Kent State Interns

Most people think of health care settings when they think about where dietitians are located. However, dietitians can be found in grocery stores too. Dietitians in grocery stores can help implement the suggestions that are given to patients and families by dietitians in the clinical setting in regard to their diet, allergies, and overall healthy eating habits. Many families can feel overwhelmed when they hear they have to change the way they eat. Especially when they are told to start looking at food labels and ingredient lists. Information can be difficult to comprehend and remember. Therefore, it can be hard to take what you learned in an office to incorporating it into your life. Dietitians in grocery stores can incorporate hands on education in the aisles of grocery stores that was explained in the office by a health care professional. This can make shopping less stressful for patients and their families. It can also make it easier to follow the recommendations made by health ca...

What is Kombucha? It is a fermented beverage that contains tea, sugar, bacteria, and yeast. These beverages are considered a probiotic which are healthy bacteria for the gut to fight off any harmful bacteria that we ingest and to boost our immune system.  What are the health benefits? Some have claimed that kombucha can help reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure, improve the function of the liver, pancreas, the immune system, and gastrointestinal functions. People believe this can be the cure to their gastrointestinal health, but is it really? Studies are limited as to what the true health benefits of kombucha are and there is a need for more research to determine if kombucha will help support better digestion. Typically research on kombucha are done in labs rather than in people so true benefits for people have not been proven.  Who can benefit from Kombucha?  People who are on antibiotics can help from probiotics because antibiotics can destroy t...

Have you ever felt like you needed to reset your body? Many people might after eating “bad” food or a night of drinking. As a result, people will research on how to detox and start cleanse diets. Detoxification involves the removal of “toxins” out of the body as waste from the gut. The removal of these toxins can happen through urine, feces, or sweat. Excessive toxin in the body can result in stored fat and damage to the body. Everyone removes toxins differently and what may work for one person, may not work for another because of different environments, diet, lifestyle, health status, and genetics.  Many celebrities advertise cleanse diets like 1 pound a day, the 10-day green smoothie cleanse, or the master cleanse diet. These diets involve restricting diets, smoothie cleanse, dietary supplements, herbal laxatives, and even fasting. They state that they will result in weight loss, rid the body of waste and toxins, enhance beauty, and even decrease the effects of aging. Howeve...

Are sports drinks appropriate for children? Sport drinks are perceived as being a healthy alternative to pop and sweetened beverages. However, sports drinks are full of sugar and unnecessary calories. The rate of consumption of sports drinks in children and adolescents are increasing. Big companies are creating zero calorie drinks, smaller size beverages, and commercials aimed towards children to sell their products. However, these zero calorie sports drinks still contain added artificial sweeteners which are not a healthy alternative.  American College of Sports Medicine reports that sports drinks were designed for athletes or individuals that part in vigorous physical activity. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agree that children and teenagers do not do enough exercise to make it appropriate for them to need sports drinks. AAP claims the average child doesn’t take part in the level of physical activity that requires electrolyte replenishment that are in sport drinks. Con...

Cauliflower is all the rage right now. People are using it to make mashed potatoes, pizza crusts and rice. Why is it so popular? Cauliflower is a great, nutrient-rich vegetable. It is rich in Vitamin-C, folate and has a high water content. It is an antioxidant which aids in cancer prevention. Cauliflower also has properties that are anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and pain. It also helps with the digestion process and can be used as a way to boost the immune system. All of these things result in cauliflower being a an excellent option to choose during meals. This vegetable is best cooked in the oven, baked or by steaming it. Cooking the vegetable in this way helps the nutrients and properties of the food to stay intact. If the cauliflower had been prepared using water, like when boiling then nutrients would be lost in the water. The benefits will occur if cauliflower is eaten as often as possible, so try to incorporate it into your diet as often as possible! http://whf...

Sebastian Rowland, a member of the Penn Bioethics Society, reported on the first school system to ever participate in Meatless Mondays, a vegetarian day to reduce meat consumption. Baltimore County Public Schools made the change on September 21st, 2009 with the help of the Food and Nutrition Director, Anthony Geraci, who decided to make the change because he wanted the kids in the school district to be conscientious about meat consumption. He had also decided to make the change when the National Institute of Cancer had released a report saying that red meat is linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease. In addition to endorsing vegetarianism, Geraci also encourages the school systems to buy only Maryland grown produce, use ovens instead of deep fryers and lean away from all pre-packaged foods. Their efforts to create a healthier, more sustainable kitchen created skewed opinions from the children. Some students were excited and eager but others were nervous and guarded about th...

A lot of college students use snacking as the basis of their meals. It’s easy. It’s fast. It’s convenient. Snacking can be fun too! There are so many creative ways to make healthy, nutritious snacks. There are three basic snack categories that can be healthy options. The first is whole foods. Second is pre-packaged food. Third is home-made food. Whole food options include fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds. The best options are raw or frozen produce. Canned fruits and vegetables can include unnecessary additives such as sodium, sugar and seasonings you wouldn’t like. It is best to add your own seasonings to foods so you know exactly what is going into your food. Since college student’s like foods to be mobile, raw fruits and vegetables might work best. Other whole food ideas are pumpkin seeds, almonds or sunflower seeds. Pre-packaged foods can be healthy but should be evaluated for nutrients and ingredients. Added sugars should be noted, also saturated fat content and unnecessary a...

There are many ways to stay hydrated throughout the day beside from plain, boring water. Fruits and vegetables have plenty of water in them to help keep you hydrated on a daily basis. Water that is flavored to your liking can also be a fun way to get enough to drink. It can be hard to get enough to drink throughout the day so eating your water can be a fun easy way to get enough. Fruits like watermelon, citrus like oranges or grapefruit, berries like strawberries and peaches. Freeze these foods when the weather is warm for a sweet treat. You can freeze watermelon to create a whole fruit popsicle. Some vegetables that have high water content include tomatoes, celery and cucumbers. Eating meals with salads, soups or dishes with these foods can contribute to your overall hydration status. Incorporating these foods into snacks can also be a great way to add more water into your diet. If you want to include more flavorful drinking water into your day, here are some tips and tricks....