Plant-Based Nutrition’s Role in Microbiome Health for Obesity and Diabetes

This webinar was presented on July 22, 2020.

VN DPGThis webinar was sponsored by the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. 

The human microbiota has become the topic of great interest and research over the last 10 to 15 years due to the advancement in technologies that study its functions and how it influences health. An unhealthy gut microbiota can lead to an altered immune response leading to a higher risk of chronic disease. Nutrition throughout the lifecycle plays a key role in shaping the microbiota as well as the metabolites produced by certain bacteria. This webinar will review the recent literature on the nutritional factors that contribute to the composition and metabolic activity of the gut bacteria, how it interacts with the host immunity potentially leading to chronic inflammation, and disease susceptibility. Eating patterns, macronutrients, and food groups will be presented as well as other lifestyle factors such as stress management and exercise that can improve the health of the human microbiota reducing the risk of disease and slow down the aging process.

  • CPEU: 1.0
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the development and function of the human gut microbiota and its influence on health.
  2. Describe the factors that contribute to dysbiosis and how this leads to metabolic dysfunction and chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, and other disorders.
  3. Explain how nutrition and other healthy lifestyle behaviors can improve the composition and metabolic activity of the microbiota and the health of the host.
Performance Indicators
  • 8.3.5 Keeps abreast of changes in practice and within practice environments that affect scope of practice
  • 10.2.7 Prioritizes specific nutrition problem(s).
Speaker

Meghan Jardine, MS, MBA, RD, LD, CDE

Meghan Jardine works to develop programs to educate physicians, health care professionals, and the public about nutrition as preventive medicine and the health benefits of plant-based diets. Prior to working at the Physicians Committee, Mrs. Jardine coordinated a large multi-site diabetes education program serving Dallas County in Texas. After seeing firsthand how the complications of diabetes can negatively affect quality of life and long-term health outcomes, Mrs. Jardine has been committed to helping people prevent and manage this devastating disease. Mrs. Jardine is the editor of Educator’s Corner for Practical Diabetology, a professional journal providing busy physicians and diabetes educators with straightforward, practical information to enhance the care and treatment they give their patients with diabetes. Mrs. Jardine earned her bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Texas Woman’s University. She also has a master’s in business administration from the University of Dallas.