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FOOD CRISIS BREWING: Robusta coffee bean prices hit 12-year record high amid El Nino threat

May 29, 2023 -

While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, Robusta is normally more budget-friendly because the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The said variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.

"An emerging El Nino weather pattern will curb output from top supplier Vietnam, ...

Study reveals the power of COFFEE against COVID-19 infections

February 22, 2024 -

The first study published in Cell & Bioscience last November found that drinking approximately one to two cups of coffee daily is enough to inhibit COVID-19 infections caused by different strains of SARS-CoV-2. In particular, it found that the consumption of coffee addressed infections caused by the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and its subsequent variants – the B117 alpha strain, the B16172 delta strain and the B11529 omicron strain.

The study authors from Taiwan examined ...

Acacia catechu (black cutch) found to have immunomodulatory properties

March 16, 2021 -

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that A. catechu has immunomodulatory effects on humoral, cell-mediated and non-specific immune functions.

Read the full story at this link.

Journal Reference:

Sunil MA, Sunitha VS, Radhakrishnan EK, Jyothis M. IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITIES OF ACACIA CATECHU, A TRADITIONAL THIRST QUENCHER OF SOUTH INDIA. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2019;10(3):185-191....

Brazil, the world’s largest producer of arabica coffee, reports record-low inventory

September 20, 2022 -

Coffee inventories in Brazil may dip to just seven million bags weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds) each by March 2023, according to Silas Brasileiro, president of the National Coffee Council. According to industry experts, a more comfortable harvest would net between nine to 12 million bags of arabica coffee beans. (Related: Now Brazil is facing potential crop failures due to Russia's freeze on fertilizer exports.)

Nelson Carvalhaes, a board member for the coffee exporters ...

Novel bioactive peptides from Acacia catechu (black cutch) found to have inhibitory activities against the dengue virus

February 11, 2021 -

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that A. catechu is a great source of antiviral peptides against DENV infection that need to be further investigated.

Journal Reference:

Panya A, Yongpitakwattana P, Budchart P, Sawasdee N, Krobthong S, Paemanee A, Roytrakul S, Rattanabunyong K et al. NOVEL BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES DEMONSTRATING ANTI?DENGUE VIRUS ACTIVITY ISOLATED FROM THE ASIAN MEDICINAL PLANT ACACIA CATECHU....

Extracts from the acacia tree found to be useful in preventing cardiac injury caused by common chemotherapy drug

October 01, 2018 -

Chemotherapy is a long process designed to treat various types of cancer. Basically, it involves the administration of various chemo medications that poison cancer cells, killing them and retarding their progress. Unfortunately, chemotherapy medications do not discriminate between normal, healthy cells and cancer cells. As a result, cancer patients tend to suffer from a long list of chemo side effects, including hair loss, fatigue, a weakened immune system, and others.

Doxorubicin ...

Coffee prices are about to skyrocket thanks to unusual weather and COVID-19 labor shortages

September 25, 2021 -

The spot prices of Brazilian robusta coffee Espirito Santo have almost doubled this year, climbing from 356 to 769 reais per 60kg bag. The cheaper robusta beans used widely for instant coffee drinks like Nescafe have sold out in Brazil as weather conditions that damaged crops of the high-end arabica used by Starbucks prompted local roasters to seek robusta replacements, driving prices to record highs day after day.

At this time of year, Brazilian coffee farmers are ...

Coffee prices soar to 7-year high as supply woes hit top producers Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam

November 18, 2021 -

Prices have almost doubled in the past year, raising the cost outlook for companies such as Starbucks Corp. and Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. that favor the high-end variety of beans.

Arabica futures for March delivery rose as much as 4.8 percent to $2.235 a pound in New York, the highest since October 2014.

Early projections for Brazil's 2022 crop indicate yields will trail the nation's last high-yielding cycle in 2020-21. That will limit the rebuilding of stockpiles ...

Efficient and eco-friendly: Growers are using discarded coffee straw as mulch to great benefit

February 17, 2019 -

Still, that hasn't stopped scientists and other experts from exploring the options that are available to them as far as better utilizing these items are concerned. One recent attempt, which was made by researchers from Brazil, looks at how typical waste material can be used to enhance further the level of production achieved and increase the yield in a conventional farm.

To be more specific, the researchers conducted a study that allowed coffee growers to use coffee ...

Prevent gingivitis naturally with traditional Sudanese medicine

October 18, 2018 -

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a condition wherein the gums and periodontal tissues surrounding the teeth are inflamed. Based on the affected areas, periodontal diseases can be classified into two, gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is when inflammation occurs in the gums, leading to its redness, swelling, and bleeding. Meanwhile, periodontitis is when the bone and tissues of the teeth are inflamed, causing the formation of spaces between the teeth ...

Brazil coffee crops shrinking due to droughts and frosts, leading to shortages

September 23, 2021 -

Brazil is found to have harvested nearly 40 percent less arabica coffee compared to last year – an all-time low since 2009 – according to crop forecasting agency, Conab. This loss is equivalent to about two-thirds of U.S. consumption. With Americans drinking the most coffee in the world, this dramatically lowered production could mean shortages of beans.

Regis Ricco, a director at Minas Gerais-based RR Consultoria Rural, said that there are no more lines of trucks ...

RESEARCH: Manuka honey contains natural antiviral compounds that fight influenza (and covid)

January 31, 2022 -

Entitled, "Anti-influenza Viral Effects of Honey In Vitro: Potent High Activity of Manuka Honey," the study looked at the commonly researched H1N1 influenza strain known as A/WSN/3. Researchers infected MadineDarby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with the virus before exposing them to numerous types of honey.

In addition to manuka honey (L. scoparium), scientists also tested the effects of soba (F. esculentum; buckwheat), kanro (honeydew), acacia (R. pseudoacacia), and renge ...

Top 7 consumption habits where people forget to “weed out” GMO

August 22, 2022 -

Science and peer-reviewed research has revealed that the most commonly used GMOs (and their associated chemical agents) are linked to severe allergies, learning disabilities, cancer, memory loss and dementia. Are you filtering GMOs from your daily intake, or are YOU the filter?

Are your ears ringing constantly? That's called chronic inflammation, and it's probably because you're eating weed killer and bug exterminator chemicals, and possibly as part of every meal, snack ...

Black cutch, an Asian medicinal plant, contains compounds that are effective against the dengue virus

February 23, 2021 -

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are four distinct, but closely related, serotypes of DENV. This means that a person can be infected by the virus as many as four times. Studies have also found that people who recover from infection by one serotype only develop partial and temporary cross-immunity to the other serotypes. Subsequent infections by other serotypes increases a person's risk of developing severe dengue.

The Centers for Disease Control ...

Many seeds need smoke in order to sprout; forest fires are necessary

July 12, 2004 - naturalnews.com printable article

Many seeds need smoke in order to sprout; forest fires are necessary

This is yet more evidence supporting the view I've long held on forest fires: let them burn, folks. Extinguishing forest fires is a bad strategy for preventing them. If you keep putting out the fires, they'll just get bigger when they do burn through. And while trees can easily survive a typical fire, if the underbrush has built up for too long (thanks to humans putting out all ...

Want a healthier heart? Start following a Mediterranean diet

November 27, 2018 -

Researchers recruited 83 women with metabolic syndrome for the study. All of the participants followed a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet, but half of them were also asked to take a medical food containing phytosterols, soy protein, and extracts from hops and acacia.

A Mediterranean-style diet is typically composed of many fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil. It emphasizes getting protein from lean sources, such as fish and poultry rather than ...

Green glue: Tannins from softwood are being used as a renewable alternative to toxic phenol compounds in glue

August 09, 2018 -

This is taking sustainable adaptability to another level. Before this project, around three million tonnes of softwood bark – end-products of the Finnish forest industry – were burned as is or as a processing energy source in various pulp mills. This new venture expands the potential uses of Finnish forest biomass and could pave the way to the introduction of a new type of business for residents.

Scientists involved in the study say that the tannins found in softwood ...

Guys, your cup of joe comes with compounds that fight prostate cancer

November 30, 2019 -

Coffee contains various compounds that have been shown to affect human health both positively and negatively. There is increasing evidence that links drinking certain types of coffee to a lower incidence of certain cancers, including prostate cancer. Therefore, the Japanese researchers looked at the effects of coffee compounds on prostate cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. (Related: How drinking coffee reduces cancer risk.)

Kahweol acetate and cafestol are hydrocarbons ...

Coffee plants grow better without chemicals; healthy soil has microbes and fungi that nourish plants and act as biofertilizers

June 12, 2018 -

The researchers identified two particular groups of fungi that are commonly found in the soil and show promise as natural fertilizers for crop growth.

The first group are called arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), symbiotic fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota. Their spores start in the soil but eventually become part of the roots of many vascular plants, where they absorb nutrients from the soil and give it to their hosts in exchange for carbon.

The second group are the ...

Research finds medicinal plants, such as nettles, have potential for fighting diabetes

September 14, 2018 -

The researchers found that different cultures and regions across Iran use up to 49 plant species in order to address the metabolic condition. According to the experts, six of these plants belong to the Apiaceae family, while another six belong to the Asteraceae family. In addition, eight plant species belong to the Lamiaceae family. The scientists also observed that certain plant species have become more popular treatments than the others.

The scientists noted that ...