Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Howard Schiffer, President and Founder of Vitamin Angels.  Vitamin Angels is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on bringing essential nutrition to children around the world through vitamin supplementation.  The micronutrients Vitamin Angels provides allows children's young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping them attain good health and giving them the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives.Having been part of the natural products industry for many years, Howard Schiffer got a call asking if he would be able to get vitamins to the victims of the 1994 Northridge earthquake suffering from the after-effects of the earthquake.  Howard quickly understood the ability of vitamin supplements to provide vital nutrition, and soon after, Vitamin Angels was born.  Since then, Vitamin Angels has grown and evolved, now addressing chronic malnutrition on a global level. (more...)

Recently, as part of the HealthSimplified Interview Series, SmartyPants Vitamins had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. David Katz,  You can check out our extraordinary talk with him below.Dr. David Katz is an internationally renowned authority on weight control, nutrition, and the prevention of chronic disease.  Among his many accomplishments are:

• Founding Director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center (funded by the CDC)  
• Two-time diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine
• Founder and President of the non-profit Turn the Tide Foundation,
• the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Childhood Obesity

In addition, he has authored:

• 150+ scientific articles
• nearly 1,000 newspaper articles
• twelve books and counting

Here are some highlights from our chat

• Making Health a Priority - starting in the Family, carrying it out to the Culture
• Teaching Health to our Kids is as Important as Teaching Financial Responsibility to them
• Health is a Responsibility - it impacts your family, your community, and your culture
• How Businesses can Benefit by Moving in the Direction of Health
• Reinventing Elements in Industry so that Everyone Wins
• More Money Can be Made Cultivating Health, rather than Treating Disease
• Getting Healthy isn't just about Will Power - it's also about Skill Power
• Wanting Health is great, but you've got to have the skills on board to achieve your goals
• Dieting alone doesn't make sense - it's time to get the whole family involved
• Learning to Love Food that Loves you Back
• Making Health Easier for Everyone through the NuVal System

Tweetable Insights from Dr. Katz:

• Learn to love the food that loves you back. (Click to Tweet)
• Children and parents will get to Health together or not at all. (Click to Tweet)
• If we want Health to be the default choice, we need to make it easier. (Click to Tweet)

Resources Mentioned:

• Yale Prevention Research Center
• Turn the Tide Foundation
• Nutrition Detectives
• The NuVal System

Few in any field are so worthy of the term "Authority".  Dr. Katz uses his considerable expertise and weight in the Health field to help everyone put more years in their lives, and life in their years.  You can follow him at @DrDavidKatz.If you liked this video, would you share it with your friends?  Just click here to post it to Twitter. 

 

In the middle of his training as a pediatrician, Dr. Jay Gordon took an unusual step. Concluding that he needed a deeper understanding of nutrition, vitamins, and alternative medicine to practice medicine the way he wanted to, Dr. Gordon took a Senior Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition at Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York City. Dr. Gordon then joined the teaching attending faculty at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after his residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.Deeply interested in infant nutrition and breastfeeding, Dr. Gordon is the first male physician to sit for and pass the International Board of Lactation Certification Exam and has served on the Professional Advisory Board of La Leche League for twenty-four years.While treating patients through his practice, Dr. Gordon also participates in the training of medical students and residents, lectures all over the world, authors books, and writes a monthly column for “Fit Pregnancy” magazine. He has contributed to “New York Parent,” “Parenting” magazine and has been quoted in the L.A. Times, New York Times, and The London Times. (more...)

Dr. Greg Dillon is a psychiatrist with a private practice in New York City at Lower Fifth Psychiatric. He completed his Residency in Psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell, his M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. at Brown University. Dr. Dillon is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology, and he is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health at the Weill Cornell Medical College of New York Presbyterian Hospital – Cornell. Dr. Dillon is a longstanding member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. (more...)

Dr. Daisy Sutherland is the Founder and CEO of Dr. Mommy Online.  Aside from being a mom of 5, she also wears the hat of a Doctor of Chiropractic, a published author, a mentor, a writer, a business owner, an office administrator, an educator, chef (for her family of 7), chauffeur,  and too many more to list. (more...)

Dr. Lawrence Rosen is a nationally recognized expert in Pediatric Integrative Medicine, a founding member and chair-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine. He is appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Rosen is a graduate of New York Medical College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he completed his residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. (more...)

Dr. Neeta Ogden is an adult and pediatric allergist, asthma specialist and immunologist with practices in both New York City and New Jersey.  A graduate of Yale University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dr. Ogden has published research in academic journals and presented research at national allergy meetings.  She specializes in a plethora of conditions, from seasonal allergies to eczema and immunodeficiency.Recently, we had a chance to sit down with Dr. Ogden to ask her some questions pressing on our minds:(more...)

Amie Valpone is the clean eating expert and personal chef behind the gluten-free blog The Healthy Apple.  Her cooking is inspired and influenced by her decision to not let food allergies stop her from eating well and being creative in the kitchen. Here’s a chance to get to know her a little bit better.

Q:  When and how did your passion for food start? A:  My health has led me to the greatest food ever – I suffered for 6 years of my life with chronic pain and visited every doctor under the sun until I finally learned what was going on in my body. I focus on and eat Clean, Whole foods because a little bit of deprivation (my numerous food intolerances and sensitivities) have led me to discover creativity in my kitchen each and every day. This is what inspired me to start my blog -TheHealthyApple.com – helping others in the same boat as me to realize that there is flavor beyond sugar and processed, packaged foods- and there is a delicious life beyond food intolerances.

"It’s about being true to yourself and listening to what your taste buds are yearning for - whether it’s Brussels sprouts or whole grain pizza."

Q:  Any Tips for Kids to Eat More Veggies? A:  Of course; I have a bunch for you! This is my job everyday, working with families and kids - here are a few of my special tips: (more...)