Lean On Life Supports New Research That Reveals a Superfood That Could Protect Against Cold and Flu
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) November 29, 2013 -- Lean On Life, a leading healthy lifestyle website with the latest on weight loss, nutrition, and fitness is revealing a Japanese health food found to help protect against cold and flu.
As Lean On Life reports (http://www.leanonlife.com/the-japanese-health-food-that-could-protect-you-from-the-flu/), the latest health food getting many second glances from health foodies during cold and flu season is an old, traditional Japanese favorite: pickled turnips. And while Westerners may close their minds and mouths at first when it comes to trying this Eastern cultural dish at first, research is showing that pickled turnips may just live up to the immune strengthening hype after all.
Suguki are pickled turnips, a traditional Japanese dish that is available at many authentic Japanese restaurants. Japanese traditionalists have long been singing the praises of its many medicinal properties, and the song has now begun to finally spread to the scientific community.
Under the direction of lead researcher Ms. Naoko Waki, of Kagome Co. Ltd., a research team investigated the potential immunological effects of Lactobacillus brevis KB290, a bacteria found in Suguki. Unlike many bacteria, Lactobacillus brevis is remarkably tolerant to acidic stomach juices, due to a protective layer of sugars the bacteria possess called exopolysaccharides.
A group of mice were exposed to the flu virus, and were then fed a strain of Lactobacillus brevis. The study, published in the Society for Applied Microbiology’s journal Letters in Applied Microbiology, shows that the bacteria in Suguki successfully helped to protect the mammals against the influenza virus.
The hope is that other health foods rich in these bacteria will also help the human body produce immune system molecules and antibodies that destroy virus infected cells. To further this research, a priobiotic drink made from traditional Japanese pickled turnips is now being tested on humans, to see if the immune boosting results will be the same.
Michelle Schiffman, Lean On Life nutritionist explains, that although not everyone might enjoy this foreign dish, turnips are a health food that is packed with vital, health promoting nutrients.
A low calorie root vegetable, turnips are stock full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. They are rich in vitamin C, which helps to eradicate free radicals, to fight inflammation and to strengthen the immune system. The leafy greens of turnips are even more nutritious than the roots themselves, containing vitamin C and K, lutein, carotenoid and xanthin. The fresh greens are an excellent source of a B-complex group of vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin and folates, as well as iron, copper, manganese and calcium minerals.
Lean On Life is a healthy lifestyle website that provides expert-driven knowledge from doctors, nutritionists, fitness trainers and life coaches. The site takes a hands-on approach to making weight-loss, healthy eating and fitness a simple achievable lifestyle change.
Health Editor, Lean On Life, http://www.leanonlife.com/, +1 905-851-9966 Ext: 231, [email protected]
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