A new study appearing in the peer-reviewed Journal of Nutrition shows that consuming grapes protected against the destruction of insulin-producing cells (known as beta cells) in the pancreas, significantly reducing the incidence of diabetes in lab rodents. Naturally occurring antioxidants in grapes known as polyphenols are believed to be responsible for this beneficial impact.
The results of this study showed that grapes reduced the infiltration of immune cells into the islets of Langerhans, the specific area of the pancreas where the insulin-producing beta cells reside, thus preventing their damaging effects on the beta cells. Grapes also reduced the levels of an inflammatory protein in spleen cells, known as TNF-alpha.
"The protective effect of grapes was quite significant and very exciting," said principal investigator Susan J Zunino, PhD of the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Western Human Nutrition Research centre in Davis, California where the study was conducted. "In this study we observed firsthand their effect on two of three critical components for the prevention of type I diabetes: the preservation of the beta cells and the inhibition of inflammation. Other studies have shown that quercetin and anthocyanins, which are phytonutrients present in grapes, enhanced insulin secretion and sensitivity, which is the third critical component."
Leading health experts agree that to get the benefit of phytonutrients found in foods, such as the polyphenols in grapes, it is best to consume the whole fruit as opposed to a supplement. Fresh grapes provide an array of natural antioxidant compounds including polyphenols, such as resveratrol, and other biologically active compounds in their natural environment, all of which may either contribute to the beneficial effects or provide the optimal conditions for a certain phytonutrient to exert its particular individual benefit.
Cool invention
ISHRAE (Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers) has come out with a new initiative to aid farmers in remote villages, My Cooler refrigerator, that works at the pedalling of a bicycle. This cooler is jointly developed by Navaneeth, David PG and G V Rao for ISHRAE, Mysore sub chapter. The device is designed keeping in mind the practical difficulties of farmers who struggle to maintain the freshness of their cultivated products such as fruits and vegetables. This cooler can be used for short distances to transport fruits like figs, dates, limes, oranges, melons and vegetables like beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions and other items like milk, beverages and medicines.
Speaking on the new device, Navaneeth said, “ISHRAE, through this new invention, has ventured to put in practice the PURA dream (providing urban facilities to rural areas) of our former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. This device has been made to provide maximum advantage through minimal cost, thus improving the quality of life in villages”.
It is estimated that nearly Rs 40,000 crore worth of farm produce is lost every year as they perish without proper conditioned storage facility.
The cooler has an insulated 50-litre box which has a temperature of +80 C and can store fruits, vegetables, beverages and medicines. This cooler is beneficial in locations where there is no electricity and is easy in linking and delinking from any bicycle. The cooler has an open type compressor, air cooled condenser, capillary, and evaporator (coil around box). The minimum speed of the bicycle to maintain the specific temperature of +80 C is 16 kmph.
