Why you should love coffee

[Night_Hawk]

Why you should love coffee

(IANS) / 4 May 2015

A new study provides a better understanding of the potential health benefits of coffee.

Melbourne - Did you know that the ubiquitous coffee is also a good antioxidant that kills damaging free radicals in our body?
Researchers from Monash University in Australia, in collaboration with Italian coffee roasting company Illycaff, have conducted a comprehensive study on how free radicals and antioxidants behave during every stage of the coffee-brewing process, from intact bean to coffee brew.
"Our research studied both the Arabica coffee bean itself and what happens to its stable free radical and antioxidant properties during the brewing process," said lead researcher Gordon Troup from Monash University.

"The findings provide a better understanding of the potential health benefits of coffee, as well as a deeper knowledge of the roasting process -- ultimately leading to the highest quality cup of coffee," Troup added.

The team observed the behaviour of free radicals -- unstable molecules that seek electrons for stability and are known to cause cellular and DNA damage in the human body -- in the coffee brewing process.

Troup was one of the first scientists to discover free radicals in coffee in 1988.

"The most important aim of this research was to better understand the development of stable free radicals during the roasting process. We also wanted to evidence possible coffee constituents as a source of antioxidant activity," said chief chemist of Illycaff, Luciano Navarini.

The findings were published in PLOS ONE.

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[Night_Hawk]

Protein-rich breakfast help control sugar in diabetics

Protein-rich breakfast help control sugar in diabetics

(IANS) / 1 May 2015

Individuals with Type-2 diabetes generally have difficulty regulating their glucose, or blood sugar, levels, particularly after meals.

New York: If you are suffering from Type-2 diabetes, having a breakfast rich in protein -- 25 to 30 grams—can reduce glucose spikes at both breakfast and lunch, a new research has found.

Individuals with Type-2 diabetes generally have difficulty regulating their glucose, or blood sugar, levels, particularly after meals.

“The first meal of the day is critical in maintaining glycemic control at later meals, so it really primes people for the rest of the day,” said Jill Kanaley, professor at the University of Missouri.

The researchers monitored Type-2 diabetics’ levels of glucose, insulin and several gut hormones—which help regulate the insulin response—after breakfast and lunch.

The participants ate either high-protein or high-carbohydrate breakfasts, and the lunch included a standard amount of protein and carbohydrates.

The researchers found eating more protein at breakfast lowered individuals’ post-meal glucose levels.

Insulin levels were slightly elevated after the lunch meal, which demonstrated that individuals’ bodies were working appropriately to regulate blood-sugar levels, Kanaley said.

The researchers cautioned that although it would be helpful for individuals with high blood sugar to eat more protein, they do not need to consume extreme amounts of protein to reap the benefits.

“We suggest consuming 25 to 30 grams of protein at breakfast, which is within the range of the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) recommendations,” Kanaley said.

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