Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Land-Grant Impacts

Topic

teapot and cup of green tea

Compounds in green tea have potential to benefit gut health and mitigate inflammation

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) affects over 34% of Americans and is a major risk factor for severe cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Researchers at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center are building on previous findings by investigating the potential of green tea extract to support gut health and mitigate inflammation in individuals with metabolic [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Food Safety, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Ohio, Public Health, Research, The Ohio State University

a closeup on two people holding hands

Extension helps Wisconsin residents tackle daunting task of end-of-life planning

It’s a subject no one wants to talk about: end-of-life planning. It can be a confusing and emotional topic but being proactive in making these plans can alleviate future stress and financial burden on loved ones. Only 37% of Americans have completed Advance Care Directives. When Extension educators with the University of Wisconsin discovered a need for more educational outreach [...]

Story, Youth, Family, and Communities 2025, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, North Central, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin

a young child in a highchair eats a piece of broccoli

Extension educates families on the link between poor diet, dental cavities in young children

Dental decay is the most common chronic condition in children, and those from families with low-income experience poor diet quality and cavities. Families face challenges in promoting healthy diets and dental care to their children due to barriers such as lack of transportation, targeted advertising and limited access to healthy foods. The University of Connecticut Extension supports the SNAP-Ed nutrition [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Connecticut, Extension, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Northeast, Research, University of Connecticut

person hiking wearing a baby carrier

Integrating biodiversity conservation with outdoor recreational activities for public well-being

More than 6 million visitors enjoy the trails of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire annually, as hiking plays a significant role in the state’s recreational tourism economy. A study supported by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station is investigating how the biological diversity of forests impacts the psychological well-being of hikers, helping understand the relationship between [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Community Development/Engagement, Ecosystem Services, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, New Hampshire, Northeast, Research, University of New Hampshire

aerial view of rural homes

Multistate research shows health effects from chronic stress impact rural residents more than urban

A study led by a team of Pennsylvania State University researchers has shown that living rurally is associated with more “wear and tear” on the body’s system from exposure to chronic stress than for urban residents. The findings were published in the journal “SSM–Population Health.” Studies have long shown that rural populations in the United States have worse health outcomes than [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Research, Rural Communities/Health, The Pennsylvania State University, Youth Development/4-H

a woman farmer checks on a cow

Program for women farmers increases well-being, safety and productivity

Nationally, women account for 36% of all U.S. agricultural producers and 41% of beginning farmers. The Northeast corridor, which extends from Maine to West Virginia, is home to many of the counties with the highest percentage of women farmers. Yet, U.S. Department of Agriculture data consistently show that farms in which a woman is the primary operator tend to be [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Extension, Food Systems, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Northeast, Profitability/Competitiveness, Public Health, University of Vermont, Vermont, Workforce Development and Readiness

a group of people outdoors, smiling

Cultivating mental health resilience

The Land-grant University System is tackling mental health challenges through innovative programs. Extension professionals are uniquely positioned to educate and support urban, suburban and rural communities, offering programs that teach coping skills, recognize mental health signs, and normalize conversations about mental health. Addressing mental health is crucial because it enhances overall well-being, improves quality of life and fosters healthier, [...]

Nutrition and Health, Summary 2025, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Delaware, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Illinois, North Central, Northeast, Oregon, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania, Public Health, Rural Communities/Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Delaware, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Western, Youth Development/4-H

closeup on hands planting seeds in a garden plot

California Extension partners to plant therapeutic garden for those in transitional housing

California has one of the highest populations of unhoused people in the nation, 44 out of every 10,000 people do not have stable housing. Being unhoused is strongly tied to food insecurity, including a lack of access to fresh foods, like fruits and vegetables. When Alameda County CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California Cooperative Extension (CFHL, UCCE), decided to restart [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, California, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Organic Agriculture

rice harvester

Developing informed guidelines for safer rice storage

Rice is a crop critical to the food security of citizens in the United States and globally, where half the world’s population relies on rice as a staple. However, an estimated 15% of rice production is lost annually due to contamination from fungi and other harmful organisms. When rice is exposed to high temperatures and humidity in storage, the [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Arkansas, Food Safety, Food Security, Food Systems, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Public Health, Research, Southern, University of Arkansas

close up of experimental vials

Team finds ways to protect apples postharvest

Pennsylvania is the nation’s fourth largest producer of apples. Once these apples and other tree fruits are picked, they are sent to packing facilities where the fruit can come in contact with germs such as listeria that can survive in these cold and wet environments. Pennsylvania State University researchers studied the seasonal changes in three different packing facilities and identified [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Food Safety, Food Systems, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Public Health, Research, Specialty Crops, The Pennsylvania State University

a scientist examines samples in a petri dish

Innovative delivery system extends shelf life of bioactives

Bioactives are naturally present in foods and are associated with several health benefits to consumers. However, these compounds often occur in limited amounts, too small to reach an effective concentration. They also tend to oxidize when exposed to oxygen, light or heat. At North Carolina A&T State University, researchers created an oleogel using rice bran wax and carnauba wax as [...]

Food Security, Story 1890, 2025, Food Safety, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T State University, Research

a scientist shows off a potato in a field

Breeding spuds to take the heat

Heat waves are becoming more common, and common crops are struggling to keep up. One problem is a photosynthetic glitch known as photorespiration, which occurs at a greater rate in some plants like potato crops exposed to hot conditions. The reason: An enzyme key to the process of photosynthesis mistakes oxygen for carbon dioxide during photorespiration, wasting energy and [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Advanced Breeding/Genomics, Crop Management, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Illinois, North Central, Research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

students and faculty examine samples under a microscope

Researchers find natural ways to provide sheep immunity from parasites

Overuse of antibiotics and dewormers in animal production can lead to the development of parasite resistance. As a result, conventional control programs relying solely on chemical interventions are becoming increasingly ineffective. At the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, researchers are looking for natural means of controlling livestock parasites. In a two-year study they tested black walnut-hull powder and a [...]

Food Security, Story 1890, 2025, Animal Health/Management/Performance/Welfare, Arkansas, Fiber Systems, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Research

shelves of a food bank

Novel data set combines public and private food assistance measures

Determining whether food insecurity is a temporary event or a long-term condition for families is difficult given a lack of comprehensive food assistance information. Researchers at the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station in New York constructed a novel data set that matched Food Bank client use records from a six-county region with similar data of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Child and Family Resilience, Cornell University, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, New York, Northeast, Research

rows of hydroponic crops

Researching strategies to protect produce from contamination

Food contamination can occur at various stages from farm to table. At Louisiana State University AgCenter, researchers are studying foodborne pathogens to better understand how they are transmitted and what might be done to prevent them from contaminating fresh and processed foods. Among the research projects are efforts to treat foods to make them less vulnerable to contamination. Those include [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Food Safety, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Public Health, Research, Southern

two scientists smile next to samples of dairy byproducts

Upcycling a problematic food waste offers a safe food additive and new market for farmers

Acid whey, a byproduct of Greek yogurt, is a major contributor to food waste and can have a negative environmental impact if not properly managed. In recent years, the production of Greek yogurt and acid-coagulated cheeses has grown, but the acid whey waste that results is not easily disposable, causing challenges for water treatment and lowering oxygen levels in [...]

Food Security, Story 2025, Economic Development, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Missouri, North Central, Research, University of Missouri, Waste Management, Water Resilience/Management

aerial view of Mediterranean food

Mediterranean diet decreases medication needs

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes remain the leading causes of death and disability in New Mexico and across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that six in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic disease, contributing to rising healthcare costs. Unhealthy diets, obesity and physical inactivity are key [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Extension, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Western

a mosquito on human skin

Texas vector and tick management education

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vector Management Program is the state’s only comprehensive educational resource for vector control professionals, providing up-to-date information on insect vectors, disease transmission and management strategies. Established in response to the 2012 West Nile Virus outbreak, which infected 1,868 Texans and resulted in 89 fatalities, the program has since expanded to address a broader range [...]

Nutrition and Health, Story 2025, Community Development/Engagement, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Master Gardener/Master Naturalist, Pest Management, Public Health, Southern, Texas, Texas A&M University, Workforce Development and Readiness

a woman cares for her elderly father

Extension in the Dakotas helps caregivers find support

An estimated 21.3% of Americans are caregivers — those who are helping relatives or friends with daily tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing and managing medications as they face situations such as end-of-life decline, chronic illness and recovery from surgery or illness. Becoming a caregiver can present many difficulties. As the Baby Boomer generation gets older and more Americans [...]

Story, Youth, Family, and Communities 2024, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, North Central, North Dakota, North Dakota State University, South Dakota, South Dakota State University

kids swimming in a natural body of water

Strengthening families through engaging programs

Research and Cooperative Extension professionals in the Land-grant University System are dedicated to developing innovative programs that impact diverse communities nationwide. This work helps improve the lives of youths and families by connecting them with educational resources and engaging opportunities. Here are a few examples of that work: In Oklahoma, the Co-Parenting for Resilience program is helping parents effectively cope with [...]

Summary, Youth, Family, and Communities 2024, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Connecticut, Cornell University, Extension, Georgia, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State University, New York, North Central, Northeast, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Purdue University, South Dakota, South Dakota State University, Southern, The University of Georgia, University of Connecticut, University of Vermont, Vermont, Youth Development/4-H

young woman examines a plant in her garden

Historically Black land-grant universities reach diverse communities

In 1890, the Land-grant University System was expanded to include institutions for Black citizens. Today, these institutions continue to provide access to higher education for underserved communities, and their research and Extension programs impact people worldwide through advancements in agricultural productivity and sustainability, food security, human health, and community and youth development. Here are a few examples of that work: First-time [...]

Summary, Youth, Family, and Communities 1890, 2024, Advanced Breeding/Genomics, Alabama, Alabama A&M University, Animal Health/Management/Performance/Welfare, Arkansas, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Broadband Access/Digital Literacy, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Crop Management, Economic Development, Extension, Fort Valley State University, Georgia, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Prairie View A&M University, Research, Texas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Youth Development/4-H

Young child smiles holding vegetables

Strengthening Tribal communities through collaboration

Working with federally recognized Tribes, land-grant universities help provide evidence-based education and resources that represent the community’s history customs, governance system and food traditions. These programs promote and improve health, food security and sustainability for Tribal communities. Here are a few examples of that work: Representation and cultural relevancy for Tribal communities is critical for Extension outreach success. Health and nutrition [...]

Summary, Youth, Family, and Communities 1994, 2024, Broadband Access/Digital Literacy, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Connecticut, Extension, Food Security, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Michigan, Michigan State University, New Mexico, New Mexico State University, North Central, Northeast, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Southern, University of Connecticut, University of Wisconsin, Western, Wisconsin

closeup photo of hands in a meditative pose

Innovative approaches to mental well-being

The need to care for our mental well-being is more evident than ever, post-pandemic. More than half of Americans report COVID-19 has negatively impacted their mental health. Extension networks across the country are working to tackle this crisis, often employing new and innovative programming. Here are a few examples of that work: In Michigan, the Mental Health First Aid program trains [...]

Nutrition and Health, Summary 2024, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Michigan, Michigan State University, Montana, Montana State University, Nevada, North Central, University of Nevada Reno, Western

a student facing stress

Virginia webinar series helps participants balance the stresses of life

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck four years ago, Virginia Cooperative Extension launched a series of webinars to address emerging issues facing its constituents — from financial issues to remote work and schooling to stress management. Organizers planned to offer just a few of these sessions in the spring of 2020. But with audience numbers for the webinars reaching as [...]

Story, Youth, Family, and Communities 2024, Child and Family Resilience, Community Development/Engagement, Extension, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Southern, Virginia, Virginia Tech

4-H fair, agent samples planting for a group of students

4-H buddies help special needs youth experience camp

Camping programs are among the hallmark experiences in 4-H that many young people look forward to every year. But some 4-H participants with special needs, such as disabilities and medical concerns, are unable to participate. In Columbia County, Georgia, a 4-H volunteer approached Extension staff with the idea of hosting an inclusive mini camp. Three two-day programs were held that [...]

Story, Youth, Family, and Communities 2024, Child and Family Resilience, Extension, Georgia, Human Nutrition/Health/Wellness, Southern, The University of Georgia, Youth Development/4-H