Western Oregon Journal

Focusing on the problems in the American diet, Nutritionist Deanna Latson delivered an interesting and sobering presentation to a group of students, faculty and community members on Monday, May 15, in the Werner Center's Pacific Room.

Latson has been giving speeches on nutrition to audiences for more than 20 years. She has a Clinically Certified Nutritionist's degree, a Masters Degree in Health Communication, and is currently finishing her Naturopathic Doctorate Degree. Before she began her path toward wellness, she also received a degree in advanced public speaking and communications.

Latson began what she describes as her "path to wellness" while in college when both of her parents were battling life-threatening diseases.

Latson herself also suffered from several health problems, she said, including a battle with bulimia that began when she was 11 years old.

She said that she decided to get healthy mostly to try to be an example for her father. What Latson calls her "ah-ha" experience was when she discovered that her father was taking 15 prescription medications daily, all of which were killing him slowly. When she talked to his doctor, she was told that he could not live without any one of them. Now her father is 65 pounds lighter and needs no prescription medication, much to the confusion of his doctor.

Latson has traveled all over the world and believes that one of the biggest deterrents to America's health is the health and diet industry.

"In this country, we are educated about our health by very smart business people," Latson said.

A bag of low-fat potato chips that she showed the audience had all the evidence of being a healthy food. However, she pointed out to audience members that it contained Olestra-a chemical that is known to cause loose stools and pulls vitamins out of a person's system. Even as little as one bag of these potato chips can lower a person's cancer-fighting agents by half, according to Latson.

Latson also spoke about many of the foods that have traditionally been considered to be healthy.

"Of all animals, we are the only ones who drink milk after weaning, and the only ones who drink the milk of another animal," Latson said. She went on to say that the idea that milk builds strong bones is a myth. Osteoporosis is not a disease of calcium deficiency, according to Latson; it is a disease of calcium loss. In the countries where people consume the largest amounts of milk there are the highest rates of osteoporosis, she said. Most of the calcium in milk is not absorbed into the body because of its high protein content. Orange juice is a much better source of calcium, and almost all of it can be absorbed easily into the body, Latson said.

Meat is another food about which there are a lot of myths, according to Latson. The problem is that most of the information available about these foods is provided by the people who sell them. When Latson was a nutritionist for professional football team the Philadelphia Eagles, she had them cut their KFC contract, and they noticed a dramatic increase in running times within a week, she said.

Latson's experiences opened the eyes for some attendees Monday night. "She makes me want to make the commitment," Ruzha Todorova said. "I felt like I knew everything, but it always means more when someone else tells you."

Senior Tiffany Graves said, "I really enjoyed hearing quotes from people who were experts in the field."

Following the seminar, fruit, water and health bars were available.

*For more information about Nutritionist Deanna Latson, log onto Gotohealth.com.

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