What is SHELFS?
SHELFS, located at CSU Spur, focuses on community-driven research and education to increase access to affordable, nutritious whole foods for improving the health of Coloradoans across their lifespan. The program prioritizes engagement with local communities that experience living in food deserts and with nutrition challenges as well as complex environmental exposures.
SHELFS seeks to bring scientific evidence to the community and to empower them for healthy behavior changes that reduce chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Why is fiber important?
Fiber maintains health by supporting digestion and preventing chronic and acute diseases. However, most Americans consume only 15g of fiber daily, well below the recommended 25-30g. For reference, an apple has ~4g fiber, a medium piece of zucchini has ~2g, while a serving of common beans or cereal bran can provide 6-10g of fiber per serving. Therefore, promoting the consumption of fiber-rich foods in addition to whole foods has the potential to support community health.
Collaboration with Focus Points
Some Fridays, SHELFS attends the Focus Points Farmers Market, a "pay what you can" market offering discounted fresh produce and healthy food to GES residents. At the market, SHELFS sets up an educational table with sessions on food education, interactive games, and cooking demonstrations. This engaging and interactive setup empowers locals to incorporate healthy foods into their daily lives, directly aiding in the prevention of chronic diseases like kidney disease and diabetes.
Second Saturday's at Spur
Every month, on the 2nd Saturday, CSU Spur welcomes families and the public to explore various interactive, educational activities related to food, water, and health. The SHELFS team participates in some of these events, offering opportunities to engage with the community, share knowledge about healthy eating, and promote long-term wellness through nutrition and lifestyle education.
Collaboration with History Colorado
CSU Spur and History Colorado have hosted a series of workshops at the TERRA Kitchen on Spur Campus. The Zero Waste Food workshop, led by Chef Paula Thomas, explored transforming food scraps into dishes. The Corn and Tortilla workshop highlighted corn's cultural significance, and the Fermentation workshop taught participants the art of making gut-healthy foods.
Upcoming: Harvest Celebration and Farmers Market
Oct 25, 2024 Join the SHELFS and CSU Spur Team at the Harvest Celebration and Farmers Market hosted by Focus Points on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 2:00pm-5:00pm! The event will be held outdoors at the Focus Points Family Resource Center. Dr. Elizabeth P. Ryan will offer a yoga class from 3:00-4:00 pm, followed by a demo on using rice bran to enhance Latino meals and educate attendees on chronic disease prevention using whole grains and legumes. Don’t forget to wear your costume and bring the whole family for some fun! No prior registration needed for the yoga class—just join us!
Upcoming: Culture Day at Bruce Randolph School
Oct 31, 2024 Dr. Elizabeth Ryan and Sheila Juarez-Colunga will be attending Culture Day at Bruce Randolph School. This exciting opportunity will engage 9th graders and raise awareness of the diverse careers available in STEM fields, while showcasing the incredible work of SHELFS, CSU, and Spur.
Empowering communities through health education and sustainable food solutions
SHELFS Mission Statement
Our research and findings
Our published clinical studies and 20+ years of experience working in diverse community settings support that whole grain brown rice, or stabilized rice bran, and cooked common beans support adults in meeting the 30g/day fiber recommendations, and children (aged 5-16 years) in their 5-20 g/day recommendations.
Partners and Resources
Contact Us
If you would like to know more or you are interested in collaborating with SHELFS, please contact us:
Elizabeth P. Ryan, PhD
(970) 491-1536
Professor at Env & Rad Health Sciences
Elizabeth P. Ryan – Google Académico
Sheila Juarez-Colunga, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow at CSU Spur