19 research outputs found

    Prospective randomized controlled pilot study on the effects of almond consumption on skin lipids and wrinkles.

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    ObjectiveAlmonds are a rich source of fatty acids and antioxidants, and their supplementation is known to significantly modulate serum lipids. The effects of almond on the skin's lipid barrier and the appearance of wrinkles have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of almond consumption on facial sebum production and wrinkles.MethodsThis was a prospective, investigator-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which subjects consumed 20% of their daily energy consumption in either almonds or a calorie-matched snack for 16 weeks. This study was completed at the UC Davis Dermatology clinic. Participants were a volunteer sample of generally healthy postmenopausal females with Fitzpatrick skin types 1 and 2. A facial photograph and image analysis system was used to obtain standardized photographs and information on wrinkle width and severity at 0, 8, and 16 weeks. Measurements of transepidermal water loss and sebum production were also completed at 0, 8, and 16 weeks.ResultsFifty healthy postmenopausal females were recruited, 31 participants were enrolled, and 28 completed the study. Under photographic analysis, the almond group had significantly decreased wrinkle severity and width compared with the control group at 16 weeks (p < .02). Changes in skin barrier function were nonsignificant, measured by the transepidermal water loss (p = .65) between the almond and control groups relative to baseline after 16 weeks. No adverse effects were reported.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that daily almond consumption may reduce wrinkle severity in postmenopausal females to potentially have natural antiaging benefits

    Assessing food system vulnerabilities: a fault tree modeling approach

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    BackgroundFood system function is vulnerable to disruption from a variety of sources. Disruption of the processes required for food provision may result in decreases in food security in affected communities. Currently, there are few tools that quantitatively predict or analyze food system vulnerabilities to contribute to food system resilience analysis. This work presents a prototype version of one such tool, a fault tree, which can be used conceptually and for future modeling work. Fault tree analysis is an engineering tool used to illustrate basic and intermediate factors that can cause overall system failures.MethodsThe fault tree defines food system functioning as food security at the community level and maps the components of the food system onto three main tenets of food security - accessibility, availability, and acceptability. Subtrees were populated using a top down approach guided by expertise, extant literature, and 36 stakeholder interviews.ResultsThe food system is complex, requiring 12 subtrees to elaborate potential failures. Subtrees comprising accessibility include physical accessibility of the vending point and economic accessibility among community members. Food availability depends on the functioning of the food supply chain, or, in the case of individuals who rely on donated food, the food donation system. The food supply chain includes processing, wholesale operations, distribution systems, and retail center subtrees. Elements of acceptability include the medical appropriateness, nutritional adequacy, and cultural acceptability of food. Case studies of the effects of Winter Storm Jonas of 2016 and the 2013-2017 California drought in Baltimore City illustrate the utility of the fault tree model.ConclusionFTA of potential routes to food system failure provides a tool that allows for consideration of the entirety of the food system; has potential to provide a quantitative assessment of food system failure and recovery; and is able to capture short-term and long-term hazards in a single framework. This systems modeling approach highlights an extensive list of vulnerability points throughout the food system, and underscores the message that reducing food system vulnerabilities requires action at all levels to protect communities from the risks of short-term and long-term threats to food security

    Home-prepared meals among college students at-risk for food insecurity : A mixed-methods study

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    The ability to prepare meals at home is an important life skill with potential to improve dietary quality and reduce costs and thus may be particularly important for college students with food insecurity. However, heavy time demands, limited financial resources, and therefore other barriers such as lack of motivation to follow a healthy diet may constrain meal preparation skills. To gain greater insight into this issue, we conducted a mixedmethods study. The quantitative component assessed relationships among food security, motivation, and meal preparation skills. The qualitative component used focus groups to more closely consider college students' perceptions, values, and barriers surrounding preparing meals at home, including current practices, desired future practices, and the ways in which the campus could support their efforts. The survey (n = 226) assessed food security, meal preparation skills, and motivation (i.e., perceived ability and willingness) to consume a healthy diet. Ten focus groups (n = 60) discussed food choice, meal preparation practices, and ways in which the campus could help students develop meal preparation skills. Students with food insecurity had lower meal preparation skills and lower perceived ability to consume a healthy diet. However, a) willingness to consume a healthy diet and b) the impact of both willingness and perceived ability did not differ by food security status. Focus group data indicated that in-person and online cooking classes, information cards in the food pantry, and incentives (e.g., kitchen equipment and vouchers from local grocery stores) were popular ideas for improving home-meal preparation. A greater understanding of meal preparation skills and their interconnectedness to food choice and the campus environment may inform effective ways to support the ability and willingness of college students with food insecurity to prepare meals at home.Peer reviewe

    Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding CalFresh Participation in University Students

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    Objective: (1) Identify demographic and academic differences among university students who are food secure or food insecure and (2) explore CalFresh knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among university students. Design: A questionnaire, including the 10-item USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module, CalFresh KAPs, and student factors was distributed in Winter 2020 to 10,000 university students. Chi-square test of independence, logistic and linear regressions were used to assess associations between food-secure status and student factors. Exploratory factor analysis determined factors relating to CalFresh KAPs. Kendall’s tau assessed association between CalFresh KAPs factors. Setting: A public research university in California. Participants: Enrolled undergraduate and graduate/professional students (n = 10,000). 1535 responses with 1408 included in analysis for having complete data. Results: Food insecurity was associated with: race/ethnicity (Latino/a, OR = 1.97; p p p = 0.01). Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors related to CalFresh knowledge and attitudes: (1) CalFresh knowledge, (2) Positive attitudes around participating in CalFresh, (3) Negative attitudes around participating in CalFresh, (4) Negative attitudes around others participating in CalFresh, and (5) Fortunate attitudes for not participating in CalFresh. CalFresh knowledge was correlated with positive attitudes towards CalFresh participation (τb = 0.15, p = 0.025); negative attitudes towards other individuals’ CalFresh participation (τb = −0.28, p p = 0.004); and CalFresh participation OR = 1.40; p = 0.02). Conclusions: CalFresh knowledge may influence program participation. Populations who are most impacted by food insecurity should be a focus for improving CalFresh knowledge to promote CalFresh participation

    Food Environments around American Indian Reservations: A Mixed Methods Study

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    Objectives: To describe the food environments experienced by American Indians living on tribal lands in California. Methods: Geocoded statewide food business data were used to define and categorize existing food vendors into healthy, unhealthy, and intermediate composite categories. Distance to and density of each of the composite food vendor categories for tribal lands and nontribal lands were compared using multivariate linear regression. Quantitative results were concurrently triangulated with qualitative data from in-depth interviews with tribal members (n = 24). Results: After adjusting for census tract-level urbanicity and per capita income, results indicate there were significantly fewer healthy food outlets per square mile for tribal areas compared to non-tribal areas. Density of unhealthy outlets was not significantly different for tribal versus non-tribal areas. Tribal members perceived their food environment negatively and reported barriers to the acquisition of healthy food. Conclusions: Urbanicity and per capita income do not completely account for disparities in food environments among American Indians tribal lands compared to nontribal lands. This disparity in access to healthy food may present a barrier to acting on the intention to consume healthy food
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