Volume 3 | Issue 2
DISCOVER UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WHAT WE DO + WHY IT MATTERS
Research within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences impacts all our lives. With expertise in agriculture and the environment, family and communities, and health and wellness, our reach is both broad and deep. Uniting us is a reliance on the latest innovations in data and technology, as well as a deep commitment to solving real-world problems affecting Central Illinois, the United States, and the globe. Here, we highlight a fraction of our world-class research in the area of health and wellness, showcasing discoveries that help children, cancer survivors, and healthy adults.
AVOCADOS ARE GOOD FOR YOUR GUT Avocados are rich in nutrients, including dietary fiber and monounsaturated fat. They also improve gut health, a team of ACES scientists say. The researchers, who specialize in dietary modulation of the microbiome and its connections to health, studied how avocado consumption impacts gastrointestinal microbiota. They found people who ate avocado every day as part of a meal had a greater abundance of gut microbes that break down fiber, produced more metabolites that support gut health, and had greater microbial diversity than a control group of people who ate similar, but avocado-free meals. In another study, they also showed an avocado a day can redistribute belly fat in women by reducing deeper, visceral abdominal fat. The researchers concluded daily avocado consumption promotes gut health by feeding the gut microbes that help us break down dietary fibers.
BEDTIME ROUTINES IMPROVE YOUNG CHILDREN’S SLEEP Getting young children to sleep at night can be a challenge for parents and caregivers. But developing consistent habits can help, according to ACES researchers. The research team studied how bedtime routines affect sleep outcomes for children during the first two years of life. They found reading books and cuddling with caregivers can make a big difference, if done consistently. Beginning these routines when infants are 3 months old promote better sleep habits through age 2. And when caregivers engaged in more bedtime-related activities with their infants at 12 months, the children slept longer and had fewer sleep problems at ages 18 months and 24 months. The research was part of STRONG Kids 2, a program within the Family Resiliency Center promoting nutrition and healthy habits in families with young children.
Avocados promote healthy gut bacteria and can reduce belly fat in women
Cuddling and reading at bedtime in the first months of life can set kids up for healthy sleep through age 2