Build UP Catch UP - 11/17/23

Probiotic Supplements: Actually Helpful?, Insulin Pump History & Diabetes Awareness Month Resources, 3 Things you May Have Missed and more!

Are Probiotic Supplements Really Helpful for Healthy People? (😕Meh)

While probiotics in food like yogurt, kefir, refrigerated sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh etc. may be beneficial to our gut health; should we be cautious about recommending people take probiotic supplements? Do these supplements have health benefits….or could probiotic supplements have side effects or even health risks?

“Although some probiotics have been proven to be beneficial in specific cases, such as treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea and keeping inflammatory bowel disease in check, evidence for their universal efficacy is lacking. No large, long-term clinical trials assessing the benefits of probiotics for healthy people have actually been conducted, so their effectiveness is subject to skepticism.”   

Side effects of taking probiotics potentially include infections and allergic reactions….and that’s assuming the probiotic actually contains what it claims, which often is unlikely.

A resource that might be helpful for dietitians is the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in the USA which provides applications, clinical dosage forms and clinical evidence to date.

DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

For an interesting look at the history of insulin pumps: The Golden Age of the Insulin Pump (diatribe.org)

One of the earliest insulin pumps - 1960’s

insulin pump in the 1980’s

Diabetes Resources for Providers and Patients (including CPEU’s/CME’s)

(From Abbott Nutrition Health Institute - #NotSponsored)

Educational Resources - Continuing Education | ANHI - “Diabetes Education Across Cultural Differences” https://anhi.org/resources/podcasts-and-videos/diabetes-counseling-across-cultural-differences

Patient Resources (Video) - “Good Nutrition for Diabetes Management”

THANKSforGIVING Recipients

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

We had 17 nominations for our annual "Thanks for GIVING"! Thank you to all of you who took the time to put forth these local food/nutrition non-profits.

All nominations were reviewed and here are the FIVE food/nutrition non-profits that have each received $100 donations. The people that nominated these donations were provided to the charity.

Meredith Kleinhenz - Black Food Sovereignty Coalition

https://blackfoodnw.org/

Kristin Miller - River Falls Community Food Pantry

https://rfcfp.org/

Nicole Hahn - St. Mary's Food Bank

https://www.firstfoodbank.org/

Julie Brake - Open Hand ATL-

https://www.openhandatlanta.org/

Marisa Raymond - Project Angel Heart

https://www.projectangelheart.org/