Strawberry daiquiris — the extra-healthy cocktail?April 20, 2007Strawberries are good for you, but serving them in daiquiri form may make them even healthier, scientists show. While exploring ways to help keep strawberries fresh during storage, researchers from Thailand and the US discovered that treating the berries with alcohol led to an increase in antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity within the fruit. While such a boost helped the berries resist decay, the same compounds would also be expected to make the strawberries healthier to eat. Dr Korakot Chanjirakul and colleagues at Kasetsart University in Thailand, in collaboration with scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture, tested the berries with ethanol and found that the treatment improved the physiology of the fruit as measured by several different laboratory tests for antioxidant activity (SCI's Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, doi 10.1002/jsfa.2841).
Coloured berry fruits like strawberries contain compounds known as polyphenols and anthocyanins. Consumption of these compounds has been linked to the prevention of diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. They work by helping to mop up damaging free radicals produced naturally during a person's normal metabolism. Those who aren't keen on strawberry daiquiris might be relieved to know that the scientists found similar results with blackberries, meaning that a blackberry-crowned champagne cocktail might achieve the same effect. Society of Chemical Industry Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size. Brain Cells Flavanols Quantum Myelin Yeast Cells Electrons Glycemic Index Hiv Testing Drug Abuse Flu Vaccine Biodiversity Respiratory Infection Breast reconstruction Caffeine Ace Inhibitors Tobacco Cardiovascular Disease Myocardial Infarction Arctic sea ice Obese Evolution Cholesterol Bone Density RNA Asthma
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Related Strawberries Current Events and Strawberries News Articles Analysis of fresh strawberries reveals consumer preferences Fresh strawberries. Just the mention of this iconic spring and early summer fruit can elicit mouthwatering memories of shortcake, fruity drinks and sweet desserts. Antioxidants in Midwestern black raspberries influenced by production site Black raspberries have been studied for decades by scientists and medical researchers interested in the fruits' apparent ability to limit the onset or severity of degenerative diseases, including cancer. Brown Chemist Finds Gene That Enables Gray Mold to Kill Plant Cells Gray mold is a gardener's nightmare. The fungus, also known by its scientific name Botrytis cinerea, is a scourge to more than 200 agricultural and ornamental plant species, including staples such as tomatoes, strawberries, snap and lima beans, cabbage, lettuce and endive, peas, peppers, and potatoes. Iowa State University experts can discuss new FDA produce irradiation rule The Food and Drug Administration's new (Aug. 22) regulation that will allow irradiation pasteurization to be used on fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill illness-causing bacteria is a step that two Iowa State University professors have long advocated. Fruits, vegetables and teas may protect smokers from lung cancer, UCLA researchers report Tobacco smokers who eat three servings of fruits and vegetables per day and drink green or black tea may be protecting themselves from lung cancer, according to a first-of-its-kind study by UCLA cancer researchers. Researcher discovers pathway plants use to fight back against pathogens Plants are not only smart, but they also wage a good fight, according to a University of Missouri biochemist. Previous studies have shown that plants can sense attacks by pathogens and activate their defenses. The difference in eating habits between men and women When it comes to what we eat, men and women really are different according to scientific research presented today (March 19) at the 2008 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, Georgia. Strawberry fields ripe for the picking Many fruit farmers in the United States rely heavily on "pick-your-own" (PYO) operations to realize profits and create repeat business. Pick-your-own fruit farms are an important market segment, and consumer satisfaction with the experience is critical to farmers eager to increase seasonal revenues. Consumer Demand Flavors Food Import Safety Issues An ever-changing U.S. consumer who enjoys the convenience of ready-to-eat produce and seasonable fruits during the dead of winter has brought new challenges to food import safety, experts said Oct. 18. Kids still not drinking enough milk American children are drinking too little milk and what they are consuming is too high in fat, according to a Penn State study. More Strawberries Current Events and Strawberries News Articles |
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