“The sky is the limit”. I believe this old saying is true when it comes to the nutrition field. The diversity of new areas and topics that are being explored and the fast-paced development of nutrition-oriented solutions constantly amazes me.
These developments in nutrition science would not be possible without young nutrition scientists who are doing ground-breaking research and exploring alternatives with curiosity as well as rigor. At Herbalife Nutrition, we are always eager to support students who apply their expertise and knowledge to the nutrition field.
That is why, back in 2016, we established the Herbalife Nutrition Award to support the development of scientific research in Latin America. Camile Castilho, our first winner, is an amazing young scientist who studies the effects of diet on breast cancer risk in animal models.
This year, we’re proud to recognize eight outstanding students in Latin America as the recipients of the award. Below are the stories of some of these exceptional young scientists.
2019 Herbalife Nutrition Award Latin America Recipients
Giovanna Ricciarelli
Giovanna Ricciarelli received the first place in Brazil for her research on the effects of a ketogenic diet in the treatment of refractory epilepsy. Her study showed that a Ketogenic Diet (KD) rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids can help to the control of seizures and improve the lipid profile of patients aged 1 to 19 years with epilepsy.
“The Herbalife Nutrition Award is a very important recognition of the work of young scientists”, Giovanna said. “Winning a national award is a great stimulus for a student like me to continue on the scientific path. I feel supported to keep going on with my project.”
Abigail Aquino
Abigail was awarded the first place prize in Bolivia for her research into the effectiveness of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the academic performance of 20 students aged 9-14 with attention deficit disorder (ADHD).
Her research found a decrease in the degree of ADHD in over two-thirds of the students, which in turn increased their academic performance.
“Having won the Herbalife Nutrition Award motivates me to continue directing my goals towards that area,” Abigail said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to participate.”
Rosa Angélica Ricardo Macea
Rosa Angélica won the first place prize in Colombia. She studied the prevalence of non-contagious diseases that are related to lifestyle in a group of 42 University administrative workers.
The workers were evaluated for 15 various non-communicable health concerns, including overweight and obesity. It was found that many workers experienced emotional stress and fatigue, had sedentary lifestyles and poor diets, all of which contributed to health risks for many chronic conditions.
“It is comforting to know that the industry is becoming more interested in supporting student research,” said Rosa.
Beyond the Classroom
As part of our continuing effort to support the development of students’ talents in innovation and new technologies in the nutrition area, we arranged additional learning opportunities for the student award recipients, including a visit to the UCLA campus, a tour of the Herbalife Nutrition Innovation & Manufacturing facility in Lake Forest, California and a tour of the Herbalife Nutrition Sensory Labs in Torrance, California .
Bright, young scientists such as these continue to look for ways to make a positive impact in the world and Herbalife Nutrition is committed to supporting their dreams.
Susan BowermanM.S., R.D., CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training
Susan Bowerman is the senior director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Dietetic Advisory Board (DAB). As a registered dietitian, she educates distributors about our global nutrition philosophy and is responsible for developing nutrition education and training materials. Bowerman earned a B.S. in Biology with distinction from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition from Colorado State University. She is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and holds two board certifications as a specialist in Sports Dietetics and in Obesity and Weight Management. When she is not busy teaching and writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and gardening. Her favorite Herbalife products include Simply Probiotic and Herbalife Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix Banana Caramel.