The fun + games continue
Breakfast didn’t really fill me up, but I’ve learned from attending many conferences this year that you don’t have to wait long until you’re fed again
Lauri and I snacked on a prune sample during our lactose presentation. It was also pretty basic – the lesson was 1) lactose intolerance varies greatly person to person and 2) It does not mean you can’t enjoy milk, cheese, or yogurt – you just need to know the dosage right to keep your body from symptoms (unfortunately I’m guessing that’s a very small amount for most…) Wish there had been a bit more science!
Over lunch we received a presentation on folic acid dihydrofolate reductase deficiency presented by the famous textbook author from East Carolina University, Sylvia Escott-Stump! Her talk was really interesting and very scientific – so much that I’m not sure I can explain it yet. But basically there is a gene mutation that interrupts normal folate metabolism in the body that has widespread health implications ranging from spina bifida to inflammatory bowel disease to insulin resistance to depression. If I ever were to work in research, I think genetics would be really, really cool.
We were presented with a lovely seated lunch!
To start, a simple salad, which I polished off.
Rolls! Enjoyed one
And the entree. I checked "Vegetarian" on the form because I was hoping for a vegetable-rich lunch – and also am wary of foodservice meats these days.
I was served two ricotta stuffed shells in a cheese sauce. Wasn’t really impressed and only had 2 bites. Ate up all my broccoli though!
Lauri had the regular entree – grilled chicken, potatoes, snap peas. We exchanged bites and the chicken was actually not bad!
Seated lunch desserts are either hit or miss.
This one was a HIT!!!
Strawberry cherry cake with a whipped cream icing. I ate about 75% – ’twas delish!
In the middle of the Sports Nutrition workshop now and it’s VERY enlightening!!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
I’m very interested to hear about the sports nutrition!! but I am even MORE Interested in that cake, yum!!!!!!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
I would love to know more aboutsports nutrition! But oh my, there are some long words in this post 😛 My head is so full of science revision already I hardly have the capacity to understand it all!! Sounds interesting though 🙂
Enjoy the afternoon!
Veggielady4life says
Looks like you are enjoying yourself at your conference today… glad to see that. I know you had a busy week. Thanks for the help with my camera questions yesterday. I have one more for you. This might sound paranoid… but I’ve wanted to ask someone… and you seem like the best person. Were you ever nervous about giving out your home address for companies to mail you product reviews or gifts for your advertisement? How do you screen companies/products/etc.? Thanks so much!
Kath says
I just go with my gut and what their email address and signature say. And check out websites and all.
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
I would love to go to one of those conferences! I love learning about nutrition. Have a blast my dear 🙂
Bec says
sounds like a great event! I would love to hear about the sports nutrition part. I also get the veggie option when flying or at banquets, it tends to be something I would really enjoy!
Diana says
That conference sounds so interesting! 🙂 And that dessert looks great! The vegetarian meal not so much but at least there was broccoli, one of my favs! 😉
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Leave it to nutritionists to have such tasty desserts 🙂
Jil says
That cake looks amazing! I agree…I always check vegetarian option for meals when traveling by plane and for catered events.
Gillzibar says
I work in genetics and you are right. It is really, really cool! 😛
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
What an interesting lunch to serve people at an RD conference. You would have thought it would have been fresh healthy foods and not so heavy dinner type of food.
Rose-Anne says
Yay for genetics! I’m another geneticist (though my subjects have wings :-)) and it is an awesome area of science. I love it. There is so much to learn.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Yum! Glad the cake was a hit!
I feel like at so many functions, “vegetarian” means pasta with cream sauce. 🙁
Danielle (Coffee Run) says
This conference sounds really cool 😀 Seriously, I would love to hear about genetics haha I think it’s so interesting!
I wish I had some PB&J glasses…
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Lactose intolerance is so tricky. For me it is so touchy that one day I’ll be okay with one dosage and the next with the same will make me sick.
That’s also the reason I’m wary of the vegetarian options. Always way too much dairy.
But I can’t wait to hear what you learn about sports nutrition.
Emily @ The Front Burner Blog says
Oh wow – vegetarian FAIL. Also, while trying to concentrate on your post, I couldn’t help but be distracted by how UGLY the CARPET was in that conference room!! Yikes!
Lauren says
Soo, that famous textbook author (Mrs. Sylvia Escott-Stump) is one of my professors at ECU. I’m a senior Nutrition/Dietetics student…graduating in May!!! She is such an awesome lady! We forget that she is actually famous because we see her everyday. Haha! I read your blog everyday (LOVE it!!) and have never commented, but I got really excited when you mentioned Mrs. Escott-Stump. 🙂
Veronica says
HaHa…I was just about to tell Kath the same thing. I’m from ECU too! I didn’t know there were other Pirate Kerf fans.
Kath says
fun! My friend Caitlin also went to ECU and knows her 🙂
Anais says
I made a very similar cake for my sister’s birthday but it was an angel cake. She definitely loved it 🙂
Jenn (www.j3nn.net) says
That cake looks like the best part! YUM 😀
I’m interested in that mutation that you learned about. Very interesting!!
Jenn
Janna ~ Just Flourishing says
I would love to attend some nutrition workshops. I’ll have to look for some in NYC, I’m sure there are a few!
Mmm I want cake now 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I am always wary of served meals like that…ugh, you never know what you will get. That is why I am always packing hobo snacks (as my husband affectionately calls them). Sounds like an interesting day!
Gabriela says
Wow!
Delicious looking dishes 🙂
I´m sure you´re having a great time!
All the presentation themes sound really interesting. Go, Kath!
😀
Have a great night!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
Ashley says
I love hearing about all the things you’re learning!! I’m totally interested. Dessert? Yes please!!
Hannah says
That veggie dish looks so lame… not even counting that you say it didn’t taste good, that greyish sauce just looks icky! At least the cake made up for it!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I love learning about folic acid. Especially since everything—*everything*—seems to be fortified with it these days. 😉
runnerforever says
Will you be able to share some sports nutrition tips with us??
Veronica says
We’re having our NCDA meeting tommorw…I was debating on what to wear, your photos helped. Thanks! lol
Lisa says
HOW on Earth do you have the willpower to only eat 75% of that cake? It looks amazing! 🙂
Jaclyn says
Interesting about the lactose intolerance… I’m LI and I find that I can eat small amounts of it and be okay, but too much *ie a bowl of ice cream does not sit well. Unfortunately *fortunately?* for me ice cream has to be a onceinabluemoon thing.
Hate when the veg option is not really a veg option! Broc looked yummy though. Interesting panels today! I’m jealous of you did that!
Laurel says
Kath, I was so interested to see your mention of folate metabolism! I recently found out that I’m homozygous for the bad mutation of the Methylene-tetra-hydro-folate-reductase gene (MTHFR) gene. I have to take large quantities of folic acid and also low dose aspirin. MTHFR can be especially dangerous during pregnancy 1) because of the difficulty metabolizing folic acid and 2) because of the tendency for the blood to be too thick/ clot too quickly. One MTHFR treatment during pregnancy is an injectable blood thinner (e.g., Lovenox), although this is controversial and many doctors will not prescribe it.
There has not been much formal research done on MTHFR so I’ve been doing a lot of reading online about it. I’ve discovered that many women don’t even know they have it until they experience recurrent pregnancy loss.
Kath says
That is exactly the mutation we discussed today!! I’m wondering why you don’t take the active form of folate in supplement form? I think it’s L-methyl tetrafolate? Perhaps your case isn’t as severe as prof. Escott-Stump’s today? Wish you could have listened to her presentation! Perhaps you could email her?
Laurel says
Hi Kath,
Thanks for your reponse. My doctor told me I can take regular folic acid tablets (a few of them) in addition to the dose of folic acid from a multivitamin she prescribed. I did some research (I referenced a protocol by Dr. Alan Beer–link: http://www.repro-med.net/repro-med-site2/, who is well known for his work with recurrent pregnancy loss and immunology; his book includes a section on MTHFR. I actually just got a prescription for Folgard , which he recommendeds for women with MTHFR.
Did Professor Escott-Stump mention a different form of active folate to take? I would love to email her. If you have an address, would you mind passing it on (you can email me if you prefer: [email protected])?
Thanks so much Kath! Much appreciated.
Kath says
Laurel,
She did mention two brands that make supplements of the active form, but I don’t recall what they are. I don’t have her email, but you can probably find it on the East Carolina website. Good luck!
Laurel says
Thanks again Kath. I Googled her and found an address so I sent off an email.
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I’ve learned to assume the veggie option will be something involving pasta, and to be pleasantly surprised when it’s not. The broccoli looks yummy 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
That cake is making me droool
Katharina says
What a neat meeting! And I love those glasses hehehe SO CUTE 😀
Abby says
….Seeing the world through bread-shaped glassed. That’s how I see my world!
The sports nutrition class sounds so interesting!!
Megan B says
The lactose intolerance thing is tricky. I’m lactose intolerant and for years didn’t eat any dairy at all, until I tried harder cheeses.
I’m so curious why I can tolerate a lot of cheese and not much yogurt?! It’s weird to me b/c my doctor once told me that yogurt was very tolerable, and yet, it causes issues for me. Wonder what kind of research is out there for lactose intolerance??
Kath says
Hard cheeses have less lactose – but yogurt still has a high amount (13-15g, I believe – the same as milk). The bacteria in yogurt are supposed to help with the digestion, but my guess is that either you weren’t eating yogurt with the right cultures OR the bacteria just didn’t help you digest 🙁
Brittney says
Hi Kath! I don’t comment much but I have to say that your conference sounded very interesting, especially the part about folate deficiency and inflammatory bowel disease. Are you basically saying that folate deficiency (because of this gene mutation) could be a cause for IBD? I find that interesting because I have ulcerative colitis and I have to take a folic acid supplement because one of the medications I’m for my UC on depletes folic acid from the body. I guess I just find it interesting that some people who have IBD possibly because of this mutation may be on meds that further deplete folic acid from the body, which sounds like it would be doing more harm than good, you know? Anyway, please correct me if I have this all wrong! Thanks for sharing all of this information. It must be so much fun to go to conferences like this even if it is on a Saturday 🙂
Kath says
Brittney,
It wouldn’t be a folate deficiency – it would be a lack of the active form of folate – L-methyl tetrafolate. So adding or removing folate might not make much of a difference. The problem is converting it from folate to LMTF. So really what one would need to fix it would be the LMTF supplemented.
Suzi says
May I have permission to use your “food group eye glasses” photo in future newsletters and/or on the website for the dietetic association? Thanks!