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Project leader Cathie Martin reveals her dream: plant scientists can contribute innovative ways of looking and understanding the benefits of food in our diets
The Athena Project final meeting will be held in Milan on May 28-29th, 2015, in Palazzo Greppi, Università degli Studi di Milano.
During two days, partners will present and discuss most recent updates on the project.
On may 23 2015 Athena’s group from University of Milan participated to the “Fascination of plants day”. In that occasion, tasting of polenta (cornea mush) and other foods made with red corn have been offered to visitors.
Download here the posters:
When: Monday 16th July, 12pm – 3pm
Where: Riverside walkway (by Gabriel’s Wharf), South Bank, London, SE1 9PP
Fruits rich in anthocyanins may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, researchers from US say. The study published in the American journal of clinical nutrition showed that people eating two or more half-cup servings of blueberries per week had a 23 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with people who ate no blueberries.
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Purple potatoes (Purple Majesty) have been developed in recent years by crossing traditional varieties and are not genetically modified. Their distinctive color is due to the great amount of anthocyanins, antioxidants already well known for their healthy properties.
Giuseppe Reforgiato Recupero, from Acireale, has been interviewed by the Italian broadcast Rai3 on the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on human health.
Watch the video here (16th November clip)
Researchers assessed participants’ intake of flavonoids and relative subclass from various dietary sources as apples, blueberries, red wine and orange juice, by administering dietary questionnaires collected every 4 years. During 14 years of follow-up, about 35,000 cases of hypertension were reported. Subjects in the highest category of anthocyanin intake, mainly from blueberries and strawberries, reported an 8% reduction in risk of hypertension compared with that for participants in the lowest quintile of anthocyanin intake. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is the first to investigate the effect of different types of flavonoids on hypertension.
But an animal study at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia showed that feeding rats antioxidants before and during pregnancy prevented obesity and glucose intolerance in their offspring.
The research may have strong implications for reducing obesity rates in children whether results would be similar in humans as well.