• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.192-204
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• 2022

Objectives: This study examined the association between dietary behaviors and perceived health status among Korean adolescents from multicultural families. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2,459 Korean adolescents from multicultural families (aged 13 ~ 18 years) who participated in the 2017 ~ 2019 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Information on the sociodemographic variables, dietary behaviors, and lifestyle variables was self-reported using a web-based questionnaire. The dietary behaviors analyzed in this study were the breakfast and food intake frequencies, including fruit, vegetable, milk, fast food, carbonated drink, sweet drink, and high caffeine/energy drinks. The adolescents' health perception was self-rated as healthy, average, or unhealthy. The dietary behaviors associated with health perception were examined using a multiple logistic regression after adjusting for the confounding variables. Results: In this study population, 7.6% of adolescents perceived their health status as unhealthy, and 25.4% perceived it as average. The adolescents who were girls, middle school students, and in households with a low economic status showed significantly higher percentages of poor health perception (P-values < 0.001). Skipping breakfast was significantly associated with a negative health perception. Compared to the adolescents who consumed fruits every day, those who did not consume fruits during the previous week showed a higher odd ratio (OR) for a negative health perception [OR = 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32-3.97]. The adolescents who frequently consumed carbonated drinks (≥ 5 times/week) perceived their health status as unhealthy relative to those who did not consume carbonated drinks (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.25-3.71). Skipping breakfast was significantly associated with an increased OR for a negative health perception in girls but not in boys. Compared to adolescents with a normal weight, those with overweight/obesity (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.21-2.52) and underweight (OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.25-3.82) showed higher ORs for negative health perception. Positive associations of overweight/obesity and underweight with negative health perception were observed in boys but not in girls. Conclusions: Dietary behaviors and weight status were associated with the health perception in Korean adolescents from multicultural families. These findings suggest that nutrition interventions on breakfast intake and healthy food choices for this population might effectively improve their weight and perceived health status.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.442-446
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• 2002

Differences in dietary habits between Korean smokers and non-smokers were investigated using information obtained from 7,370 adults, aged 20 years and older who participated in the 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Sulvey. Dietary habit data including: skipping of meals, meal regularity, meal volume, snacking habits, removing fatty portions before eating foods, and dietary supplement intake were collected using a structured questionnaire by interview. Individual smoking data was also collected by interview as part of the health behavior survey. A Chi-square test was used to test the association between the dietary habits and smoking. 66.9% of the men were smokers (daily current or occasional current), while only 6.7% of women smoked. On average, 34.7% of the subjects were smokers. Smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to engage in the following dietary habits considered unhealthy: skipping breakfast, meal irregularity, large dinners, small breakfasts, frequently eating out, and eating food without removing the fatty portion. Therefore, Korean smokers should be provided education to assist them in making healthy dietary choices such as: eating regular meals, small dinners, and removing fatty Portion of foods. The survey also revealed that a substantial percentage (about 20%) of the subjects were taking some kind of dietary supplement, regardless of smoking status. It is, therefore, alto necessary to inform the general public that a balanced diet is the ideal way to obtain nutrients for optimal health.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5293-5298
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• 2014

To investigate the association between salt processed food and gastric cancer, a hospital based case-control study was conducted in a high risk area of China. One hundred and seven newly diagnosed cases with histological confirmation of gastric cancer and 209 controls were recruited. Information on dietary intake was collected with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratios with adjustment for other potential confounders. Comparing the high intake group with never consumption of salt processed foods, salted meat, pickled vegetables and preserved vegetables were significantly associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. Meanwhile, salt taste preference in diet showed a dose-response relationship with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that consumption of salted meat, pickled and preserved vegetables, are positively associated with gastric cancer. Reduction of salt and salt processed food in diets might be one practical measure to preventing gastric cancer.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.382-389
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• 2020

"Eating cosmetic" market comes to prominence worldwide. Inner Beauty has established itself as the top trend nowadays and is leading the health functional food market. Another noticeable trend other than beauty-from-within is that products using "plant-based" natural botanical raw material are increasing. Based on these trends above, we have developed a plant extract named Agatri® for skin health using Agastache rugosa. By ingesting Agatri®, it is expected that the formation of skin wrinkles is suppressed, and skin elasticity is increased by suppressing the decrease in collagen content caused by ultraviolet rays. At the same time, it is possible to prevent skin aging by improving skin hydration and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). The studies show that it significantly increased production of hyaluronic acid and collagen, and decreased production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). And Agatri® has been approved as an "Individually recognized functional ingredient for skin health by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea in 2020. As a result, Agatri® is a good solution for those who are in need of skin protection from exposure to UV and aging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.214-224
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• 2022

Red ginseng oil (RGO), rather than the conventional aqueous extract of red ginseng, has been receiving much attention due to accumulating evidence of its functional and pharmacological potential. In this review, we describe the key extraction technologies, chemical composition, potential health benefits, and safety of RGO. This review emphasizes the proposed molecular mechanisms by which RGO is involved in various bioactivities. RGO is mainly produced using organic solvents or supercritical fluid extraction, with the choice of method greatly affecting the yield and quality of the end products. RGO contains a high unsaturated fatty acid levels along with considerable amounts of lipophilic components such as phytosterols, tocopherols, and polyacetylenes. The beneficial health properties of RGO include cellular defense, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, chemoprevention, hair growth promotion, and skin health improvement. We propose several molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that underlie the bioactivity of RGO. In addition, RGO is regarded as safe and nontoxic. Further studies on RGO must focus on a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, composition-functionality relationship, and verification of the bioactivities of RGO in clinical models. This review may provide useful information in the development of RGO-based products in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and functional cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2023

The labor environment in Korea has changed and problems related to employment types are treated as important issues. Especially, the ratio of irregular workers has not only increased relatively, but the labor conditions in Korea also have worsened in the current years. Studies have reported an association between temporary workers and the prevalence of diseases. However, there is insufficient research on chronic disease and employment types. Methods: The current study examines the prevalence rate of diseases and health behavior by categorizing employment types among Korean adults. Data were obtained from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Totally, the data of 2,366 workers (1,239 regular and 1,127 irregular) were analyzed in the study. The types of employment were classified by a questionnaire querying about working conditions. The results showed that irregular workers earned less than regular workers and had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. We propose that if discrimination related to working conditions were relieved, irregular workers would be able to invest more time to exercise and doing check-ups regularly. In addition, individual nutrition consultations considering the knowledge and personal environmental factors of each individual are necessary for the improved health of all workers.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-26
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• 2024

Ultra-processed foods, falling under group 4 of the Nova classification system, are manufactured from processed food ingredients such as oils, fats, sugars, starch, and protein isolates, containing minimal to no whole food. They commonly incorporate flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers, and various cosmetic additives to enhance their palatability. Ultra-processed foods have become increasingly prevalent in contemporary society owing to their convenience, affordability, extended shelf life, and enhanced taste and aroma through additives. This surge in the consumption of ultra-processed foods has sparked discussions regarding its adverse health effects. Numerous studies have highlighted that an increased intake of ultra-processed foods elevates the risk of metabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes, along with an increased risk of various cancers. Moreover, its association with an increased mortality risk underscores the importance of recognizing that opting for these foods based solely on taste and convenience is risky. Thus, by recognizing dietary habits as modifiable factors that can prevent health issues, maintaining a balanced diet with diverse nutrient intakes is crucial for overall health. Therefore, raising awareness and understanding of ultra-processed food consumption can significantly contribute to promoting healthy lifestyles.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2003

A growing interest in health has been leading to more interest in function of food rather than its taste and nutrition. Usually we think chemical-free or oriental food to be good for health. Yaksun is a food with herbal stuff, which reflects our desire for health and longevity and China's splendid food culture. It is based on the traditional medical thought of the Orient that both medicine and food have the same origin. Yaksun is a traditional functional or nourishing food with both nutritive and medicinal elements, which therefore provides such effects as epicurean pleasure, prevention of diseases and improvement of health. It is recorded that in China there was a dietitian in the royal court from the period of Seoju(B.C. 11∼7), who was responsible for supervising and controlling the health, nutrition and disease of an emperor. Therefore, herbal food has a very long history. Currently, there are many Yaksun stores in Japan and Taiwan as well as China, which are one of popular tourist destinations. Basically Yaksun follows the theory of the Oriental medicine. Yaksun is categorized into four(cold, cool, hot and warm) according to its temperature and into five basic tastes(bitter, sweet, pungent, salty and sour). Yaksun has the functions such as preventing diseases and aging improving internal organs, and healing diseases. In China many colleges of medicine have a department of Yaksun studies through which systematic researches have been being made since a long time ago. For Korea, the discipline of Yaksun studies is still at the beginning stage. To respond to a growing interest in health and prevent chronic adult diseases, it is required to develop a functional food by establishing a systematic theory of Yaksun and making more researches into it.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.554-562
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine differences in nutrient intake and food consumption by the presence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Study subjects in this cross-sectional study were recruited from four outpatient clinics in and near the Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea between 2006 and 2012. A total of 668 subjects (413 men and 255 women) aged ${\geq}30y$ were included in the final data analyses. For each subject, daily nutrient intake and food consumption were calculated using three days of dietary intake data obtained from a combination of 24-hour recalls and dietary records. To evaluate food consumption, mean number of servings consumed per day and percentages of recommended number of servings for six food groups were calculated. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The general linear model was performed to examine differences in nutrient intake and food consumption by sex and the presence of metabolic syndrome after adjustment for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: Nutrient intake did not differ by the presence of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. Men with metabolic syndrome had lower consumption and percentage of the recommendation for fruits compared with those without metabolic syndrome (1.6 vs. 1.1 servings/day, P-value = 0.001; 63.5 vs. 49.5%, P-value = 0.013). Women with metabolic syndrome showed lower consumption and percentage of the recommendation for dairy foods than those without metabolic syndrome (0.8 vs. 0.5 servings/day, P-value = 0.001; 78.6 vs. 48.9%, P-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low intakes of fruits and dairy foods might be associated with the risk of having metabolic syndrome among Korean adults. Dietary advice on increasing consumption of these foods is needed to prevent and attenuate the risk of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.342-346
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• 2021

Cold brew coffee extracted from cold water for a long time has drawn public concern over hygiene. This study was carried out to investigate the microbiological contamination levels and caffeine contents in cold brew coffee. A total of 75 cold brew coffees were purchased from offline and online sources. As a result, the average number of bacteria in samples purchased online was 1.14 log CFU/mL (0-6.57 log CFU/mL), while bacteria were not detected in samples purchased offline. Therefore, stricter surveys are required to avoid the food contamination. However, Esherichia coli and nine types of foodborne pathogens were not detected in all samples. The average caffeine content of the samples was 1.6 mg/mL (384 mg/240 mL), so the caffeine almost reached to acceptable daily intake levels (400 mg for adults). However, ten products did not provide any precautions for consumer safety, so improvement of the system is needed. This monitoring data can contribute to the protection of consumer rights and improvement in the safety of cold brew coffee.