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Eating at fast food, full service restaurants linked to more calories, poorer nutrition

A new study by the American Cancer Society found that eating at both fast-food and full-service restaurants is associated with significant increases in calorie intake, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Adults who ate at restaurants consumed approximately 200 additional calories per day, regardless of whether they dined at fast-food or ...

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalPublic Health Nutrition·DateAug 7, 2014

Sweet sweet straw

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have developed a method to produce erythritol, a natural sweetener, from ordinary straw using genetically modified mould fungi. The process eliminates the need for expensive enzymes and molasses, making it more sustainable.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalAMB Express·DateJun 24, 2014

The sweetest calculator in the world

Researchers at Jena University developed a molecular computer based on sugar molecules, enabling the processing of complex information through chemical reactions. The 'sugar computer' uses fluorescent dye and quencher to process signals, with a demonstrated ability to solve simple calculations within 40 minutes.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 19, 2014

Got acne? There's an app for that!

The app uses data from peer-reviewed research studies to show people if there is scientific evidence linking acne to foods like chocolate, fat, sugar and whey protein. Research displayed in the app shows that dairy, whey protein, omega-6 fatty acids and foods high in sugar are associated with acne.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateApr 1, 2014

Sugar, not oil

Scientists at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are producing isobutene from sugar using a microbial conversion process. The pilot plant, set to start in 2014, will have the potential to produce up to 100 tons of isobutene per year.

Junk food and poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease

A recent study highlights the association between poor oral health and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly among those consuming high amounts of sugar in junk foods. Experts recommend reducing fizzy drink intake and improving oral hygiene to prevent heart problems later in life.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateNov 28, 2013

New knowledge about serious muscle disease

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made significant discoveries about muscular dystrophy, a collective term for neuromuscular disorders affecting 3,000 people in Denmark. The study found that proteins with attached sugar molecules, specifically mannose, play a key role in the disease's progression.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2013

Single mutation gives virus new target

A team of scientists discovered that a single amino acid change in the human BK polyomavirus enables it to bind to a different sugar on host cell surfaces. This mutation allows the virus to potentially adapt to new species by changing its binding target preference.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 21, 2013

The brain cannot be fooled by artificial sweeteners

A new study found that artificial sweeteners are less effective at reducing calorie intake because they don't provide the same energy reward as sugars. The brain prefers sugars over artificial sweeteners due to the release of dopamine, a chemical necessary for reward signalling.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateSep 22, 2013