In people with renal failure, the bean-shaped organs identified as kidneys become unable to filter toxins and waste from the blood. With the loss of kidney function, the renal diet can help support the management of renal failure. A renal diet can protect your kidneys by controlling protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus intake. Specific limitations on the range amounts of these nutrients will vary in the renal diet depending on the stage of kidney disease. The decreased availability of renal diet-compatible foods creates a barrier for patients trying to comply with the renal diet. A soul food recipe book can be used as a cooking tool for those who are familiar with the cuisine. Additionally, it can be an introductory cooking tool for those who are not accustomed to soul food recipes. The purpose of this project is to introduce a new didactic resource that can be a useful cooking source for a renal diet. This project, Soul Food Cookbook for the Renal Diet (SFCFRD), will offer soul food dishes designed specifically for a renal diet. The aim is to provide a tool for dietetic therapy that will be useful to individuals with renal disease who are managing their diet.

The primary objective of this project is to provide the Korean-American community with culturally-relevant information on the DASH diet. This will be accomplished by creating a DASH diet guidebook that will contain information on Korean foods and ingredients that should be limited and ideas for how to substitute the listed foods with healthier alternatives, a section on foods and ingredients that can contribute to decreasing blood pressure, DASH diet modified recipes for popular Korean dishes, and strategies on how to follow the DASH diet when eating out at Korean restaurants. The secondary objective of this project is to make the culturally relevant DASH diet guidebook accessible to the Korean-American community. This can be accomplished by having the guidebook available on California State University, Los Angeles’s Nutritional Science Master's Program web page.

The purpose of this project is to create a fun, engaging, share-worthy TikTok reel featuring a healthy snack that will attract the attention of the 12–18-year-old demographic but also provide nutritional information relevant to this age group. By creating evidence-based content that can grasp the attention of adolescents and encourage them to be involved in food preparation or develop their cooking skills TikTok’s algorithm will flood their feeds with similar, and accurate nutritional content from true experts in the field, Registered Dietitians, and dietetic students. Likewise creating a food challenge or trend that includes nutrient-dense foods and appeals to this demographic may in turn begin a new trend of advertising healthier options to adolescents.

This project aims to focus on vulnerable populations in three of the most highlyAsian-populated SPAs within the County of Los Angeles Service Planning Areas 3, 4, and 7 by highlighting five open and active urban community gardens in these SPAs. The project presents a generated QR code of a pamphlet, which consists of an inventory of Asiatic plants and herbs, their nutritional information, health benefits, and shared recipes from participants at each evaluated community garden. This project seeks to inform peers and the public of the open and active community garden sites. It will also serve to educate others about Asian culture and heritage through food to build social capital and develop social cohesion from neighborhood-based community gardens.

The concept behind the teaching modules is that as modernization continues to accelerate, we would be remiss to not carry forward the Traditional Ecological Knowledge and lessons from the past, especially those that have stood the test of time. To think that in this modern world, we can live and eat exactly as Indigenous Native Americans did is impractical. And, to continue to take from the land without giving back is unsustainable. But, learning about and assimilating small practical changes into daily shopping, eating, and gardening practices, using Traditional Ecological knowledge, reciprocity, gratitude, and the Seventh Generation concept, can lead to a larger collective change. The aim of the modules is to create an appreciation for food and the land among people from all populations through awareness and (re)connections. The long-term goal is to slow or reverse Native and non-native American negative health and environmental trends through comprehension, mindfulness, education, and actions of reciprocity.

Anti-tumor medications like chemotherapies fall into the class of drugs referred to as anthracyclines. These anthracyclines, while powerful and effective in dealing with tumor growth have a degenerative effect on the cardiovascular system. Many cancer patients suffer from cardiomyopathy years after treatment with these drugs have been halted. However, an overwhelming number of patients still succumb to heart disease after surviving their initial bouts with cancer. An overwhelming amount of peer-reviewed research has looked into the use of fat-soluble vitamins specifically D and E as possible protectors of the heart in patients being treated with anthracycline. Vitamin D and E have been shown to have a significant statistical effect on many biomarkers that are affected by anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Both fat-soluble vitamins show a potential significant clinical effect that merits a further investigation in order to understand the mechanisms and pathways responsible for anthracycline mediated cardiotoxicity and possible routes to cardio protection.

The primary purpose of this project is to create a recipe guide that provides suggestions on how to prepare affordable and convenient beverages using natural ingredients that can be used in place of SSBs. The goal is to help individuals Replace, Recreate, and Reduce ingredients from a cultural perspective. This project presents a positive approach to addressing the consumption of SSB among low-income communities and helps to reinforce to families living in these communities strategies to reduce sugar consumption and provide ideas on to how to reduce SSB consumption at home through affordable and convenient methods. This project has the potential to be integrated into a workshop where families and children learn how to recreate their family’s favorite drinks using healthier alternative products and can help to establish healthy beverage habits.

Some of the benefits of community gardens are well documented but what is not as well understood is the role of community gardens in maintaining connections with traditional Latinx plants and herbs. One objective of this project was to locate five open and active community gardens located in the SPA 4 and 7 areas and provide readers with their addresses and relevant information, such as websites or social media pages. These service planning areas were selected for two reasons, the high percentage of Latinx 13 residents and the higher rates of food insecurity. An inventory of plants and herbs commonly used in Latinx dishes will be synthesized from the data collected at these local gardens. From that information, a pamphlet will be created that will provide readers with nutritional information, health benefits, and popular Latinx recipes for every plant or herb listed. To provide easy access, the pamphlet will be available in a PDF document and accessible through a QR code. All evaluated gardens will be provided with the QR code for their use and the use of their gardeners. All students at California State University, Los Angeles can access the pamphlet, which lists gardens nearby in SPAs 4 and SPA 7. 

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that develops when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not utilize its own insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose, properly. According to the statistics of International Diabetes Federation in 2021, 537 million adults worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes, with China having the greatest incidence. Recently, researchers have added to the body of literature about the potential cardiovascular advantages of the Mediterranean (MED) diet. However, much of the research has been done in Western nations, with little attention paid to those living in Asia or Asian Americans as a specific population. Limited information is available on helping this population identify Asian-friendly dietary components, given the lack of educational materials available in Chinese. The aim of the proposed project was to create an infographic that offers advice on appropriate eating habits that could be implemented to enhance Asian-Americans' health. It is the hope that this infographic will help the target population learn more about the benefits of the MED Diet for diabetes management and that it can be used as a model for practitioners to help develop additional educational tools that are tailored to individuals from other ethnic/cultural backgrounds. Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Asian/Asian-American, Mediterranean Diet, Blood Glucose Management.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and irregular bowel habits. Epidemiology studies of the United States (U.S.) population showed that 4.7% of U.S. adults are affected by IBS. Although this disorder is not life-threatening, the symptoms negatively affect patients' quality of life and social functioning. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for managing the symptoms of IBS. In clinical practice, the primary aim of the treatment of IBS is to relieve global symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Typically, treatment begins with general lifestyle and dietary advice. In the cases where those methods do not provide relief, patients may be recommended a specialized diet therapy such as the Low-FODMAP Diet. Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) are poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates readily found in food. A diet low in FODMAPs (LFD) has gained popularity over the past 10 years as a specialized dietary treatment for patients with IBS to relieve symptoms of IBS. It is a complex dietary therapy applied in three stages: FODMAP elimination, reintroduction, and personalization. The purpose of this project is to construct an evidence-based learning series in an accessible online blog platform to provide information about the LFD diet and to guide individuals with IBS through the application of the three stages of the LFD.

For millions of people, going to work every day is an inevitable part of life. Study findings indicate that work-related stress can cause detrimental physical and mental health issues to the workforce, simultaneously increasing costs. This reality makes the workplace an ideal environment for introducing nutritional education. Research also indicates that worksite wellness programs are significantly associated with improved employee well-being, and thereby efficiency. This dual impact, both personally and on an organizational level, has a positive ripple effect throughout the entire workforce. The purpose of this project is to improve employee health and well-being by empowering them with nutrition education and live demonstrations of practical recipes, while integrating lifestyle support. This was accomplished through the Be Good To Yourself program for the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD), a three-month series of themed-recipe workshops covering nutrition and wellness via bi-monthly live video demonstrations. Be Good To Yourself provided the guidance and tools necessary to enhance well-being, and promote work-life balance and happiness for employees and their families.

Current testing tools and methods of identifying the presence of a concussion within an individual are not sufficient to identify subtle neurological dysfunctions. To avoid the risk of symptoms being overlooked and potentially increasing the risk of further concussions or brain injury without treatment, a model will be trained to predict concussions. With the use of a Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) tool in conjunction with machine learning techniques, the feasibility to predict or detecting a concussion will be explored in this paper.

The participants for this study consist of collegiate student athletes, and the study was administered in California State University, Los Angeles. COVID-19 affected the number of students who were able to participate in the study. This paper will explore the ideas of identifying a concussion through means of a non-invasive wearable device. The device utilizes photodiodes to record light passing through and detects changes in cerebral oxygenated blood flow. Identifying concussions without invasive tools will help improve the efficiency and reliably to assess athletes with mild traumatic brain injuries that show subtle or no symptoms.

Tyrosinemia Type I (HTI) is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by the malfunction of an enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) which is needed to breakdown the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is a complex molecule that is a building block of most proteins and is found in animal and plant protein. Patients living with Hereditary Tyrosine 1 (HT1) must take the nititsinone tablets and medical food formula because they are lacking the enzyme in their body which will breakdown tyrosine, so it accumulates in the body. The objective of this research paper is to see how HT1 patients can incorporate the metabolic food formula into their diet to ensure healthier outcomes. This project was to create recipes that incorporate the metabolic food formula in cooked food or baked goods. It is important to help HT1 patients create a more well-rounded diet that includes their medical food formula on a daily. This will help make consuming their metabolic formula a bit more fun and creative. HT1 patients struggle with the monotony of drinking and eating their metabolic food formula. This cookbook will help patients with recipes that easily inculcate their metabolic food formula into meals. The hope is that once patients experiment with these new recipes; they will be more likely to drink their metabolic formula and get the nutrient their body needs without harming their liver or kidney.

In the United States (U.S.), nutrition education curriculums are written and implemented based on local school wellness policies (LWP), and thus, this field of education does not have the same level of standardization or requirements that other core subjects have, such as math or language arts. Given that nutrition education at the school level has the potential to encourage healthy food and beverage choices at an early age, standardized nutrition education in children should be considered as a vital prevention and treatment method for obesity. A review of the literature was conducted to determine the current state of nutrition education in the U.S. The literature demonstrated that while nutrition education is highly regarded and recommended by multiple associations as an essential component of school nutrition programs, its standardization remains local. Despite the lack of standardization, the literature also dictates what strategies and traits of nutrition education programs should have to be effective for teaching nutrition knowledge and eating behaviors. Some of these strategies include addressing teacher nutrition knowledge and comprehension, involvement of students' home life in the activities, and considerations for integration of nutrition standards into other core subjects. The purpose of this project was to develop a usable and adaptable nutrition education curriculum and corresponding lesson plans that can be used universally by teachers for fifth grade students. A nutrition education curriculum comprising seventeen thoroughly written lesson plans was produced using Los Angeles Unified School District's fifth grade health education standards designated by the district's LWP.

Hypertension (HTN) is commonly known as the silent killer because signs and symptoms usually go unnoticed for a long period of time. Untreated HTN can lead to serious cardiac events. In 2017, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) set new guidelines for diagnosing hypertension (HTN) to 130/80 mmHg instead of 140/90 mmHg. With the new HTN guidelines, the prevalence of the condition is increasing among college students. Oftentimes, individuals are unaware that they have HTN. Dietary and lifestyle changes can help to improve health outcomes. The Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet provides dietary guidelines that can assist in lowering blood pressure (BP). An extensive body of research examined the relationship between adherence to the DASH diet and BP among adolescents and older adults, demonstrating BP improvement among both populations. To the author's knowledge, only one study was found that focused on improving BP in healthy university students on the DASH diet which showed BP reduction among these individuals. The purpose of this project was to create an infographic that can help to educate college students with elevated BP on the benefits of the DASH diet and how these dietary patterns can improve or reduce BP and support a healthier lifestyle.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females worldwide. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2(HER2) Positive breast cancers tend to grow and spread faster and have lower survival rate. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is one of the major therapeutic treatments. Previous studies showed the inhibition of Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is closely related to drug resistance of Trastuzumab. OXPHOS inhibitors such as Delta Tocotrienol (TT) become potential therapeutic targets for HER2 positive breast cancer. However, very few studies have been focusing on the association between TT and OXPHOS inhibition. The purpose of this project is to establish an effective assessment tool to measure how TT impact the drug resistance of breast cancer cells (SKBr-3). This will be accomplished by the identification of Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Assay, a measurement tool for Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) of live cells in real time. Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Assay presents information that crucial for understanding the association between TT and OXPHOS inhibition and provides tools and knowledge necessary to develop further research in many other diseases.

Parents are expected to make sure their child is safe, healthy, receives love, acceptance, nurture, support, and guidance as they mature physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially into adulthood. Parenting styles can help dictate how their children grow and develop later in life. With rising concerns among children who are overweight, obese, and developing eating disorders, it is imperative parents are used as an intervention tool to decrease the risks. Studies show authoritative parenting styles are associated with better weight and dietary outcomes in children, while authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles with poor eating habits. However, little is known about the processes that moderate these correlations. Dietary intake is frequently studied in connection to child eating; yet research does not take into account the social and physical environments in which food-related parenting practices are exercised such as a food insecure household. The goal of this project is to educate the public, particularly parents and caregivers, on the impact of parenting styles and food-related parenting practices on their child's growth and health. In doing so, parents will learn to adopt healthy behaviors at home in order to reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight, obesity, and eating disorders.

Obesity results from excess body fat that may contribute to chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Due to the standards of how beauty is defined by society, being overweight and obese is perceived as negative, and can lead to lower body satisfaction and self-esteem, when these standards are not met. Adolescents, who are overweight and obese have been known to experience low body satisfaction and self-esteem. Intuitive eating is an eating framework that integrates the mind and body to improve eating behaviors. It focuses on principles that help reject diets, evaluate states of hunger and fullness, and develop an overall healthy relationship with food. While previous studies have looked at the poor mental health outcomes in adolescents who are overweight and obese, there is a substantial need to examine intuitive eating as an intervention to improve self-esteem and body satisfaction outcomes in these individuals. The purpose of this project is to educate health professionals on how to use IE with adolescents to promote and improve mental well-being. The development of a three-part series blog on intuitive eating was created.

Dietetics education has evolved since the first plan for student courses in 1923. In 1991, nutrition and dietetics programs that met the Knowledge Requirements for entry-level dietitians were credentialed as Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD). The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the accrediting agency for nutrition education programs that prepares registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) for professional practice. In order to meet accreditation standards, DPD programs are expected to keep curriculum up to date with the latest research and practice. Effective June 1, 2022, all DPD programs must update their programs' standards, including the Knowledge Requirements for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (KRDNs), to meet the 2022 ACEND Accreditation Standards. In order to meet these standards, a review of the curriculum occurred. As a result, the current project was identified and involved integrating the learning activities of the Nutritional Assessment Lab one-unit class into the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) I and II labs. The provision of MNT education through case-based studies and more hands-on experiences will help to reinforce the way the management of acute and chronic diseases is taught. These proposed changes to the curriculum will allow California State University Los Angeles to stand out as a competitive DPD program.

The objective of this project is to investigate the correlation between sleeping patterns and U.S. college students, and how it is impacting their overall food and beverage behaviors and mental health pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there are numerous studies already establishing that U.S. college students deal with irregular sleeping patterns, there is yet to be sufficient research to indicate whether COVID-19 has either drastically or moderately impacted their sleeping routines, let alone their general weight status, food and beverage behaviors, and mental health status. During the pandemic, it is imperative that college students sleep an adequate number of hours to maintain their physiological well-being, which will ultimately influence their academic performance.  

The purpose of this project is to inform and educate individuals on the connection between gut microbiota, mental health, and diet. Outreach will be created and designed using visual communication through a video medium to optimize dissemination of information in a fast, clear, and entertaining way, increasing viewer attention and engagement. Through informational and interactive short videos, the overall aim of the project is to promote dietary strategies for maintaining gastrointestinal health and homeostasis integral in the gut-brain connection.

Several social and environmental factors have been found to contribute to the experience of body dissatisfaction and engagement in dieting for the purposes of intentional weight loss. These factors are associated with the development of more severe forms of disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders. Therefore, the identification and reduction of such factors in adolescence and young adulthood may decrease future incidence of eating disorder diagnoses. Thus, a practical step to take in the prevention of eating disorders would be to alter the social environment, which this project aims to do by facilitating the abandonment of discourse related to “diet culture” on social media, in favor of a weight-neutral approach to health promotion. Americans of all ages use social media as a source of health, fitness, and lifestyle-related content. This content influences people’s perceptions of their bodies in comparison to a societally imposed “ideal” and has the power to affect what one considers to be “health promoting” behaviors, especially among younger audiences. The weight-neutral paradigm is an evidence-based approach to health promotion which refrains from using body weight or shape as indicators of health or physical fitness. Instead, it promotes health and body satisfaction by rejecting food rules, promoting self-trust and self-compassion in eating intuitively, focusing on what the body can do rather than how it looks, and celebrating a variety of healthy body weights, shapes, sizes, and compositions.

A third of U.S citizens suffer from metabolic syndrome and nutrient deficiencies. In recent years, researchers have drawn their attention to a superfood called Moringa Oleifera (MO), due to the several nutrients it possesses and its therapeutic purposes that it can provide. MO has been tested in individuals to evaluate its efficacy in improving blood sugars, lipid levels, and blood pressure. Data from the clinical trials have substantiated the beneficial effects of MO on these above-mentioned biochemical parameters. Despite its various benefits, many developed countries are not aware of the health benefits of this food. In the 21st century, infographics have become a useful means to disseminate essential information in a concise and attractive way. They have been utilized in health care, education, business, marketing, and social media settings. To mitigate the gap of unawareness of MO, this project creates an educational infographic that promotes various health benefits of MO in English and Spanish languages. The infographic uses attractive visuals with concise information that was derived from scientific findings.

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). Lockdown measures were enforced all over the world to prevent the further spread of the virus. This stressful event has impacted all aspects of daily life—from the way we socialize and communicate to how we learn and work. One segment of the population, college students, has been affected just like the rest of the world. The time spent in college is recognized as a critical period where young adults begin to form lifelong habits. Studies have shown that prior to the pandemic, physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are common among college students. Compliance with lockdown regulations may have caused students to modify their physical activity behaviors and dietary habits. However, research about these topics among this special population is limited during the pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to develop a survey that will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted college students’ dietary behaviors and physical activity patterns in the western region of the United States. 

Raised on Veggies: A Nutrition Blog for Parents Featuring Tips, Nutrition Education, and Recipes Featuring Fruits and Vegetables to Cook with Children By Joanna Elizabeth Olson Despite the numerous health benefits associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, the majority of children in the United States fall short of meeting federal recommendations. Since childhood health behaviors track into adulthood, interventions aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption during childhood can maximize well being throughout the lifecycle. Study findings indicate a positive relationship between children's involvement in at-home meal preparation and overall diet quality, including an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. However, with only one third of children currently assisting with meal preparation two or more times a week, a large opportunity for growth remains available. The purpose of this project is to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption by encouraging parents to prepare nutrient-dense meals featuring fruits and vegetables with their child. This will be accomplished through the creation of "Raised on Veggies," a nutrition blog that includes nutrition education and provides parents with nutrient-dense recipes featuring fruits and vegetables to cook with their child. "Raised on Veggies" provides the knowledge and tools necessary to help parents increase their child's fruit and vegetable intake and set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.