Top researchers tackle emerging "dietary patterns"

National nutrition symposia explores some dietary patterns, including the role of dairy products in a healthy diet.

VANCOUVER, Nov. 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) are happy to welcome leading academics and researchers this week to discuss the various ways we eat with a series of cross-Canada symposia entitled "Making sense of dietary patterns". Dietary Patterns describe the variety or combination of different foods, drinks, and nutrients in diets, and the frequency with which they are usually consumed. DASH diet, Paleo, Gluten-Free, High Protein and Mediterranean diet are some of the dietary patterns that easily come to mind. Organized by DFC's registered Dietitians, the symposium starts in Vancouver today, then travels to Toronto, Montreal and ends in Moncton. The event will feature a panel of experts in this field.

"We are very happy to have four great minds share their insights on dietary patterns with the symposium," says Nathalie Savoie, registered dietitian and Assistant Director of Nutrition at DFC. "We are hoping to facilitate the work of dietitians and health professionals who provide health advice to Canadians about healthy eating patterns. We are pleased to have many of them attending to hear from top researchers in the field of nutrition science." DFC understands that health professionnals are on the front line in answering Canadians' questions about whether popular eating trends or "dietary patterns", constitute a healthy diet or not.

By providing four independent experts, in four cities, we hope to provide tools to help with this mission. In particular, Dr. Andrew Samis from Queen's University will focus on fats and whether they are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier from l'Université Laval will talk about the relation between dairy and cardiometabolic health. Dr. Nathalie Bergeron from Touro University in California will discuss the DASH Diet as a model for healthy eating, while Jennifer Sygo from Cleveland Clinic Canada will make sense of trendy diets and superfoods.

About the Nutrition Symposium

The information provided by our panel of experts is designed to equip health professionals across Canada with the latest information and best available evidence regarding the role of milk products in a healthy diet. The Toronto symposium will be webcast on Tuesday, November 8th. The team of registered dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada promotes the wholesome goodness of milk products as part of healthy eating patterns and encourages good nutrition for all Canadians. To learn more about the event, please visit dairynutrition.ca/symposium.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

Founded in 1934, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national organization defending the interests of Canadian dairy farmers and striving to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working within supply management, DFC promotes safe, high quality, sustainable, and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy, and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community and pride, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national initiatives. Visit dairyfarmers.ca for more information.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada

Image with caption: "Dairy Farmers of Canada (CNW Group/Dairy Farmers of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161107_C5123_PHOTO_EN_812521.jpg

For further information: Media contact from Dairy Farmers of Canada: in Toronto and Moncton: Ashlee Smith, [e-mail], 613-240-3881; in Montreal and Vancouver: Isabelle Bouchard, [e-mail], 613-513-8879