Heather Blewett, PhD

Image Heather Blewett
Research Scientist

  • Design and conduct scientific research as it relates to the influence of food on human health and metabolism.

  • Document scientific productivity/recognition in the form of authorship/editorship of research results in recognized journals and/or published reports, books, papers, or other communications.

  • Write grant applications to secure funding for research program.

  • Manage human resources and budgets.

  • Interact with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
IH Asper Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Current research and/or projects

  • Investigating whether de-hulled flaxseed maintains the concentration of health promoting bioactives while sufficiently reducing the concentrations of anti-nutrients found in whole ground flaxseed. (Project lead= Heather Blewett).
  • A randomized, controlled, cross-over trial examining the effect of yellow pea flour in bread on post-prandial glycaemic response in health adults. (Project lead= Heather Blewett).
  • Eastern Prairie Living Labs -Management practices for annual crops that increase efficiency of nutrient use and reduce losses to air and water (Role =detection, enumeration and viability assessment of microbial communities in soil using flow cytometry).

Research and/or project statements

  • The research program supports the agri-food sector through improving the competitiveness and adaptability of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products and generating new knowledge, fostering innovation and increasing adoption and commercialization of agricultural, agri-food and agri-based products, processes or practices.

Professional activities / interests

  • My research expertise is centered on nutrition & immunology.
  • I have been leading clinical trials with the ultimate goal of filling the gaps in the scientific literature to substantiate health claims for Canadian food products.  Examples of health claims I have worked on include LDL cholesterol lowering, reduction in post-prandial glycaemic response and increased satiety.  I have an interest in exploring the reduction in incidence, duration and severity of the common cold as well as prebiotic claims.
  • I have been exploring the effect of Canadian food products on immune function in the context of chronic disease (ie. cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity).

Education and awards

  • 2009/2-2011/4: Post-doctorate, Clinical trials & vascular function, St. Boniface Hosptial Research Centre.
  • 2006/5-2008/12: Post-doctorate, Nutritional immunology, University of Alberta.
  • 1999/9-2007/2: Doctor of Philosophy, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba.
  • 2005/9-2006/10: Certification in Higher Education Teaching, University of Manitoba.
  • 1995/9-1999/5: B.Sc. (Hons.) Foods and Nutrition, University of Manitoba.

Additional links

http://www.sbrc.ca/blewett/

Key publications

  1. Citation not required for the publication

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Danielle Defries, Kayla Curtis, Shiva Shariati, Heather Blewett, Michel Aliani, Differential Incorporation of Alpha-Linolenic Acid Into Phospholipid Classes in H4IIE Cells, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_2, June 2021, Page 491, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab041_006

    2021 - View publication details

  3. Danielle Defries, Shiva Shariati, Heather Blewett, Michel Aliani, Expression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes Is Induced by Flaxseed Enterolignans, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_2, June 2021, Page 312, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab037_022

    2021 - View publication details

  4. 19. Heather Blewett, Nancy Ames, Jay Petkau, Sijo Joseph, Sora Ludwig, Randomized Controlled Crossover Dose-Response Trial Shows Low Dose (2 g) Barley β-Glucan Provided in Waffles Lowers Post-Prandial Glycaemic Response In Healthy Adults, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_2, June 2020, Page 615, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa049_008

    2020 - View publication details

  5. Citation not required for the publication

    2020 - View publication details

  6. Citation not required for the publication

    2019 - View publication details

  7. Santiago, A., Ryland, D., Cui, S., Blewett, H., Aliani, M. (2019). Effect of milled flaxseed and storage conditions on sensory properties and selected bioactive compounds in banana and cinnamon muffins used in a clinical trial. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, [online] 99(2), 831-843. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9253

    2019 - View publication details

  8. Citation not required for the publication

    2018 - View publication details

  9. Citation not required for the publication

    2018 - View publication details

  10. Citation not required for the publication

    2018 - View publication details

  11. Heather Blewett, Jay Petkau, Sora Ludwig, Dan Ramdath. (2018). Substituting peas for potatoes significantly reduces post-prandial glycaemic response and glycemic index. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 43: S1–S42 (2018) dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0119 (S4).

    2018 - View publication details

  12. Heather Blewett, Jay Petkau, Sora Ludwig, Dan Ramdath. (2018). Substituting peas for potatoes significantly reduces post-prandial glycaemic response and glycemic index. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 43: S1–S42 (2018) dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2018-0119 (S4).

    2018 - View publication details

  13. Heather Blewett, Jay Petkau, Sora Ludwig, Dan Ramdath. (2017). Substituting peas for rice significantly reduces postprandial blood glucose response and glycemic index. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 42: S1–S56 (2017) dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2017-0134

    2017 - View publication details

  14. Isaak, C.K., Petkau, J.C., Blewett, H., Karmin, O., Siow, Y.L. (2017). Lingonberry anthocyanins protect cardiac cells from oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, [online] 95(8), 904-910. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2016-0667

    2017 - View publication details

  15. Citation not required for the publication

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Citation not required for the publication

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Siow, Y.L., Isaak, C.K., Prashar, S., Wong, M.H., Bhusal, A., O, K., Brown, D., Debnath, S., Ross, K., Blewett, H., Aliani, M., and Utioh, A. (2016) Health benefits of emerging crops in Canada. Therapeutic Applications of Functional Food and Bioactives, April 21-23, 2016 Winnipeg, Canada. Invited Speaker.

    2016 - View publication details

  18. Siow, Y.L., Debnath, S.C., Brown, D.C.W., Blewett, H.J., and Rossebnath, R. (2015). Lure of the lingonberry: win-win for northern agriculture and heart health., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

    2015 - View publication details

  19. Siow, Y.L., Debnath, S.C., Brown, D.C.W., Blewett, H.J., and Rossebnath, R. (2015). "Lingonberries the next super fruit.", Farm Focus, April 1, 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  20. Siow, Y.L., Brown, D.C.W., Blewett, H.J., Debnath, S.C., and Ross, K.A. (2015). Lingonberry: characterization and preserving an emerging bioresource for Canada. Project ID: 13-1129; Research Project Annual Report 2014-2015., AAFC Science and Technology Branch. (Report)

    2015 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Morden Research and Development Centre
Route 100, Unit 100-101
Morden, MB R6M 1Y5
Canada

Expertise

Food›Nutrition›Health Benefits
Health›Human Health Risk Assessment
Sciences›Scientific research

Affiliations

  • 2014/1: Associate Editor -Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Canadian Science Publishing.
  • 2014/1: Adjunct Professor -Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba.
  • 2012/7: Adjunct Professor -Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba.
  • 2011/5: Principal Investigator -Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre.

Language

English