Today’s Dietitian – August 2019

EDITOR’S SPOT

EXECUTIVE

Chief Executive Officer Mara E. Honicker

Chief Operating Officer Jack Graham

EDITORIAL

Editor Judith Riddle

Nutrition Editor Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN

Editorial Director Lee DeOrio

Production Editor Kevin O’Brien

Editorial Assistants Heather Hogstrom, Hadley Turner

Editorial Advisory Board Dina Aronson, RD; Jenna A. Bell, PhD, RD;

Janet Bond Brill, PhD, RD, CSSD, LDN; Marlisa Brown, MS, RD, CDE,

CDN; Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN;

Carol Meerschaert, MBA, RD; Christin L. Seher, MS, RD, LD

ART

Art Director Charles Slack

Senior Graphic Designer Erin Faccenda

ADMINISTRATION

Administrative Manager Helen Bommarito

Administrative Assistants Pat Plumley, Susan Yanulevich

Executive Assistant Matt Czermanski

Systems Manager Jeff Czermanski

Systems Consultant Mike Davey

FINANCE

Director of Finance Jeff Czermanski

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Director of Continuing Education Jack Graham

Assistant Director of Continuing Education Leslie Cimei

Continuing Education Editor Kate Jackson

CIRCULATION

Circulation Director Nicole Hunchar

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

Publisher Mara E. Honicker

Director of Marketing and Digital Media Jason Frenchman

Web Designer/Marketing Assistant Jessica McGurk

Sponsorship and Event Associate Alex Homer

Sales Manager Brian Ohl

Associate Sales Manager Peter J. Burke

Senior Account Executives Gigi Grillot, Diana Kempster,

Beth VanOstenbridge

Account Executives Jack Cassari, Monica Kanninen

Founder Emeritus

Kathleen Czermanski

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All articles contained in Today’s Dietitian, including letters to

the editor, reviews, and editorials, represent the opinions of the authors,

not those of Great Valley Publishing Company or any organizations with

which the authors may be affiliated. Great Valley Publishing Company, its

editors, and its editorial advisors do not assume responsibility for

opinions expressed by the authors or individuals quoted in the magazine,

for the accuracy of material submitted by the authors, or for any injury to

persons or property resulting from reference to ideas or products

discussed in the editorial copy or the advertisements.

Judy

TROUBLE SLEEPING?

As dietitians, you probably encounter

many clients and patients who

complain about having trouble

sleeping. Some may have problems

falling asleep or staying asleep

throughout the night, or both. As a

result, they’re groggy, irritable, and

sluggish the next day. When these sleep troubles, which

are hallmarks of insomnia, become chronic, quality of life

can go down the tubes. I know firsthand—I’ve been there.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about

30% of adults in this country complain of disrupted sleep.

And there can be so many reasons for this: work stress,

family stress, excessive caffeine and/or alcohol intake,

medications, chronic pain, nicotine, and various sleep

disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless

leg syndrome. Whatever the cause, dietitians know it’s

imperative to discuss the importance of sleep for overall

health and strategies to improve sleep habits with clients,

and urge them to see their doctors if general lifestyle

changes don’t make a difference. Sleeping well, after

all, restores us physically, mentally, emotionally, and

spiritually; it also has an impact on metabolic health and

weight management.

Much research has been done on the association

between sleep quality and weight gain. Studies have

shown that poor sleep quality can alter appetite hormones

and lead to greater intake of calorie-dense foods during

waking hours. But there’s also some research, though

not as much, suggesting that what people actually eat

during the day may impact the quality of their sleep. This

is the subject of one of our features this month, “The Link

Between ZZZs & Eats,” which surveys the evidence on the

relationship between certain macronutrients and foods

and sleep quality. This is an area where RDs certainly can

help clients who are having trouble sleeping—barring any

serious medical problems causing their insomnia.

Also in this issue are articles on green tea catechins,

nutrition and academic performance, and popular weight

loss programs. Please enjoy the issue!

Judith Riddle

Editor

[email protected]

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