Life Sciences Commons^™

Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy And Beets To Illuminate Nutrition Principles, Carrie E. Ellis

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

While near-infrared spectroscopy has been used in research and athletic development for some time, recent technological advances have made it accessible as an undergraduate learning tool. This teaching resource describes how near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used in an in-person kinesiology laboratory. This activity illuminates nutrition principles, including issues with using supplements, deceptive marketing and labeling practices, and the value of nutrient-dense whole foods by observing vasodilation as a result of nitrate consumption in the form of whole beets and a beetroot supplement. In addition, using NIRS allows students to observe their body’s response to nitrates in real-time by measuring …