Though we were not able to meet in person this year, the virtual conference was full of meaningful conversations and informative sessions!
Dr. Schär USA was one of the few dedicated gluten-free companies to exhibit virtually at FNCE® 2020. With over 13,000 dietitians, students, and other providers attending the conference, we were happy to show our support with free sample boxes, recipes, Dr. Schär Institute handouts, and more! We also hosted a coffee hour, where dietitians from all over the country were able to network and engage more with our in-house Nutrition Services team.
Session Highlights
Several sessions were dedicated to managing special diets for celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic kidney disease. We were also thrilled to see some of our Nutrition Alliance members speaking! Here were some of the highlights:
- Session: Novel Food Intolerance Testing and Personalizing Diet Interventions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Speakers: Dr. Bill Chey and Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN
- Description: Up to 80 percent of individuals with IBS experience symptoms related to food triggers. The low FODMAP diet is an evidence-based approach to managing IBS, but is not a one size fits all approach. Kate and Dr. Chey took us through the research regarding food intolerance in IBS and gave insight into some effective new therapies that may help individuals who are not appropriate candidates for the low FODMAP diet. Link to information about the session.
- Session: When Food Hurts: The Crossroads of Gastrointestinal and Eating Disorders
- Speakers: Janelle Smith, MS, RDN, CEDRD and Kelli Rugless, PsyD
- Description: Disordered eating is common in individuals who experience negative GI symptoms from eating, and up to 75% of individuals with eating disorders meet criteria for functional gut disorders. In this session, we learned ways to identify eating disorders and disordered eating patterns in individuals with GI disorders, as well as counseling skills for how to treat these challenging conditions together. Link to information about the session.
- Session: Bringing the Joy Back to Food for Kidney Disease Patients
- Speakers: Aisling Whelan, MS, RDN, CDN, Chef Linda Blaylock, Della Major (Patient Ambassador), and Dr. Blake Shusterman
- Description: Managing dietary restrictions can be extremely challenging for CKD patients, particularly if they are not working with a dietitian. This panel gave insight into how patients, dietitians, and doctors can work together to make this diet more approachable for CKD patients looking to nutrition for disease management. Link to information about the session.
- Session: The Emerging Benefits of a Plant-Forward Approach to the Chronic Kidney Disease Diet
- Speakers: Annamarie Rodriguez, RDN, LD, FAND and Dr. Kam Kalantar-Zadeh, MD, MPH, PhD
- Description: Emerging research suggests the benefit of including plant-based foods for treating CKD, despite their potassium or phosphorus content. In this session, speakers reviewed this literature and made recommendations for integrating plant-based proteins into the renal diet to delay the progression of CKD. Link to information about the session.
- Interested in learning more? Read a recent review article: Plant-Dominant Low-Protein Diet for Conservative Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (Kalantar, et al.). Click here.
