Dr. David Jenkins

Educated at Oxford University, Dr. Jenkins is currently a professor in both the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, a staff physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, and a Scientist in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital. He has served on committees in Canada and the United States that have formulated nutritional guidelines for the treatment of diabetes and recommendations for fiber and macronutrient intake (fat protein and carbohydrates) for the general population (the recommended daily intakes e.g. that you see on food labels) under the joint United States-Canada DRI system (RDAs) of the National Academy of Sciences (Washington, DC). He and his colleagues developed the cholesterol lowering dietary portfolio, that was the only dietary approach referenced in 2004 Guidelines update of the US National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP III) for Americans and is one of three diets recommended by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines for Canadians for 2012. He has received many National and International awards in recognition of his contribution to nutrition research. He believes in the value of plant based diets, and that a major effort is required to mount large studies to determine the extent of their health benefits. He also believes that diets have to be environmentally sustainable.