About the Authors

Linda Blachly White received BS and MS degrees in biology from Stanford University and an MD from the University of California, San Diego. After two years of residency training at the University of Colorado in Denver, she taught human physiology for several semesters in the biology department at Metropolitan State University of Denver then devoted herself full time to freelance writing, editing, and consulting.

Between 2004 and 2014, she returned to MSU Denver and developed and taught courses in the Integrative Therapies Program. These classes include Stress: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment; Sleep Science; Physiology of Aging; Dynamics of Health; Pediatric Holistic Health; Herbal Medicines; Botanical Pharmacology; and Writing for the Health Professions.

In 1990, Dr. White published her first book: The Grandparent Book (Gateway Books). She also contributed chapters to Consumer Guide’s The Complete Pregnancy and Baby Book (Publications International, 1987) and Maximum Food Power for Women (Rodale Books, 2001). She coauthored Kids, Herbs, & Health (Interweave Press, 1999), The Herbal Drugstore (Rodale, 2000), and 500 Time-Tested Home Remedies and the Science Behind Them (Fair Winds Press, 2013). In 2010, she worked as a contributing editor for National Geographic’s Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs and Other Healing Plants. She was also a contributor and advisor for Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies (National Geographic, 2012). In 2013, she published Version 1.0 of Health Now: An Integrative Approach to Personal Health (Flat World Knowledge). Version 2.0 was released in 2015.

Her articles have appeared in Sesame Street Parents’ Guide, Mothering, Runner’s World, Vegetarian Times, Herbs for Health, Herb Companion, Pediatrics for Parents, Nutrition Science News, Natural Home, Natural Pharmacy, Delicious Living, Nutraceuticals World, Great Life, AllHerb.com, Taste for Life, Remedies, Mother Earth News, and Mother Earth Living.

Dr. White lectured nationally and internationally, including at the Smithsonian Institute and three universities in Xi’an, China. She appeared on local television as well as CNN and Good Morning America.

Dr. White died in February, 2016 at age 62.

Jennifer K. Frediani (PhD Emory University) is Assistant Professor, Research Track in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, adjunct faculty at the Rollins School of Public Health, Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, and a member of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and nutrition (with honors) from Georgia State University, completed her dietetic internship through Utah State University, a master’s degree in exercise science from Georgia State University, and a PhD in nutrition science from Emory University. Jennifer’s doctoral research focused on body composition and dietary assessment in tuberculosis patients living in the Republic of Georgia, and she has published in journals such as Nature Scientific Reports, New England Journal of Medicine, Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, and Clinical Nutrition. Jennifer is also a registered dietitian and Certified Exercise Specialist. After earning her doctorate, Jennifer completed a two-year teaching fellowship at Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Her teaching philosophy focuses on a student-centered learning environment. She believes students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own learning through discovery and purposefully designs her courses to be accessible to all learners. Next, she completed a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship in pediatric hepatology, where she studied nutritional aspects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Jennifer’s current research involves nutrition and exercise lifestyle interventions using weight-neutral approaches to improve health outcomes related to cardiometabolic diseases, metabolomics, dietary and exercise assessments, and clinical trial operations. Jennifer wholeheartedly supports enjoying food that makes you feel good at any given moment and feels everyone should have the opportunity to experience this joy of living without stigma.