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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 5-Nov-2013 http://www.eurekalert.org/pubnews.php
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Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in a traditional Japanese pickle can prevent flu. Could this be the next superfood?
The research, which assesses the immune-boosting powers of Lactobacillus brevis from Suguki a pickled turnip, popular in Japan in mice that have been exposed to a flu virus, is published today (06 November) in the SfAM journal, Letters in Applied Microbiology.
Lead researcher, Ms Naoko Waki of KAGOME CO., LTD. in Japan said: "Our results show that when a particular strain of Lactobacillus brevis is eaten by mice, it has protective effects against influenza virus infection."
Suguki enthusiasts have often cited its protective powers but it is not known yet whether the same effects will be seen in humans. Human clinical trials using a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus brevis KB290 bacteria are underway and scientists are hopeful that, given a suitable quantity of bacteria, foods containing them may turn out to be the next superfood.
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darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Hopefully it works, fingers crossed.
intaglio
(8,170 posts)I think they might have an interest in marketing this stuff
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)It works for me!!
Pickled cabbage. Gee, both are pickled foods?? Is vinegar all that good?
mahina
(17,646 posts)Ono too...
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Koreans think kimchi can cure anything.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)I believe them or I'm scared of what could live in that stuff
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Every time I open the refrigerator I smell kimchi.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)the sheer power of kimchi
Kablooie
(18,625 posts)Zankou Chicken is an Amenian fast food chain with the most amazing chicken you'll ever have. They have a unique secret garlic spread that is heavenly.
And now we know it Prevents flu as well!
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Do you think that middle eastern pickled turnips have the same health properties as the Japanese pickled turnip?
Kablooie
(18,625 posts)Japanese eat many different kinds of pickled turnips and other vegetables daily, the middle eastern pickled turnips taste exactly like the Japanese ones, but suguki is not one of the common styles.
My wife, who is Japanese, couldn't even remember what suguki is.
NBachers
(17,103 posts)loli phabay
(5,580 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Kablooie
(18,625 posts)Even though daikon is just the raw vegetable.
I don't know why we never use 'takuan' but my wife never does.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)There are other pickles (tsukemono) that could also be made from daikon such as yuzu daikon or asari zuke, etc.
Why don't you start calling it takuan? If she is Japanese, it might make her feel more home-y.
Kablooie
(18,625 posts)She makes some of the tsukemono at home.
Others come from the Japanese grocery stores in LA's Little Tokyo.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)I love kansai women, especially Kyoto.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)It is suguki I now see. My wife says it is made from leaves rather than the daikon itself.
ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)But, does it help with radiation exposure? Seeing how Fukishima is still spewing out a lot of radiation.
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)Silent3
(15,204 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)...when some guys started claiming that little microscopic animals lived in pond water.
I don't recall the discovery of microscopic life or the development of the germ theory of disease being linked with any then-contemporary equivalent of marketing or tabloid lingo.
Are you trying to say that it's not enough to take individual foods on a case-by-case basis and look for their possible benefits, but that science is desperately lacking a "superfoods theory", perhaps that we'll later regret the lost opportunity to have started calling lots of foods superfoods sooner?
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)not sure about that though. I think theres a pretty good chance I can 'cause I like most anything pickled. Hell I worked at pickling my brain for years all the booze I used to drink so I ought to be able too
Thx for the post and link