Recent Entries
Feb 7, 2010 Fruits & Vegetables, Health, Research & Study
USING PLANTS TO TACKLE DISEASE
Scientific studies clearly demonstrate the relationship between diet and health. Inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death in Jamaica. With the high occurrence of these diseases locally, as well as worldwide, it becomes increasingly important to find alternative treatments which are more economical than commercially available medicines. One such alternative is the use of traditional medicine, using plants and plant extracts. The active ingredients in both are called phytochemicals.
JAMAICA – HOME TO EXOTIC FRUITS
Of the 3000 species of flowering plants grown in Jamaica, 27 per cent are endemic, or native to the island. Additionally, many of the species that produce edible fruits are not known by the general populace and are therefore under-utilised. As a vast number of our fruit species have not been scientifically studied, a unique and significant opportunity for research presents itself.
Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr Camille Bowen-Forbes, has a keen interest in the investigation of these fruits and their phytochemicals, which could potentially lead to the discovery of positive biological properties of a number of our wild fruit species and the compounds they contain. This could be beneficial for health. Dr Bowen-Forbes observed that scientific research has driven the commercialisation of a number of fruits and fruit products, resulting in increased production and market value of the products derived from the fruit. For example, the recent discovery of the anti-cancer properties of the pomegranate has resulted in considerable commercialisation of various value-added pomegranate products such as juices, wines, extracts, capsules and cosmetics.
UWI TAKES AN INTEREST
Dr Bowen-Forbes has, for the last two years, been studying exotic or uncommon edible Jamaican fruits that grow wild, and conducting research into their health-beneficial properties and biologically active constituents. The research has the potential to lead to the discovery of new plant sources that may be used in the treatment of diseases, as well as the development of value-added food products of health benefit to consumers in Jamaica, the region and beyond. This research should contribute significantly to our food and agricultural industries and may also have a positive impact on the pharmaceutical industry.
JAMAICA’S BLACKBERRY AND RASPBERRY FRUITS
Blackberries and raspberries are from the Rubus genus,which consists 250 species of plants. These and other small fruits have been gaining popularity in the diet due to their possession of natural antioxidants and other non-nutrient phytochemicals which improve health. Five Rubus species are found in Jamaica, one produces blackberries and four bear raspberries. All are edible, yet none of these species is well known.
Rubus rosifolius is a red raspberry found in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Australia and Asia. Also called the West Indian raspberry, it is one of the many fruit-bearing plants in Jamaica that is underused, being known and eaten by only a minority of the populace. It grows wild in the cooler, hilly areas at elevations between 1500 and 3000 feet. This species was the first among the group to be studied, as it was the most available at the time of sample collection. It is the first time that the red raspberry was being studied in Jamaica.
When Rubus rosifolius fruits were extracted, it was found that all three extracts exhibited antioxidant activity. The extract showing the greatest activity was subjected to further investigation and eight phytochemicals were isolated and, for the first time, reported from Rubus rosifolius. Additionally, one of the compounds was, for the first time, reported from this group, the Rubus genus. The compounds were tested for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Four of the compounds isolated from Rubus rosifolius exhibited good antioxidant activity, comparable to that of carotene, a powerful antioxidant found in foods such as carrots. Three compounds showed low to moderate anti-inflammatory activity and two demonstrated anti-cancer activity, moderately inhibiting the growth of human colon cancer cells.
RASPBERRIES – GOOD FOOD
These results demonstrate that red raspberries and their phytochemicals have the potential to improve health. They also demonstrate that Rubus rosifolius is a local fruit that possesses good biological properties and eating it can promote health. These findings also suggest that Rubus rosifolius would be a good crop for cultivation and processing into products such as juices, jams, wines, ice cream and yoghurt. The cultivation of this crop and subsequent processing into value-added products would involve farmers, agricultural scientists and food processors.
This research was done in collaboration with Professor Muraleedharan Nair of Michigan State University. By Dr Camille Bowen-Forbes, The Gleaner
Feb 6, 2010 Professional Services
Way back a few years ago, when blogging was still in its early stage of development it was viewed as something similar to collecting stamps or pictures, a hobby. As time passed, it was later on viewed as web-diary and when people learned that they could typically get real information, and the feeling that something is entertaining by reading blogs, almost everyone from stay at home mothers then became bloggers. They’ve found out that blogging is a fantastic tool for self-expression, and an easy way to spread the word about something you think is important or just to do a little therapeutic journaling. Although new trends such as micro blogging have come along, yet, blogging is still an extremely popular way to share ones thoughts or expertise on the Internet.
Be that as it may, however, some people may have difficulty in making their own blog especially those who are newbie in this world of communication technology. Well, reading blogs is the first step in starting your own. Gain insight on blog design, writing styles, and what makes some blogs more interesting to read than others. Anyone can start a blog. There are sites on-line that will walk you through setting up your first blog in less than fifteen minutes, which offers dedicated hosting and simple instructions on how to set up your first blog.
In a nutshell, and towards that point, just do not aims to make money with your blog as you will surely fail? Yes, you can make money blogging but it is more than likely not going to pay your mortgage. Focus on making your blog something you enjoy instead of a potential money making machine. Whether you are someone who knows a lot about one subject or you just want to share tidbits of your life with others, your blog will be of interest because you are passionate about it.
Feb 6, 2010 Agriculture, Crop Protection, Technologies
Chinese food and agricultural experts said no evidence has proved genetically-modified crops are unsafe for people and the environment.
Huang Dafang, director of Biotechnology Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said Friday that the genetically-modified crops are of great significance to the sustainable development of agriculture and China’s competitiveness in global arena.
“It could help increase the output to ease the food supply strain caused by the shrinking of farmland,” Huang said.
“We are technically advantageous in hybrid rice planting. The genetically-modified technology could ensure China’s superiority in food production.”
China, a populous country with 1.3 billion people, has put the food security on high agenda in its national development planning.
China’s central authorities issued a document on January 31, which calls for pushing forward the industrialization of genetically-modified crops on the basis of scientific appraisal and management in accordance with law.
However, people are concerned with the safety of genetically-modified food.
Wu Yongning, a food safety specialist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said current studies have not proved genetically-modified food harmful to human health.
Wu said that genetically-modified food have to pass scrupulous testing in order to get on shelves, including laboratory and field studies, toxicity and allergy tests.
Besides, health administrations will establish a system to monitor and report adverse effects, said Wu.
“I am not ruling out all possible risks, but those risks of genetically-modified food are no greater than that of traditional ones, given the heavy use of pesticide in growing traditional food,” he said.
Huang Dafang said the genetically-modified food are less vulnerable to insects and diseases, and as a result, fewer pesticide is needed in growing them, which is safer to human beings and the environment.
According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application (ISAAA), about 224,000 tons of pesticide was saved during the decade between 1996 to 2006, thanks to the expansion of genetically-modified planting.
Besides, the reduced workload to pesticide the crops will help ease the labor shortfall in China’s countryside resulted from large population of migrant workers, said Huang. China Daily
Feb 5, 2010 Food, Health
India is in the middle of an epidemiological and demographic transition and deaths due to chronic ailments including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are rising alarmingly contributing to 53% of total deaths.
The number of people with coronary heart disease in 2010 will reach 46.9 million according to the report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The need of the hour is to initiate action preventive programs that involve different stakeholders. “At PepsiCo, we actively lead and engage in key public-private partnerships to help improve diets and support programmes that motivate our consumers to adopt healthier & more active lifestyles,” said George A Mensah, M.D., Director, Heart Health & Global Health Policy, PepsiCo Global Research & Development.
Quaker’s unique initiative, Mission to ‘Make India Heart Healthy’, is a call of action, an attempt to help increase awareness of the risk and prevention of heart disease through diet, health and exercise “We want to help people understand the importance of heart health and as appropriate, how to live a healthy & active life. We’ve launched a website www.goodmorningheart.com that encourages people to take the Quaker Heart Health test and we’re hopeful that we can make a positive impact. The test helps people find out whether they have high, moderate, or low risk for heart disease. The website offers advice on maintaining or improving heart health depending on the test results,” Dr Mensah said.
Speaking at a workshop as part of PepsiCo’s Mission to Make India Heart Healthy campaign in the city, Dr Mensah added, “Good nutrition and an active lifestyle are fundamental to good health and a healthy heart; we are committed to disseminating this message as widely, and effectively, as possible.”
“In dealing with these epidemics we have to ensure we have the wherewithal to treat and manage them but it would be infinitely better if we could preempt them,” said Dr. Aashish Contractor, HOD, Preventive Cardiology, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai. The noted preventive cardiologist was speaking at an all-India health writers’ workshop on Role of Food Industry in Heart Health.
Dr Mensah also emphasized the power of prevention and the crucial role improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and tobacco avoidance played in this within a context of comprehensive lifestyle changes. Dr. Mensah added that PepsiCo’s commitment is to also transform its portfolio of products to make healthy choices easy choices.
“As we set about meeting the challenge, it is important to realize that nothing will help our cause as much as a shifting of emphasis would. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes we made in dealing with infectious diseases. With disciplines like preventive cardiology we are looking at prolonging lives and more importantly at improving the quality of life index through lifestyle and risk factor management,” added Dr. Contractor.
Heart disease, together with other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes, accounts for 53% of all deaths and 44% of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) according to a paper published in the medical journal The Lancet. Given the severity of the problem, it is increasingly felt that it was time to devise some innovative, proactive solutions to prevent the problem from escalating.
Bureau Report
Mumbai: India is in the middle of an epidemiological and demographic transition and deaths due to chronic ailments including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are rising alarmingly contributing to 53% of total deaths.
The number of people with coronary heart disease in 2010 will reach 46.9 million according to the report of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The need of the hour is to initiate action preventive programs that involve different stakeholders. “At PepsiCo, we actively lead and engage in key public-private partnerships to help improve diets and support programmes that motivate our consumers to adopt healthier & more active lifestyles,” said George A Mensah, M.D., Director, Heart Health & Global Health Policy, PepsiCo Global Research & Development.
Quaker’s unique initiative, Mission to ‘Make India Heart Healthy’, is a call of action, an attempt to help increase awareness of the risk and prevention of heart disease through diet, health and exercise. “We want to help people understand the importance of heart health and as appropriate, how to live a healthy & active life. We’ve launched a website www.goodmorningheart.com that encourages people to take the Quaker Heart Health test and we’re hopeful that we can make a positive impact. The test helps people find out whether they have high, moderate, or low risk for heart disease. The website offers advice on maintaining or improving heart health depending on the test results,” Dr Mensah said.
Speaking at a workshop as part of PepsiCo’s Mission to Make India Heart Healthy campaign in the city, Dr Mensah added, “Good nutrition and an active lifestyle are fundamental to good health and a healthy heart; we are committed to disseminating this message as widely, and effectively, as possible.”
“In dealing with these epidemics we have to ensure we have the wherewithal to treat and manage them but it would be infinitely better if we could preempt them,” said Dr. Aashish Contractor, HOD, Preventive Cardiology, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai. The noted preventive cardiologist was speaking at an all-India health writers’ workshop on Role of Food Industry in Heart Health.
Dr Mensah also emphasized the power of prevention and the crucial role improved nutrition, increased physical activity, and tobacco avoidance played in this within a context of comprehensive lifestyle changes. Dr. Mensah added that PepsiCo’s commitment is to also transform its portfolio of products to make healthy choices easy choices.
“As we set about meeting the challenge, it is important to realize that nothing will help our cause as much as a shifting of emphasis would. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes we made in dealing with infectious diseases. With disciplines like preventive cardiology we are looking at prolonging lives and more importantly at improving the quality of life index through lifestyle and risk factor management,” added Dr. Contractor.
Heart disease, together with other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes, accounts for 53% of all deaths and 44% of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) according to a paper published in the medical journal The Lancet. Given the severity of the problem, it is increasingly felt that it was time to devise some innovative, proactive solutions to prevent the problem from escalating. Zeenews
Feb 5, 2010 Business, Economy
From an auxiliary transmission cooler to an aerodynamic rear wing, from a sweet stereo to a set of wheels, the sky’s practically the limit for car and truck accessories. A level of caution needs to be exercised here because there are people who are choosy about what accessories go on their car. An accessory others may want might be one your car-fiend loved one can’t stand, but with the unmistakable gleam of chrome trim package by CARID.com, you can spiff it up into something that matches the flashy exterior and high performance chrome accessories.
At the core, if you decide to stop and look around it’s nice to have some billet staring back at you. All of their chrome trim is crafted from top quality stainless steel and backed with auto-grade 3M adhesive for a quick stick on installation that is guaranteed to never rust, dull, or corrode and which provides a classy contrast on any area of your car. Give your ride a unique appearance package and a luxurious sparkle everyone remembers, and if you’re creative enough those bland interior will become lustrous and ostentatiously stylish. So for your choice of car or truck accessories then better visits the above mentioned for more details and information’s.
Feb 4, 2010 Agriculture, Crop Protection, Fruits & Vegetables
Tomatoes could stay fresh for an extra month thanks to a genetic breakthrough The curse of the soggy tomato could soon be a thing of the past … or so scientists say. They have created a fruit which is said to stay fresh for 45 days – three times longer than the conventional version.
But the drawbacks are that it is the result of genetic engineering, and no one is saying what it actually tastes like.
The researchers believe the same process could be applied to other fruits, including bananas and mangoes.
However, the need for extensive safety testing means it will be years before the GM fruits could go on sale in British supermarkets, if ever.
Researchers in India lengthened the life of tomatoes by ‘turning off’ genes linked to the production of ripening enzymes.
This increased firmness and stopped the tomatoes going soft for up to 45 days, according to a report in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers, from the National Institute of Plant Genomic Research in New Delhi, said the breakthrough could prove a boon for farmers who lose up to 40 per cent of their fruit to over-ripening.
Dr Asis Datta said: ‘Overall, the results demonstrate a substantial improvement in shelf life.
‘The engineering of plants provides a strategy for crop improvement that can be extended to other important fruit crops.’ The banana, mango and papaya all have a genetic make-up which could be manipulated in this way, Dr Datta added.
But Pete Riley, from the campaign group GM Freeze, said: ‘The majority of the public are very skeptical about the benefits of GM foods and I don’t think that this will do anything to persuade them.
‘We have survived for millennia without needing to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.’
He added that although the GM tomatoes might appear to be fresh for a month and a half, their vitamin content could decline, making them less nutritious than normal varieties.
The researchers in India are not the first to try to use genetics to create healthier or more appealing food. British scientists have created purple tomatoes rich in the antioxidants said to keep cancer at bay.
U.S. scientists have bred pigs whose fat is high in the omega-3 fatty acids thought to combat heart disease. By Fiona Macrae, The Daily Mail
Feb 3, 2010 Business, Economy, Industry
The US auto industry rebounded from last January’s sales collapse with one big exception: Toyota, which lost an estimated 20,000 sales after it stopped selling eight models because of defective gas pedals.
Last month, US sales of cars and light trucks to consumers rose 6 percent from a year earlier, thanks to increases in fleet sales and strong demand for newly redesigned vehicles, such as the Hyundai Tucson SUV and Buick LaCrosse sedan. Big winners included General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., and Hyundai Motor Co., which all posted double-digit sales increases.
But Toyota’s sales slipped 16 percent, and they could fall further as its sales stoppage drags into February. It was the first time since February 1998 that Toyota’s monthly US sales fell below 100,000 vehicles, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.
Toyota’s troubles helped to knock the Camry off its traditional perch as the top-selling car in the United States. Last month, the Camry ranked fifth in car sales, passed by Honda’s Accord, Nissan’s Altima, Toyota’s Corolla, and the Chevrolet Malibu. The Camry has been the top-selling car in the United States for the last eight years.
Toyota announced a recall of eight models, including the Camry, on Jan. 21 and halted sales of those models five days later because the accelerator pedals could stick and cause a crash The recall has affected a total of 2.3 million vehicles in the United States. Besides the Camry, the other models in the recall include Corolla and Avalon cars, the Matrix hatchback, the Tundra pickup, the Sequoia SUV, and the RAV4 and Highlander.
Bob Carter, a Toyota group vice president, said the suspended models amount to 60 percent of Toyota dealers’ inventory. All eight saw sales declines. In December, most of them saw increases. The hybrid Prius, which was not affected by the recall, posted a 13 percent gain.
January is typically a weak month for US auto sales, but automakers expected sales to improve over last January, when they declined to a 26-year low because of the tough economy.
Sales to fleets – rental companies as well as corporate and government sales – boosted numbers last month. GM’s fleet sales surged 225 percent, while Ford’s jumped 154 percent.
Ford’s overall sales rose 25 percent, though its nonfleet sales fell 5 percent. Hyundai’s sales rose 24 percent for the month. GM said its sales increased 14 percent, including a 3 percent rise in nonfleet sales, while Nissan’s rose 16 percent.
Chrysler fell 8 percent, while Kia said its January US sales were flat. Honda Motor Co. sales slipped 5 percent. Honda sells few vehicles to fleets.By Dee-Ann Durbin and Dan Strumpf, The Boston Globe
Feb 3, 2010 Business, Economy
Regardless of what level in a society a person belongs, hence, it is just but natural for anybody to find ways and make more money, especially those who owns a business. Of course doing some marketing is always what some entrepreneurs need to do. But one way of marketing address plaque that is not always being employed is through exhibits.
What probably other people don’t know is that in exhibit shows, you’ll possibly be surrounded by a lot of businessmen, who might also be one of your prospective buyers. And in such case, it is not just you who wants to have wall address plaques installed in their homes. Those people wants to have it also because having such a good signage can easily attract people and make more sales.
Finally, once you get people to your exhibits booth make sure to have somebody who is very much willing to give his best in manning your booth with home address plaques. Because even if you can attract people to come over, yet, those people you were able to gather just can’t do anything then it won’t be good. After all, what matters most for them is providing quality products and exceptional service to their clients.
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