Campus Units
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-2016
Journal or Book Title
PLOS ONE
Volume
11
Issue
1e0147592
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0147592
Abstract
Background
Bean consumption can reduce chronic disease risk and improve nutrition status. Consumer knowledge of bean health benefits could lead to increased intakes. Low-income women have poorer health and nutrition, but their level of knowledge about bean health benefits is unknown. Beans are a familiar food of reasonable cost in most settings and are cultural staples for Hispanics and other ethnicities. Study objectives were to assess awareness of bean health benefits among low-income women, and to evaluate any differences by acculturation status for Hispanic women in the Southwestern United States.
Methods
A convenience sample of 406 primarily Mexican-origin (70%) low-income women completed a survey on knowledge of bean health benefits and general food behaviors. Principal components analysis of responses identified two summary scale constructs representing “bean health benefits” and “food behaviors.” Acculturation level was the main independent variable in chi-square or ANOVA.
Results
The survey completion rate was 86% (406/471). Most women agreed or strongly agreed that beans improved nutrition (65%) and were satiating (62%). Over 50% answered ‘neutral’ to statements that beans could lower LDL cholesterol (52%), control blood glucose (56%) or reduce cancer risk (56%), indicating indifference or possible lack of knowledge about bean health benefits. There were significant differences by acculturation for beliefs that beans aid weight loss and intestinal health. Scores on the bean health benefits scale, but not the food behavior scale, also differed by acculturation.
Conclusions
Limited resource women have a favorable view of the nutrition value of beans, but the majority did not agree or disagreed with statements about bean health benefits. Greater efforts to educate low-income women about bean health benefits may increase consumption and improve nutrition.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Copyright Owner
Winham et al
Copyright Date
2016
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Winham, Donna M.; Armstrong-Florian, Traci L.; and Thompson, Sharon V., "Low-Income US Women Under-informed of the Specific Health Benefits of Consuming Beans" (2016). Food Science and Human Nutrition Publications. 170.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/fshn_ag_pubs/170
Included in
Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Food Science Commons, Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Molecular, Genetic, and Biochemical Nutrition Commons, Women's Health Commons
Comments
This article is published as
Winham DM, Armstrong Florian TL, Thompson SV (2016) Low-Income US Women Under-informed of the Specific Health Benefits of Consuming Beans. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0147592. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147592.