Third Wed Ed: Functional Foods and Healthful Dietary Patterns in Prevention and Management of Chronic Diseases, Neda Akhavan, PhD, RD
Date
11/19/2025
Time
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST
Venue
Virtual Meeting - Meeting link is provided after registering.
Course Description
This seminar explores the role of functional foods and evidence-based dietary patterns in preventing and managing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Emphasis will be placed on practical dietary strategies and current research findings.
Course Objectives
Brief Biography of Instructor
Assistant Professor Neda Akhavan joined the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences in August 2023. Dr. Akhavan's research focuses on understanding how functional foods, including whole foods, nutraceuticals/extracts and dietary supplements improve or prevent chronic disease conditions. Additionally, she is interested in examining the burden of disease conditions and how factors including dietary patterns, obesity, aging, and functional performance/functionality may be associated with various health outcomes. Populations she has worked with include individuals with diabetes/pre-diabetes, hypertension/pre-hypertension, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis/osteopenia, osteoarthritis, and cognitive decline. She is an advocate for multi-disciplinary and collaborative research, where the goal of her research is to improve public health and nutritional habits. Her passion to enhance the effectiveness and impact of clinical and public health nutrition led her to obtain her RD credential to further contribute to the growing needs for translational research in both dietetics practice and policy. Dr. Akhavan earned her master's degree in Clinical Nutrition and her doctoral degree in Human Nutrition from Florida State University. She also completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Human Nutrition at Florida State University.
All Third Wednesday programs are one hour in length, free for members, and $35 for non-members. Each session provides 1 CCU. Be sure to register online, and note that live attendance is required to receive your certificate of completion.
This seminar explores the role of functional foods and evidence-based dietary patterns in preventing and managing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Emphasis will be placed on practical dietary strategies and current research findings.
Course Objectives
- Define functional foods and identify examples relevant to chronic disease prevention.
- Describe key dietary patterns associated with improved health outcomes (e.g., Mediterranean, DGA, DASH).
- Explain the role of functional foods and dietary patterns in the prevention and management of common chronic diseases.
- Apply clinical research findings and dietary recommendations for patient or community guidance.
Brief Biography of Instructor
Assistant Professor Neda Akhavan joined the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences in August 2023. Dr. Akhavan's research focuses on understanding how functional foods, including whole foods, nutraceuticals/extracts and dietary supplements improve or prevent chronic disease conditions. Additionally, she is interested in examining the burden of disease conditions and how factors including dietary patterns, obesity, aging, and functional performance/functionality may be associated with various health outcomes. Populations she has worked with include individuals with diabetes/pre-diabetes, hypertension/pre-hypertension, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis/osteopenia, osteoarthritis, and cognitive decline. She is an advocate for multi-disciplinary and collaborative research, where the goal of her research is to improve public health and nutritional habits. Her passion to enhance the effectiveness and impact of clinical and public health nutrition led her to obtain her RD credential to further contribute to the growing needs for translational research in both dietetics practice and policy. Dr. Akhavan earned her master's degree in Clinical Nutrition and her doctoral degree in Human Nutrition from Florida State University. She also completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Human Nutrition at Florida State University.
All Third Wednesday programs are one hour in length, free for members, and $35 for non-members. Each session provides 1 CCU. Be sure to register online, and note that live attendance is required to receive your certificate of completion.