Studies were reviewed to conclude the role collagen plays in epithelial health, the aging process, and healing processes. Factors that influence collagen synthesis and degradation were discussed in detail, and a comparison was established between self-produced collagen's and supplemental collagen's effects after analyzing experimental studies' results. Marketing strategies and media myths regarding supplemental collagen have been researched and discussed. Additionally, a plastic surgeon and PhD student were both interviewed regarding collagen in the clinical setting and in the media. In conclusion, many factors contribute to maintaining or decreasing collagen synthesis; however, supplemental collagen has been found to indirectly increase collagen content in epithelial tissue by improving moisture levels in the skin.

An autoimmune disease is a health condition in which the immune system attacks your body due to the inability to differentiate between foreign cells and your own cells. There are over 80 autoimmune diseases that affect the human body, but we specifically want to focus on three diseases: Crohn’s Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These three autoimmune diseases affect young adults the most and impact three integral parts of the body – the GI tract, musculoskeletal system, and the central nervous system, respectively. We would like to further research how nutrition and diet can affect individuals with these autoimmune disorders. We want to better understand the role diet plays in maintaining both the physical and mental health condition of an individual with an autoimmune disease. Stress has been hypothesized to be a factor in the triggering of an autoimmune disease and we have noticed how stress can be a major factor on a person’s daily food choices and intake. We are also interested in how we can incorporate this knowledge of the benefits of nutrition into routine patient care. Within the healthcare setting, we have both witnessed first-hand how patients were able to improve as well as maintain their physical health condition via their diet. For example, through an appropriate diet, patients were able to show improvements in their lab work and/or maintain and prevent health conditions such as autoimmune disorders. Therefore, we would like to better understand how diet can control and/or manage autoimmune disorders.

An autoimmune disease is a health condition in which the immune system attacks your body due to the inability to differentiate between foreign cells and your own cells. There are over 80 autoimmune diseases that affect the human body, but we specifically want to focus on three diseases: crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS). These three autoimmune diseases affect young adults the most and impact three integral parts of the body – the GI tract, musculoskeletal system, and the central nervous system, respectively. We would like to further research how nutrition and diet can affect individuals with these autoimmune disorders. We want to better understand the role diet plays in maintaining both the physical and mental health condition of an individual with an autoimmune disease. Stress has been hypothesized to be a factor in the triggering of an autoimmune disease and we have noticed how stress can be a major factor on a person’s daily food choices and intake, specifically in college students. This is the main reason why we want the focus of the participants in our study to be college students. We are also interested in how we can incorporate this knowledge of the benefits of nutrition into routine patient care. Within the healthcare setting, we have both witnessed first-hand how patients were able to improve as well as maintain their physical health condition via their diet. For example, through an appropriate diet, patients were able to show improvements in their lab work and/or maintain and prevent health conditions such as autoimmune disorders. Therefore, we would like to better understand how diet can control and/or manage autoimmune disorders.

Every year, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is diagnosed in a growing number of the Americans. Consequently, an extensive amount of research has been dedicated to understanding this disease, and identifying which factors contribute to its symptoms. A large portion of this research has been focused on diet. This paper outlines some of the common diets that are recommended to help those with IBD. The diets discussed are the specific carbohydrate diet, IBD-AID, enteral/parenteral nutrition, low – FODMAP diet, and exclusion diet. It was found that there is a lot of overlap between these diets. Several foods such as corn, dairy, and processed meats were on the avoidance list for more than one diet. Additionally, several diets recommend including probiotic and prebiotic foods each day. From the research gathered in this paper, it is recommended to create an individualized diet with a team of healthcare professionals, using the diets discussed as a guide. While diet is only one of many lifestyle choices that can affect the symptoms of IBD, it is an important one to consider, and can greatly impact the quality of life for patients.

This project explores modern healthcare related disparities in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the overarching historical structures that have influenced public health within the city. Historical and systemic racism, harmful housing policies, barriers preventing upwards economic mobility, and purposeful measures put in place by business leaders and city officials are all explored as factors impacting current disparities in access to care. In order to fully analyze the gaps in care, different areas, both high and low-income, are analyzed throughout history in order to understand shifting demographics and policies. The project concludes with an in-depth look at current public health efforts within Maricopa County, as well as with future policy recommendations.

Cancer is an ever-relevant disease with many genetic, social, environmental, and behavioral risk factors. One factor which has been garnering interest is the impact of nutrition on cancer. As a disease process, cancer is primarily driven by an accumulation of genetic aberrations. Recent epidemiological, pre-clinical, and clinical studies have demonstrated various impacts of bioactive food molecules on the promotion or prevention of these oncogenic mutations. This work explores several of these molecules and their relation to cancer prevention and provides a sample meal plan, which highlights many additional molecules that are currently being studied.

Cancer is an ever-relevant disease with many genetic, social, environmental, and behavioral risk factors. One factor which has been garnering interest is the impact of nutrition on cancer. As a disease process, cancer is primarily driven by an accumulation of genetic aberrations. Recent epidemiological, pre-clinical, and clinical studies have demonstrated various impacts of bioactive food molecules on the promotion or prevention of these oncogenic mutations. This work explores several of these molecules and their relation to cancer prevention and provides a sample meal plan, which highlights many additional molecules that are currently being studied.