Wilna Oldewage-Theron Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Texas Tech University (shown center preparing soyfoods at WISHH’s 2016 USDA Cochran training) champions soyfoods as an important and economical source of nutrition for developing country diets.

The American Soybean Associaton’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (ASA/WISHH) recognized April as Soyfoods Month by electronically sharing an expert’s insights into the importance of soy in nutrition for developing countries.

Representatives of international food companies, development organizations and government agencies received WISHH’s message featuring a guest column by Wilna Oldewage-Theron, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Texas Tech University and a registered dietitian from South Africa.

Oldewage-Theron wrote about the “double burden” challenge of developing countries simultaneously facing both malnutrition as well as obesity.

“The benefits associated with the regular consumption of soy, in combination with other healthy foods, have been scientifically proven and are becoming more relevant to prevent or address the negative consequences of the double burden of disease^,” she wrote. “To conclude, soy has been identified as an economical and versatile food item that will not only provide essential nutrients for under-nutrition, but also additional and unique health benefits addressing the increasing prevalence of over-nutrition in developing countries.”

Oldewage-Theron participated in WISHH’s USDA-supported 2014 Cochran Fellowship Program training and then returned to serve as a trainer to WISHH’s 2016 Cochran training on school feeding nutrition.