The public is invited to attend the 11th Annual Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference, titled, “Successful Nutrition for Life,” on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mid-America Center, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The conference is sponsored by the Olson Center for Women’s Health, UNMC, The Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Wellness Council of the Midlands.
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Shelly Asplin |
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Nessie Ferguson |
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Karen Rafferty |
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Brenda Bishop |
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Peter Pellerito |
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Barbara Robertson |
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Sarah Shiller |
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Lisa Nichter |
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Jamie Kabourek |
The conference will feature more than 30 exhibits, including information on health and wellness, various health conditions and community resources. Limited scholarships are available for women with financial restrictions.
The breakfast keynote speaker will be Nessie Ferguson, medical nutrition therapist at The Nebraska Medical Center. Her talk, titled, “Kitchen Capers: How to Get a Head Start on Healthy Eating,” will teach participants how to adapt favorite recipes to be lower in fat, salt and sugar, and higher in fiber. She also will explore ideas about how to pack the kitchen with healthy staples.
The main session keynote speaker will be Shelly Asplin, medical nutrition therapist with Hy-Vee Inc. The title of her talk is “Organic Versus Natural Food: What’s All the Buzz About?”
The luncheon keynote is Karen Rafferty, medical nutrition therapist and owner of Nutrition Science Resource. Her talk, titled, “Vitamin D, Thinking Outside the Bones,” will focus on the importance of Vitamin D, which serves many functions in the body beyond its role in bone health.
Participants can choose among various afternoon breakout sessions. Topics will include the following.
- “Superfoods: Simple Solutions to Improve Your Health from Today and Beyond,” by Shelly Asplin, a medical nutrition therapist with Hy-Vee. The talk will focus on the benefits of Omega-3, soy, probiotics, fiber and antioxidants, and how to incorporate these superfoods into the diet;
- “Eat Well to Live Well: Unraveling Nutrition Controversies,” by Brenda Bishop, medical nutrition therapist at The Nebraska Medical Center, who will focus on triggers for initiating safe and effective weight loss;
- “Warning! Modern Living is Hazardous to Your Health,” by Peter Pellerito, fitness specialist at UNMC’s Center for Healthy Living. His talk will focus on how the rapidly changing modern world is conspiring against human health. Gain insight into the nature of the human condition and learn skills to survive and thrive in today’s world;
- “You Are What You Eat,” by Barbara Robertson and Sarah Shiller, medical nutrition therapists of The Nebraska Medical Center. Their talk will focus on practical suggestions on what to eat to be healthier and how nutrient needs change with aging.
- “Supplement Savvy,” by Lisa Nichter, medical nutrition therapist at The Nebraska Medical Center, whose talk will provide information about popular nutrition supplements
- “Understanding Food Allergy: A Primer,” by Jamie Kabourek, registered dietician, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Food Allergy Research and Resource Program. She will talk about food allergies and intolerances and how to manage them successfully.
Major financial sponsors of the conference are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and Humana MarketPOINT.
The registration deadline is Oct. 17. To get a registration form, go to www.olsoncenter.com or call (402) 559-6345. Olson Wellness Exchange (O.W.E.) members may receive a $5 discount off the general registration cost. For more information about the conference or to become an O.W.E. member, please contact the Olson Center for Women’s Health at (402) 559-6345.
Nursing contact hours are available for this event.