Biographies

BRENDA DAVIS RD

Smiling woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a black jacket and a colorful scarf, stands outdoors amidst the dry foliage, embodying her vibrant, plant-based lifestyle.

Brenda Davis Bio – 2024

Brenda Davis, registered dietitian, is a leader in her field and an internationally acclaimed speaker. She has worked as a public health nutritionist, clinical nutrition specialist, nutrition consultant and academic nutrition instructor. Brenda is the lead dietitian in a diabetes research project in Majuro, Marshall Islands. She is a featured speaker at nutrition, medical and health conferences throughout the world.

Brenda is co-author/author of thirteen award-winning, best-selling books – Plant-Powered Protein (2023), Nourish (2020), Kick Diabetes Essentials
(2019), The Kick Diabetes Cookbook (2018), Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition (2014), Becoming Vegan: Express Edition (2013), Becoming Raw (2010), the Raw Food Revolution Diet (2008), The New
Becoming Vegetarian (2003), Defeating Diabetes (2003) and Dairy-free and Delicious (2001), Becoming Vegan (2000), and Becoming Vegetarian (1994,1995).  She is also a contributing author to a tenth book, The
Complete Vegetarian (2009). 
 Her books are vegetarian/vegan nutrition classics,with close to 1,000,000 copies in print in 12 languages.  Brenda has authored and co-authored many articles for peer-reviewed medical and nutrition journals and magazines.

Brenda is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association. In 2007, she was inducted into the
Vegetarian Hall of Fame. Brenda was the 7 th recipient of the Plantrician Project’s Luminary Award. She lives in Calgary Alberta Canada with her husband, Paul Davis.  She has two grown children, Leena Markatchev and Cory Davis, and three grandchildren.
Brenda Davis is an authoritative, entertaining, and passionate speaker. She has presented at nutrition and health conferences in over 25 countries.
Book her for your next medical, nutrition, or health conference; for employee seminars or for lectures to the general public. 
http://www.brendadavisrd.com/services/lectures-and-seminars/ 

VESANTO MELINA MS RD

Vesanto with the Kick Diabetes Cookbook

Vesanto Melina, MS, RD is lead author of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ current Position Paper on Vegetarian Diets. 

She is an internationally known speaker and co-author of award winning books that are classics on plant-based nutrition, most with Brenda Davis, and now in 10 languages. Their most recent are Plant Powered Protein, The Kick Diabetes Cookbook and also Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition, written  for dietitians, MDs, and other health professionals, with 620 pages and entirely referenced. Half as long is Becoming Vegan: Express Edition.

Vesanto is a consultant for individuals who would like to fine tune their plant-based diets  

Vesanto has taught nutrition at Seattle’s Bastyr University and at the University of British Columbia. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Her websites are www.nutrispeak.com and www.becomingvegan.ca .

Colorful packets of sweeteners, including pink, yellow, green, blue, and white, are neatly arranged in a transparent container. Plant-based options are prominently featured for the health-conscious. The background is a light blue wooden surface.

Forgo artificial sweeteners.

They only increase hunger and sugar cravings. Artificial sweeteners are not allies in the battle against diabetes. Scientific evidence suggests they don’t help to cut

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A vibrant display showcases assorted grains and breads, from a large loaf to round rolls, alongside various pasta shapes, cereal grains, corn kernels, and wheat stalks—all artfully arranged on a white background. Perfect for any vegetarian delight designed by your favorite dietitian.

Rethink carbohydrates

You can benefit from the carbohydrates in whole plant foods, such as whole fruits, legumes, vegetables, and whole grains. Despite its shortcomings and fallacies, the

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Cover of The Kick Diabetes Cookbook by Dietitian Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina showcases vibrant vegetarian dishes: a bowl with strawberries and blackberries, a salad with greens and seeds, and a vegetable stew. Text: An action plan and plant-based recipes for defeating diabetes.

Kicking Diabetes

If you receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, you may wonder, Why me? Although genes may be partly to blame, diet and lifestyle bear the

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A vibrant vegan salad on a green plate features chopped greens, shredded carrots, nuts, and seeds, mixed with a grain-like component. This delicious plant-based creation is artfully placed on a rustic wooden surface.

The New Normal

In the United States, being overweight or obese is the new normal, with over 70 percent of the adult population being affected. Furthermore, many people

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A colorful assortment of fresh, plant-based vegetables, including tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, zucchini, carrots, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, green onions, and red chili peppers is spread on a wooden surface. Perfect for any vegan dish.

Plant Foods: The Key to Success

Plant foods are the primary sources of the nutrients known to protect against diabetes. Fiber, (the indigestible part of plants), helps control blood sugar, lowers blood

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