Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
Eating a Healthy Diet to Protect Against Pollution
June 22, 2021
Interviewee: Dawn Brewer, Ph.D.
In this podcast, we’ll hear from Dawn Brewer, Ph.D., who discusses how a eating a healthy diet may protect against the harmful effects of pollution.
Eating a Healthy Diet to Protect Against Pollution
Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain nutrients that can lower the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may also counteract the negative effects of pollution on the body.
In this podcast, we’ll hear from Dawn Brewer, Ph.D., who discusses how a healthy diet can protect against the harmful effects of pollution. She also describes a nutritional intervention – called BerryCare – she launched with community partners to encourage Kentucky residents to eat more fruits and vegetables. Plus, she shares tips on how to get more produce on your plate.
Interviewee: Dawn Brewer, Ph.D.
Dawn Brewer, Ph.D., is a registered dietitian and an associate professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at the University of Kentucky (UK). She also leads the Community Engagement Core for the NIEHS-funded UK Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center and is director of graduate studies for the UK Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
Brewer conducts community-engaged research focused on positive lifestyle changes, such as healthful nutrition and increased physical activity. She uses community interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among vulnerable populations including rural Appalachians and older adults.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about the health benefits of berries and how to grow your own berry bushes in these BerryCare factsheets:
- Check out slides from a 2019 PEPH webinar featuring Dawn Brewer about how a healthy lifestyle can protect health from pollution.
- Watch a short video to learn more about how the UK SRP connects with communities.
- Learn how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is advancing nutrition research in the Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research.
- Read an August 2020 article, Precision Nutrition – the Answer to “What to Eat to Stay Healthy”, co-authored by NIH Director, Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Director, Griffin Rodgers, M.D.
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