University of Arizona Arthritis Center to host virtual “Living Healthy with Arthritis” symposium with spotlight on culinary medicine

• What: UArizona Living Healthy with Arthritis Symposium
• When: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6
• Where: Virtual, link will be sent after registration.
• Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/culinary-medicine-harnessing-the-power-of-food-as-medicine-tickets-621191780337

The University of Arizona Arthritis Center, a Center of Excellence at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, will host the 2023 Virtual Living Healthy with Arthritis Symposium from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. 

Melanie Hingle, PhD, MPH, RD, associate professor of nutritional sciences and wellness at the UArizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will deliver the keynote address, “Culinary Medicine: Harnessing the Power of Food as Medicine.”

The symposium will cover information about health and services that help improve daily life and promote strengthening the mind and body to manage arthritis. 

The conference will be delivered via livestream. To view the conference agenda, please see this link. In addition, interested parties may register here.

Disease and Pain Prevention through Proper Nutrition

Culinary medicine uses nutrition science and behavioral medicine to best suit the needs and preferences of an individual, while taking into account their cultural traditions and beliefs, budget and other personal circumstances that play a role in dietary decision making. Research has found associations between chronic inflammation and diseases including arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other common illnesses. The anti-inflammatory diet is a crucial part of mitigating risk for diet-sensitive conditions and working to prevent them.

Dr. Hingle will discuss ways that proper nutrition can help to prevent chronic disease, pain and inflammation, and share key information on the anti-inflammatory diet. Following the conference keynote, a culinary demonstration will be offered for attendees to show practical examples of the concepts addressed in her presentation.

Dr. Hingle is a nutrition scientist and public health researcher at the UArizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she also serves as assistant dean. She is an associate professor at the UArizona School of Nutritional Sciences, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the BIO5 Institute. She also leads a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded training grant, the Multicultural Scholars Program in Culinary Medicine, at the School of Nutritional Sciences. She has spent years working with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and El Rio Community Health Center to develop prescription food boxes designed to promote nutrition security and combat diabetes.