Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

A new test has been developed to determine whether certain toxins are present in fermented foods.  According to the American Chemical Society, “out of the blue” headaches could be the result of consuming some fermented foods.  The list of possible offenders: red wine, cheese and chocolate.  The problem is believed to reside in toxins known as biogenic amines, which are known to trigger a range of symptoms in sensitive individuals—including pounding headaches and dangerous spikes in blood pressure.  Researchers in California say they have developed a fast, inexpensive way to test foods for these toxins and help those who react to them, according to the ACS journal Analytical Chemistry.  The new technique involves a florescent dye, a microchip and a laser beam.  Researchers say they envision that the test could be engineered into a PDA or other handheld device. Consumers could easily use it in the home or at a restaurant; the device could be available to consumers in the near future.

Researchers at the Ohio State University have found that extracts from avocado appear to thwart oral cancer cells, killing some and preventing some from progressing into actual cancers.

The extracts came from Haas avocados, the kind that have the blackish-purplish skins and are widely available in most supermarkets.

Lead author of the study Steven Ambrosia said that avocados are full of beneficial antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, such as vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, fiber and unsaturated fats.  Other good news about avocados is they are sodium free, contain no trans fats, and are low in saturated fat, making them healthy for just about everyone.

The findings were first published in the journal Seminars in Cancer Biology.