New GM "Alpine Strawberries" Developed

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 16 2006

If you've been following BLV Health Watch for any length of time, you know that I'm cautious in regards to GM (Genetically Modified) foods and seeds ... and for good reason when you understand the lack of long range testing in the field.

However, every now and then a new development sparks my interest (and hopes) that maybe the technology will produce some good for us all in the future... again, I add the codicile that it may happen ONLY if/when proper and thorough "impact" testing has been completed.

One such new development is the new "Alpine Strawberry" recently developed by a team from the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI).

The team has apparently found a way to transfer nutrient-enhancing DNA into the genome of the common strawberry.

Together with the Horticulture Department at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture, the researchers have extracted plant tissue from the Fragaria vesca variety six weeks after seed germination, and successfully transferred specific DNA sequences rich in Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The tissue then grew into fledging plants more rich in antioxidants.

The small size of the F. vesca plant and its short reproductive cycle makes it an ideal candidate for the technology, which is currently undergoing large-scale studies, according to one news article.

VBI Professor Vladimir Shulaev said: “The development of this protocol for strawberry represents a key milestone for researchers interested in improving strawberry and other fruit crops through genomics.”

A recent report by food trend tracker Center for Culinary Development (CCD) claims certain nutrient-rich fruits, or “superfruits” - such as pomegranates and blueberries- are becoming more popular with American consumers.

If this report is true -- then those very same consumers will be pleasantly astonished by the ALL NATURAL goji berry -- the most nutritionally dense food on our planet!

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
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New Research Presents Stronger Case For Organic Foods

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 16 2006

"Nutrient levels in fruits, vegetables and some food crops have dramatically declined in the past 50 years." Source - FoodNavigator

Some scientists have been saying it for years, but Agricultural organizations and some government entities have been vehemently denying it. We're referring to the actual nutrients you are getting from foods today -- versus the nutrients you could/would have gotten had it been grown differently.

It's no secret that Agricultural practices have changed considerably over the past several decades. Most research by the Agricultural industry for better methods to produce fruits and vegetables have focused on:
- faster growth of crops
- higher yields of crops
- higher resistance to crop parasites and weeds
- and faster returns in revenues for farming in general.

Some experts believe this focus on efficiency has been at the cost of losing valuable nutrients, claiming those very same crops are no longer providing nutrition in sufficient quantities to bring the same benefits food has when grown organically (similar to methods used before so-called "efficiency experts" stepped in).

One such concerned expert is scientist Donald Davis, a biochemist at the University of Texas.

The primary reason for the decline in nutrient content and quality of several foods is the way the food is grown, processed and prepared, according to Davis.

“High-yield crops grow bigger or faster, but are not necessarily able to make or uptake sufficient nutrients to maintain their nutritional value,” said Davis at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in St Louis.

Recent studies of vegetables, fruits and wheat have revealed a 5 to 35 percent decline in concentrations of some vitamins, minerals and protein over the last half-century, a phenomenon that has come to be known as ‘the dilution effect.'

Davis makes a strong argument in favor of organic produce, stating “On average, antioxidant levels increased by about 30 percent in carefully designed comparative trials. Organically grown produce offers significantly enhanced health-promoting qualities, contributing to the achievement of important national public health goals.”

Now you might think this dilution effect applies only to fruits and vegetables.

Think again.

Dr. David Thomas, a primary healthcare practitioner and independent researcher recently made a comparison of government nutritional tables published in the UK in 1940, and again in 2002. The results are alarming...

For example, the iron content in 15 different varieties of meat had decreased on average by 47 percent, with some products showing a fall as high as 80 per cent, while the iron content of milk had dropped by over 60 per cent.

Copper and magnesium, essential for enzyme functioning, also showed losses in meat products. Magnesium levels have typically fallen by 10 per cent while copper levels have fallen by 60 per cent.

Stay tuned to BLV Health Watch. We'll be bringing a special free "white paper" in the months ahead that go into further detail on this very important subject.

It will give new meaning to the phrase, "You are what you eat."

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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What is Nutrigenomics?

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Tuesday, March 14 2006

Nutrigenomics is the science looking at understanding the molecular basis of the interaction of individual nutrients on both genetics and metabolism of a person.

"This is a young subject that is only beginning to find its feet. Some sections in the food and nutrition industries are reported to already see nutrigenomics as a integral part of their long-term growth."

As a new approach to science in determining what your body really needs, some experts believe it holds great promise... however, currently it still has some limitations. Stay tuned. I'm sure we'll be hearing more on this!

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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Fun Facts - Pigs and Science

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Tuesday, March 14 2006

Pigs are frequently chosen in science studies relating to nutrition and diet due to the similarity of the digestive tract, and similar dietary needs with humans.

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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Understanding Pathogens - An Intro

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 9 2006

Antibiotics typically are only effective against Gram-positive bacteria - not Gram-negative bacteria.

Some of the better-known Gram negatives are E. coli, salmonella, gonorrhea, cholera and meningicoccal meningitis, along with the bacteria that caused the black plague.

Also, E. coli and similar Gram-negative bacteria, can typically withstand the bile salts found in the human digestive tract -- meaning that our digestive processes cannot normally kill such pathogens.

Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria look different. Gram-positive cells are smooth on the outside, while Gram-negative cells have sugars and carbohydrates on the outside in structures that look like hairs.

That exterior protection is part of what makes Gram-negative bacteria harder to kill with antibiotics, according to some experts.

These outside "hairs" attach themselves to cells within the body.

One group of scientists is currently at work using biotechnology to "genetically modify" Gram-negative pathogens in the hopes of better protecting us.

"Bugs are very smart," Ronald Woodard, leader of the scientific research and chair of medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, said. "It's not a matter of if a bug will become antibiotic resistant, but when. We have to work hard to get ahead of them."

Links:
Researchers' new approach to defeating Gram-negative bugs

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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GM Farming vs Organic Farming

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 9 2006

Back in 1999, when GM (genetically modified) seed suppliers first began their aggressive persuit of a large chunk of the food supply markets, a small group of organic farmers were perhaps one of the earliest groups to stand up and draw attention to the potential risks -- both to the land and public health/safety.

One organic farmer wrote of 3 main issues GM farming has created for them on their organic farm. Surrounding area GM crops/farming methods have resulted in problems on organic farms, including:

1. "We can no longer plant crops that are insect or wind pollinated which are known to be genetically modified."

For one example, they can no longer produce canola, since many of the corn crops produced in their area are GM and the cross-pollination contaminates their own organic crops.

2. "Different pesticides are being used with GMOs which cause alarming damage across the landscape. ...Because we live in the windiest state in the Union, the damage is ubiquitous."

3. "The timing of herbicide spraying has changed. Farmers now spray for the entire season instead of just in the spring. While GMOs are just one of several factors instigating season-long spraying, they are a significant
factor. This means that both plants and humans are exposed to pesticides from April through September."

In a day and age where many consumers are switching to organic food, it appears the large biotech companies are still having a negative impact on its supply.

We'll be bringing more information on this serious issue in future editions of BLV Health Watch. Stay tuned.

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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Pomegranite Peel Better Than The Fruit?

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 9 2006

If you're into health and nutrition news at all, you've probably already heard about some of the antioxident claims regarding pomegranite fruit ...and may have heard some companies extolling the fruit's virtues.

However, at least one Chinese scientific study may prove that extract from the peel may be far more benefitial than the fruit itself.

The majority of research has focussed on the pulp and juice of the fruit. But now scientists from the Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Tianjin, China, have reported that the peel offers higher yields of phenolics, flavonoids and proanythocyanidins than the pulp.

Published in the May issue of Food Chemistry (Vol. 96, pp. 254-260), the researchers investigated the method of extraction using a variety of solvents: methanol only; ethanol only; acetone only; and a mixture of methanol, ethanol, acetone and water.

“The mixture of different solvents is more powerful in recovering antioxidants than the individual solvents,” reported lead author Yunfeng Li.

The pulp yielded 24 milligrams per gram (mg/g) of phenolics, while the peel yielded a whopping 250 mg/g. Flavonoid content was also significantly greater in the peel than the pulp (59 versus 17 mg/g), as were proanythocyanidins (11 versus 5 mg/g).

Interestingly, the vitamin C content was similar for both the pulp and peel (0.99 versus 0.85 mg/g).

Source - FoodNavigator.com/Europe

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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The Benzene Cover Up

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 9 2006

The word hasn't hit mainstream news channels yet, but niche news sources targeting the health conscious are bringing the disturbing news to the forefront.

Quoted from FoodNavigator:

06/03/2006 - The gamble by US authorities 15 years ago to let the industry deal with benzene residues in soft drinks has failed, and instead only kept those who needed to know in the dark...

...both the FDA and US soft drinks association have known about this for 15 years, as testified by an internal FDA memo, dated January 1991.

One FDA chemist, who was also at the meetings with industry back then, told BeverageDaily.com the industry had agreed to “get the word out and reformulate”. No public announcement was, therefore, ever made.

Yet, the FDA's discovery that some soft drinks still contain benzene above the US water limit, broken in February by a BeverageDaily.com investigation, shows how the decision to keep the issue private has gone badly wrong.

Both an FDA chemist and the US soft drinks association have admitted it was entirely possible that some soft drinks firms might not know of the potential for sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid to cause benzene formation in drinks.

Benzene is listed as a known carcinogen by the FDA itself. Yet, the agency has set no maximum limit for benzene in soft drinks and only re-opened its investigation of the issue after a concerned industry whistleblower had paid for independent testing.

Industry and regulatory authorities have assured there is no immediate risk to consumers' health from drinks containing benzene at the levels found to date.

But, BeverageDaily has discovered the reaction between ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate was causing enough benzene in drinks in 1990 for companies to change their formulas. And, there is uncertainty over how much a drink's exposure to heat can exacerbate the problem.

The communication breakdown broadens outside the US.

The FDA's new investigation has led to Britain's Food Standards Agency discovering soft drinks containing benzene above the UK's strict one part per billion limit for drinking water. It is unclear how long this situation has existed for.

In fact, few food safety authorities in Europe appear to have been officially aware that benzene could form in drinks containing sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid.

In Europe alone this, until a couple of weeks ago, at least included authorities in Germany, UK, Belgium and Denmark. The UK's FSA actually checked foods to monitor sodium benzoate content last autumn, but no check was made for benzene.

The European Commission was in the dark too. A letter from the Commission in December, seen by BeverageDaily.com, states it “is not aware of any scientific evidence relating to the formation of benzene as a result of the use of benzoic acid”...

Product lists obtained by BeverageDaily.com show more than 1,500 soft drinks containing sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid or citric acid have been launched across Europe, North America and Latin America since January 2002...

If there is one lesson to learn from all this, it is that a lack of openness over benzene in soft drinks in the US in 1990, means a problem that could have been dealt with has never properly gone away.

Click here to read the full story.

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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BLV Health Watch Alerts - Update

-- Posted by kmyers001 on Thursday, March 9 2006

Keeping our watch on the world, check out the latest reports on our sister publication, BLV Health Watch:

3/09/2006 Pathogens - Public Education Needed

3/09/2006 Bird Flu Not Over Yet

2/22/2006 Britain and Germany checking soft drinks for benzene

2/17/2006 Benzene Contamination In Some USA Soft Drinks

Click here for the full details.

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Author: K. Myers (aka kmyers001)
Click Here To Visit Website

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