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Grapes May Help Prevent Alzheimer ’ s Disease
A study of people with early memory decline conducted by the University of California , Los Angeles , found consuming grapes twice a day for six months protected against significant metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain . Low metabolic activity in these areas of the brain is a hallmark of early-stage Alzheimer ’ s disease . Subjects who didn ’ t consume grapes exhibited significant metabolic decline in these critical regions . “ The study examines the impact of grapes as a whole fruit versus isolated compounds and the results suggest that regular intake of grapes may provide a protective effect against the early decline associated with Alzheimer ’ s disease ,” says Dr . Daniel H . Silverman , lead investigator of the study . “ This pilot study contributes to the growing evidence that supports a beneficial role for grapes in neurologic and cardiovascular health , however more clinical studies with larger groups of subjects are needed to confirm the effects observed here .”
freshplaza . com
Hydroponics Market Projected to Continue Growing
A report released earlier this year anticipated that the global hydroponics crop value will grow from USD $ 18.8 billion in 2014 to USD $ 27.29 billion by 2020 at an estimated compound annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of 6.39 per cent from 2015 to 2020 . Europe ’ s hydroponic market , which is already well-established , will see growth lower than the global average at a steady 5.28 per cent CAGR , whereas the Americans will grow at the highest CAGR of 9.1 per cent . Developing countries of Middle East and Africa will continue contributing smaller shares to the global hydroponic crop value through the forecast period . In particular , the report projected that the US and India will have the most potential to grow significantly during the forecast years . No matter the location , however , tomatoes will continue to dominate as the largest contributor to the global hydroponic crop value .
newsmaker . com . au
SoCal Urban Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Homeless
In 2011 , GrowGood urban farm started working with the Salvation Army Bell Shelter to provide some much-needed veggies . “ They were spending cents per meal on fresh produce . Food was donated , so no one was going hungry , but the nutritional quality was often low ,” says Brad Pregerson , co-founder of GrowGood . What started as several raised bed gardens on the property across from the shelter now occupies close to two acres of land and includes a diverse range of food crops , medicinal herbs , and livestock . The garden program also provides the shelter residents with meaningful work and acts as a catalyst for healing . Next , a grant from the Disney Foundation will be used to build a commercial greenhouse on the property , which will in turn help to pay some of the shelter ’ s residents for their work on the farm and provide additional funding to increase educational and job-training opportunities .
livetradingnews . com
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