The Nebraska Beef Council recently participated in the Nebraska Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Network’s (NCVPRN) annual conference. 2022 marked the 40th anniversary of NCVPRN and the Nebraska Chapter was recognized as the program of the year by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. At the conference, NBC hosted a lecture session featuring Registered Dietitian Megan Hovendick of Ogallala combined with outreach by Director of Nutrition and Education, Mitch Rippe.
Hovendick gave a presentation titled, “From the Clinic to the Kitchen: Practical Applications of Heart Health.” She gave a history of clinical research and how it has influenced nutrition recommendations from the 1940s to today. Hovendick says she focused on what consumers should be eating to have a heart healthy diet, instead of what to stay away from as she said people often do.
“When we are incorporating all the things we need, naturally our diets start to work away from all the items that we don’t need,” said Hovendick.
Rippe’s part of the presentation focused on lean beef’s impact as a positive food for heart health, and how it can be used as a source of protein as part of a heart healthy lifestyle.
“Understandably a lot of people fall short in fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption, but we enjoy and eat beef in Nebraska,” said Rippe. “We can now utilize lean beef as a vehicle in a heart healthy diet with the right portion sizes, eating 3 to 6 ounces of lean beef.”
Both Hovendick and Rippe said the audience of healthcare professionals were actively engaged in the conversation and found a lot of benefit in how they could apply this information both professionally and personally.
“As healthcare professionals, it’s our job to care for others but we can’t forget to take care of ourselves!” said Hovendick. “On a professional level, I hope that this presentation may change how they talk about nutrition with their patients with a more positive spin. It should be an exciting and interesting conversation.”
Over 100 nurses from across Nebraska attended the conference. Rippe says the Nebraska Beef Council has an established and positive working relationship with NCVPRN.