Impact Lives

Bonnie Beezhold, Ph.D., CHES

Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Bonnie Beezhold

Bonnie Beezhold joined the faculty full-time in 2011. Previously, she held positions as Clinical Assistant Professor in Nutrition at Arizona State University and Regional Research Interviewer. Beezhold earned her doctorate in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness from the Arizona State University, with a focus on Nutrition. She earned a Master of Health Science degree in International Health, with a concentration in Human Nutrition, from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is certified as a Health Education Specialist by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.

Beezhold's research interests include the role of fats in mental health, food additives and ADHD-type symptoms, and complementary nutrition therapies. Beezhold is a member of the American Society for Nutrition and has regularly presented her research at their annual Federated American Societies of Experimental Biology conference. Her research is published in the Journal of Nutrition, Nutrition Journal, Nutrition, and the Journal of Attention Disorders.

Beezhold serves on the Executive Committee of the Trinity Christian College Board of Trustees. In 2010, she was awarded the Arizona State University Dean’s Clinical Track Scholarship in 2010.

Publications

"Vitamin C Status and Perception of Effort During Exercise in Obese Adults Adhering to a Calorie-Reduced Diet"

Moderate energy restriction and exercise are recommended for effective weight loss, with several supporting facts:

  • Obese individuals oxidize less fat and report a higher perceived exertion during exercise, characteristics that may negatively influence individual exercising.
  • Vitamin C status has been linked to fatigability, and this study compares the effects of vitamin C supplementation on self-reported fatigue, respiratory exchange ratio and the Ratings of Perceived Exertion scale during moderate exercise in healthy obese adults following a hypocaloric diet, eating fewer calories than burned.

"Restriction of Meat, Fish and Poultry in Omnivores Improves Mood: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial"

This piece looks at how omnivorous diets are high in arachidonic acid (AA) as compared to vegetarian diets. Research shows that high intakes of AA influence changes in the brain can affect mood. Omnivores who eat fish regularly increase their intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fats that oppose the negative effects of AA on mood.

"Sodium Benzoate-Rich Beverage Consumption is Associated with Increased Reporting of ADHD Symptoms in College Students: A Pilot Investigation"

Sodium benzoate, a common additive in popular beverages, has recently been linked to ADHD. The research examined the relationship between sodium benzoate-rich beverage ingestion and symptoms related to ADHD in college students.

  • College students completed an anonymous survey in class during the fall of 2010, assessing recent intake of sodium benzoate-rich beverages and ADHD-related symptoms using a validated screener.
  • The data suggests that a high intake of sodium benzoate-rich beverages may contribute to ADHD-related symptoms in college students and warrants further investigation.

"Vegetarian Diets are Associated with Healthy Mood States: A Cross-Sectional Study in Seventh Day Adventist Adults"

There is limited research regarding the mental health status of vegetarians, particularly with regard to mood, despite the amount of research that has been done on their status of their physical health.

  • The study examined associations between mood state and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake as a result of adherence to a vegetarian or omnivorous diet in a cross-sectional study of 138 healthy Seventh Day Adventist men and women residing in the Southwest.
  • The finding concluded that the vegetarian diet profile does not appear to adversely affect mood despite low intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

"Plasma Vitamin C is Inversely Related to Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference but not to Plasma Adiponectin in Nonsmoking Adults"

This study examines the relationships between plasma vitamin C, adiposity, and the collagen-like adipokine, adiponectin.

  • Plasma vitamin C was inversely related to BMI, percentage of body fat and waist circumference in both women and men.
  • In only women, these associations remained significant after controlling for body mass.
  • Plasma vitamin C was inversely related to markers of adiposity, particularly in women, but vitamin C supplementation did not influence the circulating concentration of adiponectin.

Have more questions? Call us about the Benedictine University M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness at (866) 295-3104 to speak to a program manager or request more information.