Purdue Diet and Nutrition Experts

Calcium Louise Peck Assistant professor, foods and nutrition Director, Coordinated Program in Dietetics (765) 494-8236 E-mail: peckl@cfs.purdue.edu Is involved in educating adolescents on the importance of calcium in their diet. Is expert on general nutrition topics including nutrition for children; nutrition and behavior; and nutrition in prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Has studied fatty acids with regard to kidney disease, behavior and development. Has also studied fat substitutes and can comment on products such as olestra. Cancer/diet Martha Belury Associate professor, nutrition (765) 494-0302 E-mail: belurym@cfs.purdue.edu Is an expert on diet and cancer prevention, dietary fat and health, polyunsaturated fats, and chemoprevention through diet. Laura J. Jenski Associate professor, biology, Indiana University- Purdue University, Indianapolis (317) 274-0590 Is a pioneer in the area of dietary effects on immune system function. Interested in effects of dietary manipulation of tumor cells on immunosurveillance. Is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Institute for Cancer Research. Dietary fat Martha Belury For biography, see "Cancer/diet " Bruce A. Watkins Professor, food science/food and nutrition (765) 494-5802 E-mail: watkins@foodsci.purdue.edu Can talk in general on dietary fat and health. Expert on nutrition of fat and vitamins and the effect of diet on heart and bone disease. A lipid chemist and nutritionist, current research includes a look at the effects of lipids on bone health and the importance of antioxidants in diet and degenerative disease. Also an expert on poultry products. Serves on various committees with American Society for Nutritional Sciences; American Oil Chemists Society; Institute of Food Technologists; American Institute of Nutrition/American Society for Clinical Nutrition; National Cattleman's Beef Association; and National Dairy Council. Eating disorders David R. Black Professor, health promotion (765) 494-4373 E-mail: black@vm.cc.purdue.edu Current research focuses on eating disorders, specifically among elite women athletes. Earlier studies found that spouses who diet together succeed together. Also studied diet successes of friends who diet together and found that those who diet with a buddy are 30 percent more likely to lose weight and keep it off than those who diet alone. Fat substitutes James R. Daniel Associate professor, food chemistry (765) 494-8247 E-mail: danielj@cfs.purdue.edu Is conducting research on alternative sweeteners and fat substitutes based on carbohydrates. Has written numerous journal publications, encyclopedia entries and book chapters on carbohydrates, fat substitutes and sugar substitutes. Louise Peck For biography, see "Calcium" Food/budget Donna Vandergraff Extension specialist, foods and nutrition Coordinator, Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (765) 494-8538 E-mail: vandergraff@cfs.purdue.edu State coordinator of Expanded Food and Nutrition Program, which reaches 10,000 people annually in Indiana with information on food safety, nutrition and stretching limited food resources. Coordinates "Have a Health Baby" program, which teaches pregnant teens and adults about nutrition and prenatal care. Food safety William D. Evers Associate professor and Extension specialist, foods and nutrition (765) 494-8546 E-mail: eversb@cfs.purdue.edu An expert on nutrition, food safety and using the Internet to find nutrition information. Is developing computer simulations as tools in nutrition education. Nutrition William D. Evers For biography, see "Food safety" Louise Peck For biography, see "Calcium" Nutrition/disease Olivia Bennett Wood Associate professor, foods and nutrition Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics (765) 494-8238 E-mail: woodo@cfs.purdue.edu Is a registered dietitian. Can discuss subjects associated with clinical nutrition: weight control, medical nutrition therapy for diseases, normal nutrition for the life cycle, modified nutrition for special life situations (athletics), and the vegetarian diet. Teaches courses in medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition and diet selection. Has conducted research on nutrition education programs in irradiation, antioxidants and feeding infants. Also took part in study of calcium metabolism in adolescent girls. Former member of the board of directors of the American Dietetic Association and the Indiana Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. Nutrition/pregnancy Donna Vandergraff For biography, see "Food/budget " Vegetarianism Olivia Bennett Wood For biography, see "Nutrition/disease" Weight control Richard D. Mattes Associate professor, foods and nutrition (765) 494-0662 E-mail: mattesr@cfs.purdue.edu Has expertise in human food selection, taste and smell, taste preferences, food aversions and cravings. Studies the regulation of food intake and body weight, and diet and chronic diseases. Is expert on sensory functioning. Can discuss food preferences and compliance with a reduced fat diet. Member of the Commission for Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. Olivia Bennett Wood For biography, see "Nutrition/disease" Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page