Heidi Lynch, Ph.D., R.D.N.

Dr. Lynch's research focuses on the effect of plant-based diets  on physical health, athletic performance, and environmental sustainability. Her interest in plant-based diets is based in a desire to encourage people to eat in environmentally sustainable ways. Her recent work involves investigating food security among PLNU undergraduate and graduate students. Other recent work includes validating vegan and vegetarian "Athlete Plates" (tools to help guide athletes about making proper dietary choices), and comparing the environmental impact of food waste from vegetarian versus omnivorous plate waste at Loma Linda University Hospital. Dr. Lynch has served as the co-educational officer for Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (PINES), on the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group's policy committee, and as Arizona's State Coordinator for the state's chapter of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group. She is currently guest co-editor of a topical collection for the journal Nutrients on “Plant-Based Diets in Sports Nutrition" and is on the editorial board of Sport and Exercise Nutrition Performance (a specialty section of Frontiers in Nutrition and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living).