NUTRITION CONVERSATIONS
The Podcasts from the Canadian Nutrition Society/la Société canadienne de nutrition (CNS/SCN) feature evidence-based information from healthcare providers and subject matter experts.
*New episodes are released at the end of each month
Sponsored podcasts have no part in the development of the podcast questions nor in the resulting discussions.
Season 3, Episode 3
Canadian Food Regulations: Are they barriers or facilitators to food innovations in Canada? with Dr. William Yan, Dr. Samuel Godefroy and guest host, Teresa Mastrodicasa
Original Air Date: April 30, 2025
Over the past decade, food and food systems have emerged as key to tackling non-communicable diseases, sustainability, and food security. This has spurred major investments in technologies that transform how we produce and consume food. Yet, regulation and policy remain major barriers to innovation, access, and identifying foods that support healthy diets. Dr. William Yan earned his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Alberta and joined Health Canada in 1995. As Director of the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences (2010–2022), he led key Healthy Eating Strategy initiatives, including sodium reduction, trans fat elimination, and front-of-package labelling. Now retired, he is a CNS-SCN Fellow, and teaches at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Samuel Godefroy, former Director General of Health Canada’s Food Directorate and Vice Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, has over 25 years of experience in food regulatory science and policy. He is President of both the International Union of Food Science and Technology and the Global Food Regulatory Science Society. Currently, he is a Full Professor at Laval University, where he leads the Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Excellence Platform. In this episode, Dr. Yan and Dr. Godefroy discuss regulation and policy as a barrier and facilitator to addressing food system challenges, with a primary focus on food manufacturing and consumers as targets for food system modernization. This podcast is sponsored by Protein Industries Canada.
Season 3, Episode 2
Why We Store Fat Differently: The Science Behind Metabolism and Obesity with Dr. Kafi Ealey
Original Air Date: March 31, 2025
Research shows that adipose (fat) tissue isn’t just stored energy—it plays a critical role in metabolism, inflammation, and disease risk. Biological, environmental and nutritional factors contribute to differences in how people store fat and develop conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Kafi Ealey is an assistant professor in the School of Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Ealey obtained her MSc and PhD from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral training at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Yokohama, Japan, as well as in the Department of Translational Medicine at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children Research Centre. Dr. Ealey’s research is focused on understanding the biological and cellular processes that govern the diverse functions of metabolic tissues to promote overall health. Her work employs a range of experimental models to determine how nutrition can affect fat storage, the immune system, and how the body uses energy, and helps us better understand how to prevent or manage chronic metabolic diseases. Dr. Ealey is particularly passionate about examining the biological variations in metabolic systems that contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes. In this episode, Dr. Ealey discusses how fat storage and metabolism vary across individuals and populations, and why these differences matter for health.
Season 3, Episode 1
Stronger for Longer: The Power of Exercise in Healthy Aging with Dr. Lora Giangregorio
Original Air Date: February 28, 2025
Older adults are the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, yet gaps in care persist, including limited healthcare access, social isolation, and rising cognitive decline. Addressing these challenges through diet and physical activity is key to promoting healthy aging and quality of life. Dr. Lora Giangregorio is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science. She leads the Bone Health and Exercise Science Lab, also known as the BonES lab. The BonES lab team leads research on physical activity for older adults and people with osteoporosis. Dr. Giangregorio is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Osteoporosis Canada and was on the leadership team that developed the 2020 Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines. She also led the Exercise Working Group for the 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention in Canada. In this episode, Dr. Giangregorio discusses the vital role of exercise in supporting mobility, bone health, and muscle strength in older adults.
Season 2, Episode 12
Understanding Sodium: From Tackling Public Health Concerns to Practical Ways to Cut Back with Dr. JoAnne Arcand
Original Air Date: December 27, 2024
Sodium is essential for our bodies, but too much can have serious consequences for our health, including raising blood pressure and increasing the risk of heart disease. Dr. JoAnne Arcand is an Associate Professor and Registered Dietitian in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. She leads a research program that explores evidence-based approaches to the implementation of nutrition policies and interventions to enhance population-wide strategies aimed at supporting healthy eating, including dietary sodium. Her research addresses behavioural nutritional risk factors across the lifecycle, from children to older adults, for both the general public and people affected by chronic diseases. Her work is recognized by awards such as a Heart and Stroke Foundation National New Investigator Award, Hypertension Canada Young Investigator Award, and a CIHR-INMD New Investigator Award. In this episode, Dr. Arcand discusses the role of sodium on our health and strategies to reduce its intake.
Season 2, Episode 11
Building a SHIELD: The Power of Nutrition in Healthy Aging with Dr. Agnes Siew Ling Tey
Original Air Date: November 27, 2024
The world's over-65 population is expanding rapidly, and the risk of malnutrition is prevalent in this population. Meeting nutritional needs is a recognized strategy to reduce and address multiple debilitating adverse health outcomes associated with malnutrition. Dr. Agnes Siew Ling Tey, Senior Lead of Clinical Science & Nutrition at Abbott in Singapore. Her research centers on pioneering dietary strategies to prevent and manage malnutrition, cardiometabolic diseases, and obesity. With over 50 contributions to international peer-reviewed journals, and an evidence-based position statement for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Dr. Tey is also an esteemed editor and reviewer for various scientific journals. Prior to joining Abbott in 2016, Dr. Tey was a Research Fellow at the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre of Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). At Abbott, she has provided scientific leadership as the Study Chair and Lead Scientist for the Strengthening Health In ELDerly through nutrition (SHIELD) study on elderly nutrition and has led several randomized controlled trials in diabetes. Her broad expertise includes clinical research on malnutrition in older adults and cardiometabolic diseases in populations who are overweight or living with obesity. In this episode, Dr. Tey discusses the role of nutrition in healthy aging with a focus on the Strengthening Health in Elderly through Nutrition Study. This podcast episode is sponsored by Abbott.
Season 2, Episode 10
Beyond the Buzz: Understanding the Impact of Alcohol on Health from a Public Health Perspective with Dr. Erin Hobin
Original Air Date: October 31, 2024
Alcohol is regularly used to relax after a long day at work, at dinner, and on the weekend as well as in connection with social events or to mark special occasions; however, we have learned that even low levels of regular use increases health risks. Dr. Erin Hobin is a Senior Scientist at Public Health Ontario, an Associate Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Collaborating Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria. Her research program focuses on developing and evaluating population level interventions for chronic disease prevention, specifically in the areas of alcohol control policy and consumer product labels. Dr. Hobin has served on several scientific advisory committees focused on alcohol policy, including for the World Health Organization, Eurocare, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, and the 2023 Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Report focused on substance use health. In this episode, she will be discussing the role of alcohol on our health and how policy can promote healthier decisions.
Season 2, Episode 9
Transforming Pediatric Malnutrition Care with Dr. Jessie Hulst and Daina Kalnins
Original Air Date: September 27, 2024
Malnutrition in Canada is an overlooked health issue that can have a huge impact on individuals and the health care system. When it comes to pediatric malnutrition, the stakes are even higher, calling for urgent transformation in how we address and prevent it. . The Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, a group of clinicians, researchers and decision makers, has been advancing nutrition care research and education to address the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition across many health sectors. Dr. Jessie Hulst is a staff physician in the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Hospital for Sick Children, and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Toronto. She previously served as a Staff Gastroenterologist at Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, Netherlands (2011-2018). Her PhD focused on nutritional assessment in critically ill children, development of a nutritional risk screening tool (STRONGkids), and she has authored > 100 peer-reviewed publications. She has been involved in the implementation of the Dutch Malnutrition Taskforce pediatric malnutrition pathway and mandatory National Hospital Quality Indicators and is the co-chair of the pediatric working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Taskforce. Daina Kalnins is a registered dietitian and Director of Clinical Dietetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, which includes the Breastfeeding Program. Daina is a strong advocate for supporting evidence-based practice and has engaged her Clinical Dietetics team in caring safely practices, as well as quality improvement initiatives. She also works in the CF clinic and the lung transplant program, and has authored/co-authored over 16 publications and chapters related to CF, as well as several books on infant and children’s nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Hulst and Daina discuss transforming pediatric malnutrition care.
Season 2, Episode 8
Défiler, cliquer, digérer: La désinformation nutritionnelle sur les médias sociaux avec Dre Sophie Desroches / Scroll, click, digest: Nutritional misinformation on social media with Dr. Sophie Desroches
Original Air Date: August 30, 2024
L'alimentation et la nutrition sont des sujets populaires dans les médias et sur les réseaux sociaux. L'omniprésence des médias sociaux a créé de nouvelles opportunités pour les experts qualifiés ou accrédités de la communauté scientifique de communiquer avec leurs clients et le public. Elle a également créé des défis. Dre Sophie Desroches est professeure titulaire et diététiste à l'École de nutrition à l’Université Laval et chercheuse au Centre NUTRISS de l’INAF. Ses travaux de recherche visent à identifier des stratégies de transfert de connaissances en nutrition et à favoriser leur implantation dans les pratiques cliniques des diététistes afin d’améliorer l’adhésion aux recommandations nutritionnelles. Les plus récents travaux de recherche effectués dans son équipe portent sur l’utilisation des médias sociaux comme stratégie de transfert de connaissances dans les domaines reliés aux habitudes de vie incluant la nutrition. Dans cet épisode, Dre Desroches discute de la désinformation en nutrition sur les réseaux sociaux. / Food and nutrition are popular topics in the media and on social networks. The ubiquity of social media has created new opportunities for qualified or accredited experts in the scientific community to communicate with their clients and the public. It has also created challenges. Dr. Sophie Desroches is a professor and dietitian at Université Laval's School of Nutrition, and researcher at INAF's Centre NUTRISS. Her research is aimed at identifying strategies for transferring nutrition knowledge and implementing them in dietitians' clinical practices, in order to improve adherence to dietary recommendations. Her team's most recent research focuses on the use of social media as a knowledge translation strategy in lifestyle-related fields, including nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Desroches discusses nutrition misinformation on social media . **Please note that this podcast has been recorded in French; however, you may view the script in English here: https://mcusercontent.com/8cd2c309ad23618d521742c2e/files/07258d9a-a46a-1666-ca74-024f845b577d/Episode_8_Season_2_.doc.docx
Season 2, Episode 7
Making Informed Choices: Unveiling Health Canada’s Supplemented Foods Awareness Labeling Initiative with Elaine De Grandpré
Original Air Date: July 31, 2024
Most of us are familiar with vitamin and mineral supplements, but did you know that there are foods and drinks on the market called “supplemented foods”? These products have added ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and caffeine. While they can offer additional nutrients, some can pose a risk to your health if consumed excessively or by vulnerable groups (e.g. pregnant individuals). Elaine De Grandpré is the Manager of Knowledge Translation and Exchange in the Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration of the Food and Nutrition Directorate at Health Canada. She is an innovative and energetic leader with over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors and has extensive knowledge of public health nutrition, behavioural science, food and nutrition policy and regulatory development and evaluation, stakeholders’ consultation & engagement as well as education. Elaine is also a professor at the University of Ottawa in the Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs program. In this episode, Elaine discusses Health Canada’s new Supplemented Foods Awareness Labelling Initiative. You can learn more about supplemented foods at www.canada.ca/supplementedfoods.
Season 2, Episode 6
Connecting nutritional strategies with chronic disease prevention with Dr. Dylan MacKay
Original Air Date: June 28, 2024
Chronic conditions such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease are major public health concerns and on the rise worldwide. Dietary interventions that include foods such as fruit and vegetables may help improve health outcomes, but what about adherence? Could providing foods directly to people as part of health services be a solution? Dr. Dylan MacKay is an Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Chronic Disease in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences and the Department of Internal Medicine Section Endocrinology at the University of Manitoba. He has a background in Human Nutritional Sciences, with training and experience in clinical trials and patient-oriented research. He is also a person who lives with type 1 diabetes and his work focuses primarily on glucose metabolism, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Dr. MacKay also has a strong personal connection with type 1 diabetes research in which he is both a researcher and a person with lived experience. In this episode, Dr. MacKay discusses the nutritional strategies such as home delivery of foods for chronic diseases such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease.