of using these products and has received reports of adverse reactions of products sold as compounded semaglutide.
Podcast Pick: This recent Maintenance Phase Podcast on Ozempic makes many points worth considering.