Washington, D.C., December 15, 2014—Nationally recognized nutrition expert, Danielle Omar, M.S., R.D., told an audience of Capitol Hill staffers to take the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans to heart, noting that eating a balanced diet requires a heightened level of planning, patience and know-how. She added that Americans rarely get all the nutrients they need from food alone, and that’s where supplementing smartly can play an important role. Ms. Omar was a guest of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus (DSC) at a luncheon briefing held in cooperation with the leading trade associations representing the dietary supplement industry—the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA) and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).
A fundamental premise of the Dietary Guidelines is that Americans should obtain nutrients primarily from food, while balancing energy intake with energy expenditure. Maximizing nutrient-dense foods is a shared public health goal, yet data consistently shows that consumption of these foods is lower than recommended and, consequently, major nutrient shortfalls still exist.
During the educational briefing, Ms. Omar, expounded on the current Dietary Guidelines recommendations, outlined options to bridge nutritional gaps and provided helpful tips for better health and wellness. As a registered dietitian based in Northern Virginia, Ms. Omar shared her expertise on her functional nutrition approach to moving beyond the standard of calories and carbs, and towards tangible means of helping working Americans realize their health goals.
Ms. Omar is a nationally recognized speaker and author of “Skinny Juices, 101 Juicing Recipes for Detox and Weight Loss.” She is a Washingtonian Magazine Top Nutritionist, and a health contributor for several news outlets including ABC, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Ms. Omar also gives health and nutrition advice on her blog Food Confidence.
This was the DSC’s 7th educational briefing in the 113th Congress. DSC educational briefings are held throughout the year, featuring nationally recognized authors, lecturers and authorities on health and wellness who provide tips and insights for better nutrition, including how dietary supplements can contribute to a healthier lifestyle. These briefings also help to educate congressional staff about constituent access to safe and beneficial dietary supplements, and legislative and regulatory issues associated with these products. In addition, DSC members receive regular updates on any new and ongoing developments in the dietary supplement arena.
The DSC has enjoyed robust growth this year, with an all-time membership high of 32 members. Founded in 2006, the DSC provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on dietary supplements—directing attention to the role of dietary supplements in health promotion and disease prevention.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal and botanical products industry. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the national trade association and voice of the herbal and botanical products industry. AHPA is comprised of more than 300 domestic and foreign companies doing business as growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbs and herbal products, including foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and non-prescription drugs. Founded in 1982, AHPA's mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products. Website: www.ahpa.org.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) is the 133-year-old-trade association representing the leading manufacturers and marketers of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.Every dollar spent by consumers on OTC medicines saves the U.S. healthcare system $6-$7, contributing a total of $102 billion in savings each year. CHPA is committed to promoting the increasingly vital role of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements in America’s healthcare system through science, education, and advocacy. Visit www.chpa.org and www.otcsafety.org.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org
The Natural Products Association (NPA) is the trade association representing the entire natural products industry. We advocate for our members who supply, manufacture and sell natural ingredients or products for consumers. NPA has set numerous industry standards, such as dietary supplement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), as well as a definition of natural for home care and personal care products. NPA, which represents nearly 2,000 members accounting for more than 10,000 locations of retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids, has led the charge to keep the natural products industry in business for 78 years. Visit www.NPAinfo.org.
The United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) is an association representing many leading natural products, dietary supplement, functional food and analytical and technology companies that share a commitment to provide consumers with natural health products of superior quality, benefit and reliability. Founded in Utah in 1991, UNPA was instrumental in the passage of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and continues to take a leadership position in regulatory issues and industry best practices. Visit www.unpa.com.