News about Healthy Berries

WORLD’S LEADING EXPERTS TO PRESENT
LATEST FINDINGS ON HEALTH BENEFITS OF BERRIES

Berry Health Benefits Symposium
Charlotte, North Carolina
 June 18-20, 2013

 (March 28, 2013) –Leading scientists from around the world will gather in Charlotte, NC in June, 2013 to share their latest research on the positive effects of berries on human health. The 5th Biennial Berry Health Benefits Symposium, sponsored by the National Berry Crops Initiative (NBCI), will cover such topics as berries and brain aging, cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolism and other health-related issues.

 “The Berry Health Benefits Symposium offers attendees a unique opportunity to hear the latest research on berries, the now legendary superfood,” said Cat McKenzie, Administrator of the National Berry Crops Initiative and organizer of the symposium. “This is an exciting time for berries and this year’s symposium will not only showcase the benefits of berries in our diet, but show real research results that indicate the power berries have in brain aging, diabetes, inflammation, cancer, heart disease and more.”

A Unique and Valuable Event
Berries are increasingly in the spotlight as researchers continue to explore their many potential health benefits. The global appeal of this topic will attract not only members of the scientific community, but health and wellness practitioners, food industry professionals, educators and consumers.

Presenters
Over 25 acclaimed researchers will present during the three-day event, including:

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Mary Ann Lila, Director of the Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University  
Dr Lila will discuss the ways that berries have permeated cultures around the world for generations and how this knowledge can be used in the 21st century to provide solutions for chronic disease and obesity. Dr. Lila “ the rock star of blueberry research” has appeared on the Dr Oz Show in the US, discussing the extraordinary cancer-fighting properties of berries.

Dr. Barbara Shukitt- Hale, USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University will discuss the effect of berries on cognitive and motor function in aging. Her work has shown that diets rich in berries could reverse functional age related deficits in motor and cognitive behavior, these studies, relating to Alzheimer’s Disease and brain aging have had tremendous impact in the popular press.

Dr. Britt Burton Freeman, UC Davis will present her recent research on cardiovascular disease and its link to obesity. The affect of berries on both metabolism and inflammation and how dietary intervention with berries can improve these markers for heart health.

Dr. Ramesh Gupta, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville will share recent work from his laboratory on berry and other natural extracts that attach multiple targets for preventing lung, breast and cervical cancers using novel drug delivery systems.

The Berry Sessions
In addition to the research presentations, there will be a one-day event “The Berry Sessions” focusing on tools that can be used to better understand and communicate the message of berries and health, this event will be held on June 18th and is aimed at the non scientific audience. Workshops on media communication, understanding terminology, health related labeling issues, and a current research overview among others will give attendees the tools they need to communicate to any audience on berry health. Registration is $200 for the full event and includes lunch/breaks

North Carolina Research Tour
A final event “the North Carolina Research Tour” will be held June 20th.  A visit to the Kannapolis Campus of the David H. Murdoch Research Institute will give tour members a glimpse of the high tech tools used to evaluate the effects of berries in the diet. Also included in the tour is a culinary demonstration showing the uses of berries in healthy menu items and a historical view of the Kannapolis area. Posters from emerging scientists will be available to view on site.   The tour includes a gala dinner at a private Appalachian lodge. Tour tickets are available for $100.

For more details on the event, please visit www.berryhealth.org

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