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In a hospital, a woman in a bright red shalwar kameez dress and dupatta shawl spoon-feeds an emaciated infant in her lap.

University scientists conduct, shed light on microbiome research to help impoverished children grow

Millions of children worldwide experience diarrheal infections that cause malnourishment and stunted physical and mental growth. A recently published study shows that a specific probiotic strain, a live bacterium that lives in the body, helps severely malnourished Bangladeshi infants grow.

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Food Systems

Explore Nevada’s food systems from farm to table. Learn about local production, processing, access, consumption, and recovery through Extension programs.

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A Gender-specific approach to improving substance abuse treatment for women: The Healthy Steps to Freedom (HSF) Program This study tested the efficacy of a supplemental health and body image curriculum designed for women in substance abuse treatment who report weight concerns called Healthy Steps to Freedom (HSF). Lindsay, A., Warren, C., Velasquez S., & Lu, M. 2012, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 43(1), 61-69.
Alfalfa for Beef Cows Optimizing a ranch’s feed resources often requires strategic supplementation of standing forage with a processed protein, energy or mineral product. However, protein and energy supplements do not necessarily have to come out of a sack. Foster, S. McCuin, G., Nelson, D., Schultz, B., and Torell, R. 2009, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Blue light added with red LEDs enhance growth characteristics, pigments content and antioxidant capacity in lettuce, spinach, kale, basil and sweet pepper in a controlled environment. Naznin, M. T., Lefsrud, M., Gravel, V., and Azad, O. K. 2019, Plants. 8, 93
Comparison of household double burden of malnutrition among mother-child dyads in different settings in Maharashtra Angeline Jeyakumar, Swapnil Godbharle, Hema Kesa, Pranita Shambharkar, Pooja Bhalekar, Shraddha Chalwadi & Roopan George 2024, Cities & Health Volume 8, 2024 - Issue 6
Dynamic energy balance: An integrated framework for discussing diet and physical activity in obesity prevention - Is it more than eating less and exercising more? This paper highlights the importance of advancing nutrition educators’ understanding about PA, and its synergistic role with diet, and the value of incorporating a dynamic energy balance approach into obesity-prevention programs. Manore, M., Larson-Meyer, E., Lindsay, A., Hongu, N. and Houtkooper, L. 2017, Nutrients 9(8):905. doi:10.3390/nu9080905. Available at: www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
Effect of Different Combinations of Red and Blue LED Light on Growth Characteristics and Pigments Content of In Vitro Tomato Plantlets. Naznin, M. T., Lefsrud, M., Azad, O. K. and Park, C. H. 2019, Agriculture. 9(9), 196
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on the immune response to respiratory tract infections and inflammatory conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis Angeline Jeyakumar, Pooja Bhalekar, Pranita Shambharkar 2024, Human Nutrition & Metabolism Volume 37, September 2024, 200272
Effects of liquid-based diets with breweries grains enriched with isolated starch and fish oil on veal quality Giotto, F.M., Gamage, N.H., Macias-Franco, A., Gerrard, D.E., Fonseca, M.A., de Mello, A.S. 2024, Meat Science, Volume 216, October 2024, 109592
Effects of the incorporation of tannin extract from Quebracho Colorado wood on color Parameters, lipid oxidation, and sensory attributes of beef patties Condensed tannins from Quebracho Colorado wood are incorporated into beef patties as a natural antioxidant source to improve shelf life. Fruet, A.P.B., Giotto, F.M., Fonseca, M.F., Nörnberg, J.L., and de Mello, A.S. 2020, Foods 2020, 9(5), 667
Embedding Culturally Responsive and Racial Equity Strategies in Evaluation: Lessons and Experiences from Evaluation Specialists in the Cooperative Extension System Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation (CREE) centers on equity, justice, and community partnership throughout evaluation. This roundtable explores CREE as a reflective, relational process that uplifts diverse voices, builds trust, and informs inclusive, culturally grounded evaluation practices in Extension. Najat Elgeberi, Vikram Koundinya, LaJoy Spears 2025, Eighth International for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment Conference
Field assessment for obesity prevention in children and parents: Physical activity, fitness and body composition. This report will assist educators in identifying and selecting appropriate field-based assessments for measurement of PA, physical fitness, and body composition for children and adults. Specific guidelines, references, and resources are given for selecting assessment methods and test within these 3 areas. Lindsay, A., Hongu, K., Spears, K., Dyrek, A. & Manore, M. 2014, Journal of Nutrition Education Behavior 46 (1):43-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2013.03.013
Food Safety Tips for Nevada Child Caregivers This publication will help you to learn more about what caregivers should look for during the preparation of food to prevent foodborne illness. Omaye, S. and Wilson, M. 2007, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-07-28
For the Health Professional: Infant Formula IS NOT the Same as Breast Milk This fact sheet presents a comprehensive (but not complete) list of human milk components to help show the great differences between infant formula and human milk components. Sigman-Grant, M. 2013, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-13-17
Impact of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) interventions on diarrhoeal infections among children in the tribal regions of Palghar: a quasi-experimental study. Angeline Jeyakumar, Bibek Raj Giri, Swapnil Godbharl 2024, J Water Health 1 July 2024; 22 (7): 1125–1138
Influencing Head Start families thoughts and beliefs about health, nutrition, and physical activity. The results of an intervention comparison research study indicated that preschoolers can have an influence on their families’ food selection and physical activity habits. Byington, T. A., Lindsay, A. R., Loesch-Griffin, D., Brumett, S., & Sigman-Grant, M. 2013, National Head Start Association, NHSA Dialog, 16(3), 160-164
Integrating traditional food properties with modern nutrition to develop complementary foods from local resources. An acceptability study in tribal regions of Jawhar among undernourished children. This article is unique for the comprehensive methodology and study design to perform a community-based action/ evaluation project for the management of child undernutrition in the tribal regions of India Bhalare, S., Deshmukh, S., Godbharle, S., & Jeyakumar, A. 2025, Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 49(1), 23.
Living With Celiac Disease This fact sheet contains detail on celiac disease and the diet one must main as a result. Learn several other topics such as dermatitis herpetiformis, gluten-free menu and many more. Seymour, K. and Wilson, M. 2006, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-06-15
Longitudinal Three-Year Associations of Dietary Fruit and Vegetable Intake with Serum hs-C-Reactive Protein in Adults with and without Type 1 Diabetes Helm MM, Basu A, Richardson LA, Chien L-C, Izuora K, Alman AC, Snell-Bergeon JK. 2024, Nutrients. 2024; 16(13):2058
Managing High Blood Pressure This fact sheet contains several ways to reduce one's blood pressure for a healthier life. Wilson, M. 2005, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-05-49
MicroRNA Biogenesis, Gene Regulation Mechanisms, and Availability in Foods de Mello, A.S.; Ferguson, B.S.; Shebs-Maurine, E.L.; Giotto, F.M. 2024, Non-coding RNA 10(5), 52
Minding Your Minerals This fact sheet contains answers to common questions that revolve around minerals such as calcium, iron, and fluoride. Wilson, W., Scott, B. 2004, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-04-52
Nevada researcher studying gut microbiomes in hopes of improving health Aim is to uncover how Nevadans’ lives affect the microbes in their digestive tract and their health Andrews, A. 2021, Nevada Today
Nevada’s health and nutrition needs – Preferred methods of health information delivery. Seymour, K., Spears, K., Lindsay, A., Collins, C., Leontos, C., Sigman-Grant, M., Wilson, M. & Woodson, J. 2009, UNCE Special Publication SP-09-18
Nutritional and Sensory Analysis of Raspberry Varieties Grown in Northern Nevada The purpose of this study was to measure vitamin C, vitamin E, total polyphenolics (antioxidants) and sugars (glucose and fructose) in several raspberry varieties during two growing seasons and during different months of harvest. We hypothesized these nutrients would vary across types, as well as harvest month. Jacobs, J., Kratsch, H., Omaye, S., and Treftz C. 2016, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Special Publication 16-14
Nutritional Properties of Windrowed and Standing Basin Wildrye over Time Many Nevada farmers and ranchers are in constant search of economical, high- producing winter forages for their beef cattle production system. An often overlooked forage but one that is common in Nevada and the Intermountain West is basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus). Foster, S. and Perryman, B. 2012, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Preschoolers can distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods: The All 4 Kids Study This study determined changes in preschoolers' ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and stated food preferences after participation in a nutrition education program. Sigman-Grant, M., Byington, T., Lindsay, A., Lu, M., Mobley, A., Fitzgerald, N. & Hildebrand, D. 2013, Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 03/2014, Volume 46, Issue 2
Synthesized f-MWCNTs/CS/PB for determination of manganese (Mn2+) in drinking water Ringgit, G., Siddiquee, S., Saallah, S., Lal, MTM. and Naznin, MT. 2023, Monatsh Chem 154, 191–203
The Amazing Nutritious Papaya This fact sheet contains extensive information on papaya facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-25
The Expanding Scope of Nutrition Transition Research: Need for New Domains and Measures Nutrition transition (NT) studies are yet to benefit from domains beyond the theoretical framework (TF). This gap is significant as health challenges have evolved with time. This paper aims to review the expanding scope of NT research. Angeline Jeyakumar, Deepa Agrawal, Siddhi Deshpande, Devishree Dunna, Swapnil Godbharle, Hema Kesa, Anjali Radkar and Athreyee Sinha 2024, Current Developments in Nutrition
The Unbelievable Kiwi This fact sheet contains extensive information on kiwi facts and dishes anyone can try. Wilson, M. 2011, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-11-23
University of Nevada, Reno celebrates remodeled space for promoting nutrition knowledge and healthy living Andrews, A. 2022, Nevada Today
University scientists conduct, shed light on microbiome research to help impoverished children grow Millions of children worldwide experience diarrheal infections that cause malnourishment and stunted physical and mental growth. A recently published study shows that a specific probiotic strain, a live bacterium that lives in the body, helps severely malnourished Bangladeshi infants grow. Andrews, A. 2022, Nevada Today
Valuing Vitamins This fact sheet contains answers to questions that revolve around vitamins such as the foods to prepare, vitamins to take, etc. Wilson, W. and Scott, B. 2004, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, FS-04-55