Showing posts with label Healthy Fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Fruit. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2011

An apple a day

Today, Tuesday June 21, 2011, Page T11, Health
From http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110621/2106HLP050.pdf
Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC110621-0000005/An-apple-a-day
By THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 04:46 AM Jun 21, 2011



PHOTO: An apple a day ... really does keep the doctor away, say scientists
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Today, Tuesday June 21, 2011, Page T11, Health


RESEARCHERS have discovered that ursolic acid - a substance found in the fruit's peel - has natural body building qualities and could help people keep a toned, slender body.

It could even help with diabetes.

In experiments, they discovered that it boosts muscle growth by up to 15 per cent and reduces body fat by more than half.

It also has health giving properties - reducing blood sugar levels, cholesterol and harmful fatty acids, according to the new study.

Dr Christopher Adams, the study leader at the University of Iowa, said the substance could be especially useful in the elderly who naturally lose body muscle, known as atrophy.

"The old saying goes that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'," he said.

"Muscle atrophy causes big problems. It's also very common - it affects most people at some point in their lives, during illness or ageing. But, there's no medicine for it.

"We studied muscle gene activity in people with atrophy and used that information to find chemicals that might block atrophy.

"One of those chemicals was especially interesting. It's called ursolic acid and it's particularly concentrated in apple peels."

The study, published in the latest issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, showed that ursolic acid reduced muscle wasting in mice.

They believe the substance works by reprogramming genes that cause muscle wasting and fat build up.

"Interestingly, although ursolic acid increased muscle weight in mice, it did not increase total body weight, and further investigation showed that mice fed ursolic acid had less body fat than mice that were not fed the compound," he said.

Now they plan to try it on humans to see if it has the same effect.
By THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 04:46 AM Jun 21, 2011


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Saturday, July 3, 2010

In the green of health

WEEKEND TODAY, JULY 3 - 4, 2010, FOOD, PAGE T4
From: http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100703/0307FDW004.pdf
From Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Food/EDC100703-0000036/In-the-green-of-health
By Tan Jun-Lei, junlei@mediacorp.com.sg, 05:55 AM Jul 03, 2010



PHOTO: Kiwi is big business in New Zealand.
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http://www.todayonline.com/Food/EDC100703-0000036/In-the-green-of-health



PHOTO: Tan Jun-Lei (Center)
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Beneath the skin of the kiwi fruit is a bunch of surprises, as a trip to New Zealand reveals

The kiwi fruit is one of those fruits that might still be a novelty to some. Certainly its health benefits are not as well-known, some people, myself included, do not realise the kiwi fruit is incredibly rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

So when I was invited to check out Zespri kiwi fruit, the brand synonymous with quality kiwi fruit, in New Zealand, it was a chance to get up close and personal with this intriguing fruit.



PHOTO: Kiwi is big business in New Zealand.
Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd


Growing kiwi fruit, be it green, gold or organic, in New Zealand is big business. Introduced to the country in 1904 by Isabel Fraser, it is now marketed by Zespri International and has dug its roots far and deep both globally and within New Zealand.

One example of that is the Maori connection, best witnessed on Rangiwaea Island. A 20-minute ferry ride from Tauranga's Sebel Trinity Wharf in New Zealand's North Island, Rangiwaea consists largely of horticultural and agricultural blocks run by Maori owners, with the residents engaging in various activities such as forestry, arable farming, and of course, growing of kiwi fruit.

The fruit-growing system on Rangiwaea has a unique ownership structure - it is part of the Tauwhao Te Ngare Trust, which is responsible for ensuring the land is passed down from generation to generation and providing financial support to the island. Being an inter-generational business, the trustees and shareholders are connected to Rangiwaea via genealogy.





We had a field day picking green kiwi fruit at Western Orchards in Katikati, which is part of Zespri's supply community. As it was harvesting season, we got right down to work.

If you're looking for a good workout, picking kiwi fruit beats sweating it out in the gym, it's fast and furious from the get-go, and as many as 200 bins of kiwi fruit can be plucked daily.

It was more kiwi fruit at the dinner table as we feasted on the variety of dishes that could be made with kiwi fruit. It was amazing how versatile the kiwi fruit could be, be it appetiser, main course or dessert, the fruit made its presence felt. It was like killing two birds with one stone: You could satisfy your hunger and get your daily dose of Vitamin C.



PHOTO: Creative use of kiwi fruit: With oysters in a half shell, snapper and tortilla crisps and smoked salmon crepes.
http://www.todayonline.com/Food/EDC100703-0000036/In-the-green-of-health
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100703/0307FDW004.pdf


One of my favourites was the smoked salmon crepes at the Mount Bistro restaurant in Mt Maunganui, the green kiwi fruit's tangy flavour blended perfectly with the freshness of the salmon.

Another favourite was the grilled loin of Hawke's Bay Lamb with chimichurri, sweet corn puree and kiwi fruit chutney that I had at the Cable Bay restaurant on Waiheke Island. Apart from being a natural meat tenderiser, the kiwi fruit really helped to bring out the flavours of the lamb.

For those with a sweet tooth, the gold kiwi fruit crème brulee of Mount Bistro is a must-try. Kiwi fruit mint dressing - which I tried at the Matahui Lodge in Katikati, was also the perfect complement for pasta and avocado cream rice salad.



PHOTO: Creative use of kiwi fruit: Kiwi fruit creme brulee and kiwi fruit and pavlova ice cream.
http://www.todayonline.com/Food/EDC100703-0000036/In-the-green-of-health
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100703/0307FDW004.pdf


It's hard not to view the kiwi fruit in a new light after all this. Tasty, versatile and nutritionally dense, it has made me rethink my approach to healthy living. For a fruit that's barely the size of your palm, that's no mean feat.







A Kiwi a day

About the size of a large hen's egg, the kiwi fruit is a tiny bundle of surprises. Here's what you'll be getting when you bite into the fruit.



  • Vitamins C, E and a small amount of A. The kiwi fruit outstrips the orange in terms of Vitamin C content. Recent studies have shown that Zespri's gold kiwi fruit packs in a 105.4mg of Vitamin C per 100g of edible flesh, with its green counterpart coming in a close second at 92.7mg (the orange is fifth at 53.2g). Vitamin C is essential for the healthy functioning of the immune system, and an adequate intake may help reduce the severity of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and diabetic heart disease. Vitamin E also helps lower cholesterol, boost immunity and keep the skin supple.

  • The fruit's antioxidant properties also protect the body's cells from oxidative damage, thereby preventing the mutation of genes. Kiwi fruit has also been found to improve the body's uptake of iron from iron-fortified food, which is especially important for people suffering from iron deficiency. It also contains potassium, magnesium and folate, which are important for good health.

  • If you've ever had that bloated feeling after a high-protein meal or have digestive problems, eating kiwi fruit could help ease the discomfort, as kiwi fruit is rich in actinidin, a protein-dissolving enzyme. Kiwi fruit also serves as a natural blood thinner, and studies have shown that eating two or three a day significantly reduces the risk of blood clots.

  • Kiwi skin is edible and is a rich source of dietary fibre. Much of the vitamin content is stored under the skin, so don't peel the kiwi fruit when you eat it or you'll lose some of those precious nutrients. Fibre is good for lowering the risk of colon cancer and keeping blood sugar levels under control. Kiwi fruit seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
By Tan Jun-Lei, junlei@mediacorp.com.sg


PHOTO: http://www.todayonline.com/Food/EDC100703-0000036/In-the-green-of-health
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100703/0307FDW004.pdf



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