A study found that 2,3-pentanedione (PD), an ingredient used to promote butter flavor in microwave popcorn, is a respiratory hazard that can also change gene expression in the brain. Researchers exposed rats to different concentrations of PD and found that 12-14 hours later, PD caused respiratory epithelial injury in the nose similar to diacetyl. PD exposure also caused cell death and apoptosis in the olfactory neuroepithelium and signs of neurotoxicity, including changes in expression of genes related to inflammation and growth in the brain.

1. UPDATES
IN
CARBOHYDRATES

2. Walnuts May Improve Sperm
Quality
Healthy young men with a Western-style diet
may be able to boost their sperm quality by
eating a small packet of walnuts a day.
These are the findings of a new study that shows healthy American
men in their 20s and 30s who ate a 75g (2.5 ozs) packet of walnuts a day
were able to increase the vitality, motility and structure of their sperm
compared to counterparts who did not eat walnuts.

3. Infertility and subfertility is a common problem that
affects about 70 million couples worldwide. Between a
third and a half of cases are due to poor semen quality
in the male partner, with scientists giving a number of
reasons for this in industrialized societies:
pollution, unhealthy lifestyles and the Western-style
diet cited amongst them.
Walnuts are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFAs), which play an important role in maturing
sperm and preserving the integrity of the
membrane around the cell which in turn affects its
ability to fertilize an egg.

4. In the Western-style diet, PUFAs are usually
found in fish, fish oil supplements, flax seed and
walnuts. Walnuts also offer an important source
of linolenic acid (ALA), a natural plant source of
omega-3.
The men in the walnut group also
experienced improvements in sperm quality
over the 12 weeks of eating walnuts, there
were significant increases in measures of
vitality, motility, and morphology. Their sperm
also showed fewer chromosome abnormalities at
thethat the study only looks at the effect of walnut consumption on semen quality in healthy
Note
end of the 12 weeks than it did at the start of
the study. doesn'tobserved improvements have the same effect in men within increased
young men: it
problems, or whether the
show whether it would
in semen quality actually result
fertility
fertility.

5. Sugar And High Fructose Corn Syrup Found To
Perform Equally On A Reduced Calorie Diet
A new study published in Nutrition Journalshows that people can lose
weight while consuming typical amounts of sugar or high fructose corn
syrup (HFCS) if their overall caloric intake is reduced.
The results are significant for those trying to lose weight and anyone
concerned about the type of added sugars in foods and beverages they
consume.
The study design included 247 overweight or obese subjects ages 25 to
60 who took part in the randomized, double blind trial. After 12 weeks on
a hypocaloric (reduced calorie) diet, there was no evidence that either
table sugar or HFCS prevented weight loss when the amount of overall
calories was reduced.
"Misinformation about added sugars, particularly high fructose corn syrup, has
caused many people to lose sight of the fact that there is no silver bullet when it
comes to weight loss," said Dr. Rippe. "A reduction in calorie consumption, along
with exercise and a balanced diet, is what's most important when it comes to
weight loss."

6. Lose Weight While Still
Consuming Sugar
According to a new study featured inNutrition
Journal, people can still lose weight even if they consume typical
amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), as long as
their overall caloric intake is reduced.
The findings are important for people who try to lose weight and
also for those who are concerned about the type of added sugars in
foods and beverages they consume.
The researchers conducted a randomized double blind trial that
involved 247 overweight or obese people between the ages of 25 to
60 years. At the end of the 12-week reduced-calorie diet, the team
saw no evidence that either table sugar or HFCS stopped people from
losing weight when the overall amount of calories they consumed
was reduced.

7. Grapes Lowered Blood Pressure, Improved Blood
Flow And Reduced Inflammation In Men With
Metabolic Syndrome
Consuming grapes may help protect heart
health in people with metabolic
syndrome, according to new research published
in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers
observed a reduction in key risk factors for heart
disease in men with metabolic syndrome:
reduced blood pressure, improved blood flow
and reduced inflammation. Natural components
found in grapes, known as polyphenols, are
thought to be responsible for these beneficial
effects.

8. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur
together - increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level,
excess body fat around the waist or low HDL (the
good cholesterol) and increased blood triglycerides -
significantly increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke and
diabetes.
The study results showed that for each of the study's
subjects, grape consumption resulted in significant decreases
in blood pressure, improved blood flow (greater
vasodilation), and decreases in a compound associated with
inflammation.
"These results suggest that consuming grapes can improve important risk
factors associated with heart disease, in a population that is already at higher
risk," said Fernandez. "This further supports the accumulating evidence that
grapes can positively influence heart health, and extends it to men with
metabolic syndrome."

9. Microwave Butter Flavoring Ingredient Is A
Respiratory Hazard
Researchers have discovered that the ingredient
2,3-pentanedione (PD), used to promote the flavor
and aroma of butter in microwave popcorn is a
respiratory hazard, which can also change gene
expression in the brain of rats.
The team conducted animal studies in which they
exposed groups of rats for six hours to different
concentrations of PD, a comparable concentration of
diacetyl, or filtered air. They noted signs of delayed
toxicity and exposed additional rats to PD.

10. They conducted a microscopic examination of the
brains, lungs, and nasal tissues from the lab animals at different
durations after exposure, i.e. after 0-2 hours, 12-14 hours, and
18-20 hours before assessing these changes in gene expression in
certain areas of the brain.
The findings revealed that 12 to 14 hours after exposure PD
caused respiratory epithelial injury in the upper nose that was
similar to that caused by diacetyl. They also noted that PD
exposure caused necrosis and apoptosis in the olfactory
neuroepithelium and activation of caspase 3, a protein involved
in cell death, in axons of olfactory nerve bundles.
Furthermore, they observed signs consistent with
neurotoxicity that showed an elevated expression of the
inflammatory mediators, interleukin-6 and nitric oxide
synthase-2 and lower expression of vascular endothelial
growth factor A in the olfactory