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Sulforaphane in Broccoli May Help Diabetics by Controlling Blood Sugar Levels

Agencies
June 16, 2017

Jun 16: According to researchers, broccoli may help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. To keep you blood sugar levels in check, it is good to switch to foods that are high in fiber and vitamins.broccoli

They should also have a low glycemic index score which means that they won't cause sudden spikes in your blood sugar levels. Broccoli fulfills all these parameters which naturally makes it a superfood for diabetics, but this latest research has something more to add to it.

The humble broccoli, which is often disliked by many people for being boring, is now being touted as a superfood vegetable. It stands out as one of the best sources of Vitamin C (more than oranges!), full of fiber and phytochemicals, low in calories and is also rich in calcium.

Broccoli is good for your heart and has become popular for its anti-cancer properties. A new study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, shows that it may have some health benefits for diabetics too.

The study indicates that broccoli contains a compound called sulforaphane which may help reverse the disease signature. Experiments were conducted on rats and they showed that this compound reduced glucose production by liver cells that were growing in culture and shifted the liver gene expression away from a diseased state in the rats with diabetes.

The team constructed a signature for Type 2 diabetes based on 50 genes and then used publically available expression data sets to screen 3,852 compounds for drugs that potentially reverse the disease.

Sulforaphane was provided as concentrated broccoli sprout extract to 97 obese patients with type 2 diabetes during a 12-week randomised placebo-controlled trial. The results showed that it significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

The researchers, therefore, conclude that broccoli may act as a secret weapon against diabetes. Previous studies have shown that sulforaphane encourages production of enzymes that protect the blood vessels which can also help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes in diabetics which are common side-effects of the ailment.

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Agencies
July 30,2020

New York, Jul 30: Can the coronavirus spread through the air? Yes, it's possible.

The World Health Organisation recently acknowledged the possibility that Covid-19 might be spread in the air under certain conditions.

Recent Covid-19 outbreaks in crowded indoor settings — restaurants, nightclubs and choir practices — suggest the virus can hang around in the air long enough to potentially infect others if social distancing measures are not strictly enforced.

Experts say the lack of ventilation in these situations is thought to have contributed to spread, and might have allowed the virus to linger in the air longer than normal.

In a report published in May, researchers found that talking produced respiratory droplets that could remain in the air in a closed environment for about eight to 14 minutes.

The WHO says those most at risk from airborne spread are doctors and nurses who perform specialized procedures such as inserting a breathing tube or putting patients on a ventilator.

Medical authorities recommend the use of protective masks and other equipment when doing such procedures.

Scientists maintain it's far less risky to be outside than indoors because virus droplets disperse in the fresh air, reducing the chances of Covid-19 transmission.

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Agencies
March 11,2020

With the sales of chicken and mutton going down due to the coronavirus scare, it is the humble 'Kathal' (jackfruit) is emerging as an acceptable alternative.

'Kathal' is now selling at ₹120 per kilogram -- an increase of more than 120 per cent over the normal ₹50 per kilogram.

The jackfruit, in fact, is now priced higher than chicken which is selling at ₹80 per kilogram due to poor demand.

"It is better having a 'Kathal' biryani instead of a mutton biryani. It tastes reasonably good. The only problem is that 'Kathal' has been sold out in the vegetable market and is difficult to find," said Purnima Srivastava whose family savours non-vegetarian food on a regular basis.

The corona scare has hit poultry business so hard and the Poultry Farm Association recently organized a Chicken Mela in Gorakhpur to dispel the misconception that birds are carriers of the deadly virus.

"In fact, we gave away plateful of chicken dishes for Rs 30 to encourage people to savour the delicacies. We cooked one thousand kilograms of chicken for the Mela and the entire stock was sold out," said Vineet Singh, head of the Poultry Farm Association.

However, the Mela did not do much to dispel the fears about chicken, mutton or fish consumption amid the virus outbreak.

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Agencies
January 16,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 16: Kerala Tourism on Wednesday shared a recipe of a popular meat dish in the Central Travancore region of Kerala, Beef Ularthiyathu, which is a special delicacy in the region.

Taking to its Twitter handle, the Kerala Tourism wrote, "Tender chunks of beef, slow-roasted with aromatic spices, coconut pieces, and curry leaves. A recipe for the most classic dish, Beef Ularthiyathu, the stuff of legends, from the land of spices, Kerala."

The State Tourism also shared the recipe of the delicacy with Twitteratis.

The tweet which has garnered 3.5 thousand likes so far had received a mixed response

While some said "beef is not Kerala's culture", others termed the recipe 'a match made in heaven".

Dr Vireandta Jilowa wrote, "Surprised to see it, that beef is being consumed despite BJP government in the Centre."

"We are not slaves of BJP at the Centre....people eat whatever they like in this state, including beef, pork, mutton and fish," another user Tatheesh Vijayakumar wrote.

In 2017, The Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan had ordered that the ministry has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 to ensure that the sale of cattle is not meant for slaughter purposes.

Regulating animal trade is a state business, but animal welfare is a central subject.

In lieu of this, there was widespread opposition of the order, with many states openly denying accepting the notification.

Porotta and Kappa biriyani with beef are counted as delicacies by Keralites. 

Also Read: The Art of Prepping Meat

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