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(1 - 2 of 2)
- Title
- MODERATING EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS
- Creator
- Kim, Jeong Hye
- Date
- 2016, 2016-07
- Description
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States. Weight loss, which is associated with blood...
Show moreCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States. Weight loss, which is associated with blood pressure and blood glucose, is widely recommended to modify the CVDs risk factors. Among various methods, mindfulness has been extensively studied in improving psychological and physical health. There is some reported evidence that mindfulness based interventions are effective in improving CVDs risk factors. However, overall results are inconclusive. Therefore, more research examining the facets of mindfulness is necessary to understand the fundamental relationship between mindfulness and CVDs risk factors to clarify the effect of mindfulness. In addition, research into whether the relationship between different risk factors is moderated by mindfulness would provide further support of the independent effect of mindfulness on physical health. The current study hypothesized that higher mindfulness skills would correlate with physical well-being. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that mindfulness will moderate a relationship between BMI and other CVDs risk factors (e.g., individuals with higher BMI classification and higher mindfulness will show lower blood pressure compared to individuals at a similar BMI with lower mindfulness). Results found that body adiposity had an inverse relationship with overall mindfulness, and two of the four facets of mindfulness (Describing and Acting with awareness). In addition, the Describing subscale had a significant moderating effect; however, the relationship between body adiposity and systolic blood pressure was stronger rather than weaker with higher Describing skills.
M.S. in Psychology, July 2016
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- Title
- THE CHOLESTEROL LOWERING EFFECTS OF STRAWBERRY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL ESTABLISHING STRAWBERRYS' ROLE IN CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
- Creator
- Huang, Leailin
- Date
- 2018, 2018-05
- Description
-
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies suggest fruit and vegetable...
Show moreCardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies suggest fruit and vegetable consumption, especially berries, such as strawberry, is associated with lower risk of developing CVD. However, clinical trials demonstrating the specific risk factors affected by strawberry intake are not conclusive at present. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess strawberry intake on lipid and lipoprotein profile, endothelial function and blood pressure in individuals with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Thirty-four subjects (n=34) contributed to this analysis. This study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over, 12 week intervention design. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 2 study sequences in a 1:1 ratio. Sequence 1 was strawberry beverage, followed by 4 week wash out and crossover to placebo beverage. Sequence 2 was placebo beverage, followed by 4 week wash out and crossover to strawberry beverage. Subjects incorporated the strawberry or placebo beverage into their diet regularly (twice per day). Beverages were made from freeze-dried strawberries or a sensory and energy matched placebo powder. Strawberry containing beverages contained the equivalent of ~1.75 servings of fresh strawberries/beverage. Blood collection, anthropometrics, blood pressure and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery were measured at baseline (week 0) and week 4, week 8 and week 12. Study findings showed that strawberry supplementation had overall treatment effects on increasing %FMD and decreasing systolic blood pressure compared to placebo (p=0.0096 and p=0.048, respectively). The 4 weeks strawberry supplementation did not significantly change anthropometric measures, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, and hs-CRP compared to placebo (p>0.05, all). Thus, strawberries may improve endothelial function and blood pressure, independent of other metabolic alterations, and may be considered an important fruit to include in a heart healthy diet in overweight or obese subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia.
M.S. in Food Safety and Technology, May 2018
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