Nutrition Commons^™

The Stability Of Tea Polyphenols As A Food Additive And Its Effect On Streptococcus Mutans, Chia-Liang Huang

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Dental caries is one of the most concerning chronic diseases, Streptococcus mutans is one the most prominent contributing bacterium. S. mutans metabolizes sugar in processed foods to demineralize the tooth’s surface leading to tooth caries. This study focuses on whether green tea polyphenols epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and/or its modifications, palmitoyl-epigallocatechin gallate (P-EGCG) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate-stearate (EGCG-S), can reduce the number of S. mutans in different concentrations of sucrose. A colony forming unit assay was utilized to test viability. Results suggested that the tea polyphenols were efficient in inhibiting S. mutans up to 5 grams of sucrose per 100ml of artificial saliva …

Green Tea Polyphenols As Potential Food Additives, Danxia Shi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

As time has progressed, companies have increasingly produced foods for longer term storage. This has led to an increased use of food preservatives in processed foods. People have now come to expect many foods to have a significantly longer shelf life, and this is a matter of government concern for public health due to foodborne contaminations. Foodborne illnesses have become a common problem caused by bacteria (i.e. Escherichia coli). Finding an effective natural preservative source might be better received by the public and alleviate some health concerns over chemical sources. The most important active ingredient found in green tea is …

The Effects Of Incorporating Sprouted And Non-Sprouted Chickpea Flour In Pasta Products Upon Sensory Characteristics, Consumer Acceptability, In-Vivo Flow-Mediated Dilation, And In-Vitro Teac Analysis, Joseph Adam Bruno

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) is used in various products in the pasta industry. Amongst the numerous processing methods for chickpeas, sprouting increases chickpeas antioxidant content, nutrient bioavailability, and removes unwanted inhibitors. Consuming antioxidants has shown to positively impact endothelial function, which is related to atherosclerosis prevention. PURPOSE: To explore the antioxidant potential of chickpeas, to explore how chickpea antioxidants are absorbed in the body, and to assess whether chickpea pasta is appealing to a consumer and sensory panel. METHODS: 108 healthy adults undertook a randomized sample consumer assessment of the likeability of 10 different pasta samples based on appearance, texture, …

Do Emotions Have An Effect On Brand Versus Non Branded Cold Green Tea Drinks?, Michael Fattrosso

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Introduction The objectives were to assess consumers’ emotional valence in response to drinking canned green tea, and assess effects of brand identification. Corollary objectives were to determine triangulated relationships across qualitative and quantitative approaches. Methods 61 panelists evaluated identical tea samples: 27 were informed of the brand, 34 received tea without branding. Responses of panelists were assessed by self-report with the EsSense25 emotional profile tool, instrumental FaceReader, and qualitative open-ended interviews.

Results For FaceReader (0-1 scale), top mean scores were: Happy (0.98), Surprised (.59) and Disgusted (.50). When controlling for age and gender, branded has a significant positive association with …

The Association Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake And Body Mass Index Of University Students Living On And Off Campus, Tyler Marie Marchei

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background: The obesity epidemic in America has become an important topic of public health concern. With an increase of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the American diet, much research has been done examining the relationships between obesity, weight gain, body mass index (BMI) and SSBs. Recently, this research has expanded to examining these variables among specific populations, such as university students, to learn how detrimental these beverages have become to the American diet. It is imperative that research is continued to learn more information surrounding university students, weight gain, and its relationship with SSB intake.

Purpose: It is the purpose of …

Artisanal Cider And The Craft Beverage Consumer Tourist Experience, Meghann Newell (Miller) Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Hard cider is a newly emerging niche industry in apple-growing regions of the country. The growing popularity of artisan and local products offers a new opportunity for heritage products, like hard cider in the Northeast, to gain momentum in the alcoholic beverage and tourism industries. By finding the connection between the consumer experience and local product tourism, this study strives to understand the expanding craft beverage movement and hard cider’s place within this movement, and how it may affect heritage product promotion. This study looks specifically at the Hudson Valley region in New York State. With its fertile land, easy …

The Role Of Nutrition Education And Active Choice To Increase Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Second Grade Students During Lunchtime, Robyn M. Cafiero

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Fruit and vegetable intake within the United States is considerably lower than the standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture. With this information, there is no surprise that these rates are especially low for school aged children. Although many studies have tried to incorporate programs that would effectively increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among youngsters, many have fallen short with being able to sustain consumption over time. This study provided a way to increase fruit and vegetable consumption during lunchtime for second grade students by using a dual module of the Social Cognitive Theory and active …

Weight Loss Apps : Behavioral And Psychological Factors Related To Usage And Success, Kelsey Alexandra Gatto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Mobile weight loss applications (‘apps’) such as MyFitnessPal® and Lose It!® have millions of downloads and allow users to track their intake on the go by accessing a massive digital nutrition database, and while the apps have been successful tools for participants in structured weight loss initiatives, little research has explored their efficacy for stand-alone users. The aim of this study was to examine the role of user adherence behavior, portion estimation and consumption norms, and the potential for the app to act as a behavior change tool. An online survey was administered to individuals 18 years or older who …

Effects Of Differences Of Middle Eastern And American Cultural Backgrounds On Salt Perception Using Facereader : A Pioneering Tool To Capture Instant Emotional Reactions, Mohamad Bassel Khair

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

A preliminary study was conducted (n=65) to compare the consistency of measurements of emotional reactions to salt intake using FaceReader (facial expression analyzer) and hedonic self-reports. Study participants tasted six different samples of mashed potatoes with three different concentrations of sodium (Na) (two samples of 0 mg, 178 mg, and 356 mg/15g each). Emotional reactions were measured with FaceReader and self-reported on a 10-point scale, and the mean for each of the different sodium concentrations was calculated. Six different emotional expressions were measured (happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, and disgusted) for each of the samples. Differences between the means for …

Factors Influencing The Eating Practices Of Hospital Nurses During Their Shifts, Tina Maria Monaghan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background

Nursing is the largest health care profession in the U.S. There are 3.1 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide, over four times as many as there are physicians. Hospital nurses have a vital presence in the healthcare industry as highly skilled professionals who perform the essential service of patient care on the front line. Research points toward an association between work environment and nurse outcomes. Several studies have linked favorable nurses’ work environments to improved patient experience and care quality. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence hospital nurses’ eating practices during their shifts.

Methods …

A Pilot Study For Plant The Seed: A Nutrition Education Program Using Local Food Environment To Put Theory Into Action, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Karen A. Lee

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this study is to implement Plant the Seed, a garden-based nutrition education program designed to reconnect children with locally grown food, food environments of the past and present, and the benefits of eating seasonal foods. The pilot study investigates the environmental context and theory variables known to influence healthy food choice behavior. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provided a framework for the program’s curriculum and evaluation. The target audience is middle school students. Plant the Seed is a two-part program. In Part 1 (classroom), students participate in practical, interactive activities based on specific educational objectives that target …

Consumer Perceptions Of Calorie Content In Fast-Food Restaurant Meals Vs. Casual Dining Chain Meals, Gina Alexandra Pope

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background: The obesity epidemic in America is a growing cause for concern. Because frequency of dining outside the home is on the rise, accurate understanding of restaurants and the foods they serve is imperative. Purpose: It is the purpose of this study to determine how consumers perceive a food item in terms of calories and reputation at a fast-food restaurant, McDonald’s, in comparison to a similar food item at a casual dining restaurant chain, Applebee’s. This study fills a gap in the literature by providing a comparison of perception between fast food and full service restaurants menu offerings. Methods: Using …

The Effect Of Active Video Games On The Heart Rate Of Older Adults, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Diane M. Hanel

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Heart rate is used as a health biomarker. This aim of this study was to investigate the effects of playing active video games on the heart rate of older adults, in comparison to the heart rate after common table recreational activity.

Methods: An experimental study with 40 participants was conducted: a control group (n=20) participated in common Pokeno® card games; an experimental group (n=20) played WiiTM bowling. The participants’ pre- and post-activity heart rates were measured and compared between and within groups using t-tests.

Results: The findings signified an 11.9% increase (p

Conclusions: The inclusion of active video games …

Target Shooting As A Serious Leisure Pursuit–An Exploratory Study Of The Motivations Driving Participant Engagement, David Spencer Martin, Douglas Murray, Martin A. O'Neill, Martin Maccarthy, Jason Gogue

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The current study is an attempt to better understand the motivations of consumers that engage in target shooting as a serious leisure activity. The instrument design was based on the Leisure Satisfaction Scale and the Leisure Motivation Scale. A total of 5502 usable surveys were collected utilising the Internet and a website related to gun ownership and target shooting. Exploratory in nature, results indicated that three variables in particular, Escapism, Social Interaction and Self-Actualisation, were primary motivators when it comes to engagement in target shooting as a serious leisure pursuit. These findings have important implications to the target-shooting community, and …

Bridging Patient Outcome Gap For Type 2 Diabetes : Can We Bridge Physician Practices To Produce Results Achieved In Evidence-Based Lifestyle Intervention Research?, Brenda Killen Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The United States is abounding in the prevalence and incidence of avoidable chronic diseases, and high among these diseases is type 2 diabetes. Further, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Common Fund, 40% of harmful health behaviors is what contributes to chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. NIH noted there are few personalized, effective ways to inspire people to change their behaviors in the shortterm, but if done, this behavior is not sustained long-term (The NIH Common Fund, 2011). Yet, this research discovered a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is one of these few personalized, effective interventions that …

An Exploratory Study Of College Students’ Dietary Choices Relative To Independence, Emily Raines

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The college years have been acknowledged as a time of emerging adulthood, during which students develop habits and make choices that endure long into their future (Arnett, 2000). To date, limited research exists that examines the college population, particularly in relation to diet. The purpose of this study is to explore the dietary choices college students make as they transition from the home and develop autonomy and to help fill the gap in literature. Four focus groups were organized (n=24) to reveal themes intrinsic to the development of dietary habits during the on-campus experience. The focus groups were recorded with …

The United States Department Of Agriculture Policies To Improve School Food Quality While Protecting The Environment, Shahla Wunderlich, Yeon Bai, S. Chung

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

In the United States, the Farm Bill is the primary agriculture and food policy legislation and its administration is under the preview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA has established policies and programs aimed at providing school children with better food and at the same time, supporting local farmers. The Farm to School Program connects schools and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school and supporting local and regional farmers. It is believed that local and regional farmers are deeply committed to social and environmental concerns. The Farm to School Program is …

Assessing The Nutritional Health Outcomes Of African American Women With Hiv And Substance Abuse Disorders Using A Socioecological Approach, Meena Mahadevan, John Ruzsilla

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

It is well established that poor nutritional status leaves HIV-positive substance abusers especially vulnerable to an increased risk of opportunistic infections and other illnesses. Socioecological frameworks have been useful for identifying multiple influences on health risks, leading to the development and evaluation of promising community-based interventions for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This article presents a conceptual model, based on the socioecological approach, to examine the mechanisms and pathways by which the various contextual factors unique to HIV-positive African American women with substance abuse disorders intersect to impact their nutritional health outcomes. The mediating effects of the interpersonal, environmental, …

Eating Behaviors Of Older Adults Participating In Government-Sponsored Programs With Different Demographic Backgrounds, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Joseph Brusca, Johnson-Austin Marti, Michelle O'Malley

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this study was to determine the food behaviors of nutritionally high-risk seniors as a function of their racial background, gender, marital status, and education level. A total of 69 seniors were identified to be at high nutritional risk using the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist. A supplemental questionnaire (SQ) was created to examine the risk factors in relation to the participant’s demographic background. Key results indicated that Asians practiced healthy food behaviors and women were more likely to eat alone (p≤0.05). Married participants (90.9%) were most likely to consume 2 meals or more each day. College educated …

The Association Between Marital Transitions, Body Mass Index, And Weight: A Review Of The Literature, Lauren Dinour, May May Leung, Gina Tripicchio, Sahar Khan, Ming Chin Yeh

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective. To examine the association between different marital transitions and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. Longitudinal studies were included if they compared dependent variables, such as BMI or weight, before and after a change in marital status. Results. Twenty articles were included: 4 articles described only transitions into marriage and/or cohabitation, 2 articles described only transitions out of marriage and/or cohabitation, and 14 articles described both. Overall, transitions into marriage were associated with weight gain, whereas transitions out of …

Disseminating Evidence-Based Information About Nutrition To Practitioners, Marissa Burgermaster

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Primary care practitioners (PCPs) have a role to play in the primary and secondary prevention of diet/weight-related chronic disease through nutrition assessment, education, counseling, and referral. Although PCPs tend to have positive attitudes about nutrition, many do not engage in nutrition related practice behaviors. In this research, it is assumed that improving PCPs’ current nutrition knowledge of and access to evolving, evidence-based information about nutrition will lead them to be more likely to engage in nutrition assessment, education, counseling, and appropriate referrals with the ultimate aim of positive patient outcomes. This research used concept mapping, a participatory, mixed methods approach …

Nutrition Risk Factors Among Home Delivered And Congregate Meal Participants: Need For Enhancement Of Nutrition Education And Counseling Among Home Delivered Meal Participants, Shahla Wunderlich, Yeon Bai, J. Piemonte

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective: The short-term impact of nutrition education and counseling intervention on nutrition risk factors among home delivered (HDM) and congregate (CGM) meal participants using Nutrition Survey Risk Screening was studied. Design: A two-year intervention was conducted with 355 participants (n=259 CGM, n=96 HDM). Various nutrition behaviors that affect the nutrition risk score were compared. Setting: Congregate and home delivered meal locations in a northern county of New Jersey. Participants: CGM and HDM participants in a northern county of New Jersey age 60 and older. Intervention: CGM participants received regular topical nutrition education and counseling in a classroom format with cooking …

Kombucha : An Exploration Of Microbial Composition, Brewing Conditions, And The Effect Of Fermentation Time On The Rate Of Alcohol Production, Erin-Leigh Gallop

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Kombucha is a fermented tea created with the help of a symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. The presence of bacteria and yeast in the broth of kombucha, and not solely in the top-floating pellicle layer, permit fermentation and alcohol production to continue after the “mother” SCOB Y has been removed and after bottling has occurred for mass consumption. In the normal metabolic path of kombucha fermentation, the yeast breaks down the disaccharide sucrose into the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. However, the microbial composition of kombucha varies. This study included the microbial identification of a species of kombucha currently being …

Soil Composition Of Community Gardens: Are There Quality Concerns?, Shahla Wunderlich, Charles Feldman, K. Latif, P. Punamiya

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

It is suggested, but not confirmed, that soil composition and minerals in soil can affect the nutritional quality of the produce. Determining soil composition of community gardens has therefore become significant for foods that are grown in these gardens as the popularity of community gardens are on the rise. A comparative study of five (5) community garden soils from different regions of New Jersey and New York over a period of 4 months was conducted. A total of nine (9) elements including Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb were analysed using the EPA Method 3051A. Among …

Weight Loss And Incretin Responsiveness Improve Glucose Control Independently After Gastric Bypass Surgery, Mousumi Bose, Julio Teixeira, Blanca Olivan, Baani Bawa, Sara Arias, Sriram Machineni, F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, Philipp E. Scherer, Blandine Laferrè

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the mechanisms underlying Type 2 diabetes remission after gastric bypass (GBP) surgery by characterizing the short- and long-term changes in hormonal determinants of blood glucose. Methods: Eleven morbidly obese women with diabetes were studied before and 1, 6, and 12 months after GBP; eight non-diabetic morbidly obese women were used as controls. The incretin effect was measured as the difference in insulin levels in response to oral glucose and to an isoglycemic intravenous challenge. Outcome measures were glucose, insulin, C-peptide, proinsulin, amylin, glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) …

Tailoring Messages To Individual Differences In Monitoring- Blunting Styles To Increase Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Pamela Williams-Piehota, Amy E. Latimer, Nicole A. Katulak, Ashley Cox, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera, Linda Mowad, Peter Salovey

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective

To examine whether messages matched to individuals' monitoring-blunting coping styles (MBCS) are more effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake than mismatched messages. MBCS refers to the tendency to either attend to and amplify, or distract oneself from and minimize threatening information.

Design/Setting

Randomly assigned messages were tailored to resonate with either monitors or blunters and delivered at baseline, 1 week, 2 months, and 3 months later. Surveys were conducted at baseline and 2 and 4 months later.

Participants

531 callers to a cancer information hotline who did not meet the 5 A Day guideline.

Intervention

A brief telephone-delivered …

Voluntary Exercise Inhibits Intestinal Tumorigenesis In Apc(Min/+) Mice And Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Treated Mice., Jihyeung Ju, Bonnie Nolan, Michelle Cheh, Mousumi Bose, Yong Lin, George C. Wagner, Chung S. Yang

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that physical activity reduces the risk of colon cancer in humans. Results from animal studies, however, are inconclusive. The present study investigated the effects of voluntary exercise on intestinal tumor formation in two different animal models, Apc(Min/+) mice and azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. METHODS: In Experiments 1 and 2, five-week old female Apc(Min/+) mice were either housed in regular cages or cages equipped with a running wheel for 6 weeks (for mice maintained on the AIN93G diet; Experiment 1) or 9 weeks (for mice on a high-fat diet; Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, male …

Nutritional Evaluation Of Lean And Non-Lean Female High School Athletes Using Mypyramid, William Edward Mcsheffrey

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

MyPyramid was used to evaluate the nutritional status of twelve lean and fourteen non-lean high school female athletes. Lean athletes are those who participate in sports where weight control is considered important for performance. Weights of athletes participating in non-lean sports are less likely to influence performance. In this study, all the lean sport athletes participated in track, and the non-lean athletes competed in softball. Subjects included twenty-five middle-class Caucasians and one Hispanic from two northern New Jersey high schools. All subjects and their parents gave their consent to participate. Subjects needed to be in good health, between the ages …

International Students’ Perceptions Of Food Service At A New Jersey State University, Rebecca Ann Schubert

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The aim of this study is to explore international students’ perceptions of food service at Montclair State University. Twelve international students were recruited to participate in this quick ethnography. Seven of the twelve participants were males and five were females. Students came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including Asian/Pacific Islander, African, Hispanic and White, non-Hispanic. Inclusion criteria were that the students must be considered international students by the university and must be able to effectively communicate in English. The students completed a fourteen-question survey questionnaire which asked about demographic data as well as questions about attitudes and beliefs about …

Effect Of Dietary Carbohydrates And Biotin Level On Cecal Size And Biotin Concentration Of Growing Chickens, Kathleen Bauer, P. Griminger

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Growing chickens were fed three levels of biotin, 0, 20, and 100 micrograms/kg diet, and four different carbohydrates, glucose, dextrin, sucrose, and sorbitol, in order to study the effect of dietary carbohydrates on the level of cecal biotin. Dietary sorbitol was found to enhance the concentration of cecal biotin at suboptimal levels of dietary biotin, while dietary dextrin had the opposite effect. When the dietary requirement of biotin was met, cecal biotin greatly increased in the presence of dietary glucose, sorbitol, and sucrose but remained at a low level when dextrin was the dietary carbohydrate. Dietary sorbitol increased significantly the …