Keywords

Plant-based diet; Standard American diet; Heart rate variability; Cardiovascular health; Autonomic nervous system; College students

Abstract

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if early, diet induced changes in heart health can be identified in college aged individuals, through non-invasive measures such as electrocardiography (ECG), seismocardiography (SCG), and galvanic skin response (GSR). Because this trend has been observed in older adults, where diet influences heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rate variability, it is likely that similar diet-related effects could be detected in college aged individuals as well. By treating diet as the main variable of interest, and targeting a younger demographic, this study provides insight into the early physiological effects of diet on heart health, supporting the development of preventative strategies before clinical symptoms arise. The findings could reinforce the role of dietary habits in supporting or undermining cardiovascular health early in life. By identifying physiological differences linked to distinct eating behaviors, this study may highlight diet as a low-cost, widely accessible strategy to reduce long-term disease risk and promote autonomic balance.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Mansy, Hansen

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Thesis Discipline

Biomedical Engineering

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright