For those of us who are concerned with the negative consequences of consuming genetically modified foods, new research may put our minds at ease. For three years, researchers from the GMSAFOOD consortium studied the effects of genetically modified maize (corn) on various piglets. Pigs and humans have...

Often times, the ability of plants are underestimated or unappreciated. For instance, it was not until recently that scientists discovered the benefits of milk thistle extracts. These extracts, taken from certain seeds of flowers, are primarily used to aid in the treatment of gallbladder and liver...

In recent years, obesity in teenagers has increased dramatically. Seeing this as a primary issue, Joseph Carlson, professor at Michigan State University, conducted a study on reducing symptoms of metabolic syndrome. To do so, Carlson and his group examined the effects of incorporating high-fibrous...

For those who don’t know me, I am a nut fanatic! Unfortunately, this means that it is very easy for me to give in to my rather large cravings for peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios—which may be somewhat unhealthy. But according to a report in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research, a research...

Many of us know that the allergies we acquire can be a result of outdoor plants and our environment. For instance, every spring, I become a victim of pollen and get a runny nose and watery eyes. However, what many of us may not know is that headaches, too, can be a result of the plants around us....

For all of the heavy drinkers out there, a recent study issued journal PLoSONE may be of interest: rats that consumed strawberries before being exposed to ethyl alcohol had less damage done to their stomach mucous membranes than the group of rats that were not previously fed strawberries.

The...

For those who have felt severe discomfort in their joints, the pain is unpleasantly disturbing. Osteoarthritis, a joint disorder, is often caused when the cartilage between joins becomes painfully worn down, resulting in uncomfortable stiffness of the joints. However, a recent discovery by University...

The next time you go to an Indian restaurant and decide to order your curry “spicy” instead of the usual “mild,” think twice. You might be overcome by a feeling of doom and desperation, though it will probably pass soon. But exactly how hot is too hot? Can eating too many chili peppers actually...

If someone told you that your eating habits could beneficially alter some of your genes, would this change the way you eat? Now seems to be a good time to think about this, since a group of international scientists and researchers from McGill and McMaster universities have found out some interesting...

Popeye the Sailor from that old cartoon, definitely made the right decision when consuming a can of spinach regularly.  Eating leafy, green vegetables, like spinach, bok choy, and broccoli help make you stronger and improve your immune system defenses.  Researchers have been studying this effect...

The holidays we love are just around the corner, so now may be the time to prepare ourselves from adding on a few extra pounds. Joshua Lambert, an assistant professor at Penn State, conducted an experiment that focused on the study of weight gain of obese mice fed with and without components of green...

Say goodbye to artificial sweeteners and sour foods! New research has revealed the secret to creating the perfect taste of sweetness by understanding the science behind a certain “miracle fruit” that has the power to turn a sour taste into a sweet one.

This fruit was first discovered in...

I am sure we have all wondered whether “going organic” is actually worth the extra effort or money. When time is at stake, it seems more convenient to buy easily-accessible, non-organic groceries. Nonetheless, if you are interested in getting possible health benefits from certain organic products,...

As any college student, I have definitely experienced the effects of stress and anxiety. Trying to balance school with work and extra-curricular activities is tough and can take a toll on your health. To combat these pressures we typically buy over-the-counter conventional medications. However, scientists...

Plain broccoli—or vegetables in general—may taste bland and uninteresting. Most people would prefer to grab a bite of pizza for lunch or to chow down a fat juicy hamburger, but here’s another good reason to eat veggies instead: researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that eating...

For all of the potato lovers out there: Now is the perfect time to put away any guilty shame and to make a quick trip to the nearest grocery store. Indulging in small servings of potatoes each day has been proven to lower high blood pressure, while allowing consumers to maintain their preferred weight.

In...

Pecans, almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios and walnuts. My personal favorite would have to be pistachios. I love cracking open the shell and munching on such a yummy, salty snack. But, according to scientists in the American Chemical Society, walnuts are actually the most heart-healthy of all nuts.

Studies...

One of the world’s greatest health challenges is obesity. The number of obese Americans has increased continuously. Further, those affected by the disease are at a risk of contracting a variety of other disorders. As a result, scientists are constantly performing studies to discover methods of combating...

Researchers at the Salk Institute’s Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory (CNL) have isolated a flavonoid that helps to fight diabetes by reducing its harmful effects—fisetin, which is found most readily in strawberries. In mice with diabetes, fisetin has been shown to fight diabetes in both the...

From previous studies, scientists, health professionals, and consumers alike have a thorough understanding of the anti-oxidant effects of berries.  Advertisements for the acai berry’s ability to help prevent cancer and heart disease over-populate the web; however, the conclusion of a new study...

Research at the University of South Florida (USF) has shown that regular consumption of coffee reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe that an abnormal protein in the brain called beta-amyloid is the cause of Alzheimer’s. Caffeine was singled out as the probable...

Researchers at The University of Illinois have been studying the anti-inflammatory effects of various plant compounds. Specifically, they have been studying the effects of luteolin, a compound found in many of the plants that we eat. Crops like carrots, peppers, rosemary and celery all contain luteolin...

“Do your body good” by drinking beer—non-alcoholic beer, that is.

After intense physical activity, athletes face an “open window” during which they are particularly susceptible to illness such as upper respiratory infections. During this time frame, their bodies experience inflammation...

We all succumb to muscle atrophy and weakness at some point in our lives, whether as a result of disease or as a natural part of the aging process or both. Could there be a way to reverse this process or at least minimize the damage?

Researchers at the University of Iowa (UI) have been investigating...

Synthetic fertilizer is often considered necessary for the world today, given that since its introduction, both the yield and quality of crops have grown substantially. In a time where increasing the amount of food available remains a necessity, synthetic fertilizer does indeed have its uses. However,...

While growing up, I always heard the phrases, “drink your milk,” or “eat your vegetables.” Parents everywhere seem to integrate these phrases into everyday life in order to encourage their children to stay healthy and build strong bones; but what if parents and children switched roles for...

Growing up, I always wondered why my grandmother’s cure-all to any sickness was a hot cup of tea. Her saying was “a cup of tea a day, keeps the doctor away.” Latest research by scientists has furthered my understanding of this tea plant and provided evidence of its medicinal properties. According...

When I think of nitrates and nitrites I think of additives to fish or cured meats, like ham and bacon. However, it turns out that the majority of the nitrates we consume come from a diet rich in leafy vegetables and fruits. Spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, and celery are primary sources of nitrate,...

Obesity has seen soaring rates in the U.S. and is already having an adverse impact on young people.  Worse, most people still do not practice healthy behaviors that can prevent obesity.  A common result of obesity is the excessive development of body fat in the abdominal region. Scientists are already...

[Greenseedling is celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a week of St. Paddy's Day-themed stories.  Beer, Four-Leaf Clovers, Potatoes....A perfect holiday for the plant enthusiast!]

While we are still a few days away from Saint Patrick’s Day, tonight my family and I are sitting...

Every summer my family goes blueberry picking at the local farm. The heat, tall grass, and mosquitoes don’t stop us from plucking our very own, all-natural, plump berries. Not only do they taste delectable, but they also have been shown to reduce hypertension and promote a healthy lifestyle.

These...

Roughly 7.5 million people worldwide die from cancer each year. This horrifying statistic has caused researchers all around the world to search for ways to bring this number down. While billions of dollars are spent on cancer technology, professors at The University of Illinois have discovered a very...

Turmeric, a spice often used in Indian cooking and traditional Chinese medicine, is now gaining recognition in the science world for its curative properties. Researchers at Saint Louis University have found that the spice, and its active chemical curcumin, may help prevent and treat liver fibrosis,...

Cancer. According to must studies, this ruthless disease is considered to be the number one cause of death worldwide, and the number two cause of death in the United States after heart disease.

As a UT student, I participated in a charity bike ride known as the Texas 4000 for Cancer from Austin,...

Second grade was the year the school nurses found out about my poor, fuzzy vision. Up until my late middle school years, I wore prescription glasses and later moved on to contact lenses. My vision gradually worsened and is now leveling off at a steady, nearsightedness value of -4.5 diopters. Despite...

Much debate has transpired from the use of pesticides in crop cultivation.  Some of the pesticides that farmers use have proven to be harmful to human health; however, these same substances deemed as “unsafe” play a major role in allowing farmers worldwide to produce enough food to sustain the...

As individual states in the US and other countries become increasingly open to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, there is a great need to consider the plant’s detrimental effects — memory loss, anxiety, and paranoia — and determine if they are controllable.

A recent study from...

With increased use over the past few years of Artemisia annua, a crop known for its medicinal potency, many people believe that a shortage of this anti-malaria and anti-cancer miracle plant is forthcoming.  In order to prevent a shortage, researchers at University of York sought to understand the...

Blueberries have long been renowned for their high levels of antioxidants. However, with a fairly high selling price, getting your antioxidants through blueberries is not really friendly to your wallet. Recently, however, scientists at the American Chemical Society explained that black rice can match,...

Every year, sunscreen producers flood the market with their latest and greatest products that somehow “improve” on the tried and true SPF 30 lotion’s ability to prevent skin cancer.

Before the increase in awareness of the sun’s harmful radiation on human skin, sunbathers would slather...

Asthma and allergies afflict over 60 million people in the United States, making it the most prevalent chronic disease in the nation. Many people visit their local allergists to be treated, and treatment can often include the prescription of an inhaler that relaxes the muscles of constricted airways....

When I hear the word “morphine” or “codeine,” the first thought that comes to mind is not that of a flower.  Although these two drugs may fall under the classification of some of the strongest pain medications on the market, people often fail to acknowledge the source of morphine and codeine:...

For years, scientists have faced the lofty challenge of confirming the evolutionary link between primates and humans, but with new research from Purdue University, scientists may turn their focus on evolutionary kinship between apes and plants.

While attempting to revive dying plants, researchers...

Food competition in the tropics is not limited to two animals fighting over a single prey. In fact, carnivorous plants and fungi also compete for food, albeit at a much more molecular level. After an insect is trapped by a carnivorous plant, it falls into the plant’s “pitcher,” which contains...

With the advent of the cold season, several of my classes here at UT Austin have been plagued with the echoes of people coughing; the sounds often drown the professor’s voice!  I have also started to feel under the weather as of a few days ago.  To make matters worse, I seem to have acquired resistance...

The cycle of agricultural life across the globe occurs as a series of chain reactions. Scientists are now becoming acutely aware of the immense cross industrial impacts that stem from a few seemingly harmless practices in the agricultural world. Today’s featured study is one that investigates the...

Sceletium tortuosum is a plant native to South Africa that has been used for a few hundred years with a variety of purposes. Also known as Kanna, Channa, and Kougoed, the plant has been known to enhance mood, reduce anxiety, relax the user, and even cause euphoria when taken in large amounts. The...

Fish oil is known to be one of the healthiest ways to obtain omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA, two of the most studied omega-3-fatty acids, have numerous health benefits; they decrease triglycerides, blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and heart rate. Essentially, they decrease the adverse effects of...

One of the biggest transitions any teenager makes in his or her life occurs when they move away from their family’s home and begin their independent lives as college students. Although this prospect seems exciting for many young students, I remember feeling a peculiar mix of anxiety and sadness...

The nutritional value of cabbage-like vegetables (such as broccoli and cauliflower) has been known for years; parents don’t nag children about eating their vegetables for nothing! A family of compounds known as carotenoids constitutes a major part of the nutritional value that humans get from these...

Have you ever thought about the evolution of pharmaceutical drugs? When I watch Grey’s Anatomy or House, I constantly feel amazed by far humans have come, how much we understand about the human body, and how many drugs and procedures have been procured to help us live longer. However, while the...

Southern Africans have used native plants for hundreds of years to treat a slew of different illnesses in a wide variety of animals. Researchers at Kansas State University are just beginning to document the 506 herbal remedies that have been used in 18 different areas of Southern Africa. While gathering...

Most agricultural studies focus on improving crop yield or preventing the adverse effects of environmental conditions. Other studies, however, focus on increasing the nutritional value of crops. Phillipe Seguin and his fellow researchers from various universities and governmental agricultural agencies...

For thousands of years, tribes and villagers worldwide have looked to nature for solutions to their medical problems. Even today, researchers continue to look into traditional remedies to discover if they are truly successful. One such natural treatment stems from (pun intended) the kava plant, found...

Before taking your bike out for a joy ride on the same route that your bus travels, you may want to reconsider, or better yet, consult the nearest…tree?

A recent study, by scientists at Western Washington University in Bellingham, has uncovered that the leaves of trees may be very helpful...

Whether consuming green vegetables raw or cooked, these colorful plants provide us with many essential nutrients. I have always heard, “The greener the vegetable, the better the nutritional value,” but scientists from The University of Nottingham are presently conducting research that could possibly...

(We began to cover this story last week, here’s another, more personal perspective!) South Asian cooking is known for its use of spices. Coming from a South Asian background, I remember when I first ate a raw vegetable. I was confused because that raw piece of carrot tasted nothing like the...

Traditional Chinese medicine provides of a wide variety of homemade remedies for a wide variety of illnesses, even illnesses that modern technology’s pharmaceuticals have failed to treat. Of course, traditional Chinese medicine is not as widely accepted as the medicine that comes in the form of...

With the recent increase in the activity of the H1N1 virus, the evolution of pathogens is under the spotlight. It scares me to think how one strain of the flu virus that affected birds, evolved and jumped to pigs and then ran rampant among humans. It has taken a long time for scientists to finally...

Prevention is better than cure. This age-old adage carries with it a meaning that we rarely value until it’s too late. We may watch our diet to stay slim, but we don’t often diet to avoid potential health conditions such as kidney stones.

Kidney stones are more common than most people...

My father was at one time a farmhand in rural South India. He sat on the floor with his eight siblings and ate his food off of a banana leaf. In this mud-made shanty made by my grandfather, the family would very often have dessert after their feast. They may have not had running water or electricity,...

While organically-grown food is nothing new to human societies, the increase in public awareness of organic food over the last several years has caused an explosion in the demand for such food with its reduced use of chemical additives, hormones, pesticides, and genetic modification.

Organic...

New Scientist Magazine recently published an article discussing the detrimental impacts of increased carbon dioxide emissions on the cassava plant. Cassava is known to be an important dietary component for over half a billion of the world’s impoverished population. It is especially popular in the...

Many of us use the word “hungry” to describe how we are feeling at least once a day. To some, “hungry” is the sensation felt ten minutes before their lunch break. To others, “hungry” is waiting thirty minutes at an upscale restaurant for an exotic dish. However, to 1.02 billion people...

Part of why I love writing these articles is because it leads me to discover cutting edge, revolutionary research that will help solve global problems in the future. Research into genetically modified crops have followed a specific trend: improving yield, nutrient content and protecting crops from...

Although many people may not realize it, almost every meal eaten by the average American contains a fair amount of corn. Home-cooked goodness and fast food alike, corn is a staple of the American diet. But where exactly is the corn if we can’t see it in our dinner of say, hamburgers and soda? Corn...

Nearly 30 million people have developed Alzheimer’s disease worldwide, and millions more know the name of the incurable illness. Alzheimer’s disease is expected to affect four times as many people by the year 2050, a number as large as the population of Mexico.

In the United States, Alzheimer’s...

Marijuana is one of the few illegal substances remaining that can still arguably be less harmful than other legal substances, like tobacco. Until now, little research had been conducted to prove that cannabis smoke could have detrimental effects on the health of those who inhaled it.

Research...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by movement disorders, including tremors and bradykinesia, which are due to the insufficient production and action of dopamine in the brain. The cause of PD is not completely understood, though it is believed to be due...

The food chain can allow genes to be transferred from species to species across the planet. The consumption of many genes may not have any effect on us, but the consumption of say, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium, could potentially be very harmful. We are often notified of any outbreaks that could...

As a kid I loved fruits and yogurt. Every day I would try to convince my parents to let me eat fruits instead of vegetables for dinner. Happy as they were for my healthy obsession, they still wanted me to eat my vegetables and grains so I could have “cleaner blood and a healthy heart”.

A...

A note to start: the following isn’t a plant research article, it’s more of an opinion piece on a topic I feel is quite crucial for us, as consumers, to understand.

Earlier in the year we read about how easy it is to get tricked by fake organic milk. Recently I’ve noticed a higher surge...

With the ever-growing number of fast food restaurants and the countless advertisements for the newest trend in dieting, society receives constant reminders concerning its latest epidemic – obesity. Each year, more individuals are diagnosed with obesity-associated disorders, such as diabetes and...

Have you ever visited someone in the hospital recovering from surgery? Most hospital rooms seem to channel a similar trend – neutral colored walls, air conditioner powered to the max, and dim lighting; but while the hospital room itself may trigger a sense of lackluster, one item seems to stand...

[All this week, GS will be covering stories on Marijuana - its traditional uses, basic biology, criminalization, neurological effects and more. Join us all this week for our in depth study of this fascinating, controversial plant!] The word “marijuana” has undoubtedly earned its...

[All this week, GS will be covering stories on Marijuana - its traditional uses, basic biology, criminalization, neurological effects and more. Join us all this week for our in depth study of this fascinating, controversial plant!] Cannabis: a word that has undoubtedly struck a different...

[All this week, GS will be covering stories on Marijuana - its traditional uses, basic biology, criminalization, neurological effects and more. Join us all this week for our in depth study of this fascinating, controversial plant!] Though most gardeners rarely think about it, in the...

[All this week, GS will be covering stories on Marijuana - its traditional uses, basic biology, criminalization, neurological effects and more. Join us all this week for our in depth study of this fascinating, controversial plant!]

Many marijuana users believe that there...

Broccoli is one of those vegetables that illustrates a parent-child relationship excellently. The epic struggle to teach one’s child what to eat and what not to eat is one that has spanned generations. We never learn the importance of our parents’ attempts until we grow up and realize the value...

Over the past few years, my trips to the grocery store have evolved from pleasant outings into maddening chores. While browsing down the food aisles I constantly notice new and improved items scattered among the original product, thus turning my thirty-minute trip to the store into a two-hour hunt...

Although your first reaction may be, “I’m not really in the mood for Italian food right now,” using basil as a relaxation technique has nothing to do with food, unless Mediterranean cuisine helps soothe your nerves. According to tradition, Sweet, or French, basil can actually be used in aromatherapy,...

From starring in the Broadway play, “The Princess and the Pea,” to helping Gregor Mendel develop his laws of inheritance, the pea has a rich history. According to the ancient Scandinavian, or the Norse, legend, peas were sent to earth by the god of thunder, Thor, to be eaten only on Thursday;...

A new muscadine grape cultivar named ‘Delicious’ (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) has been introduced by University of Florida researchers. Of course, this most likely means that this new grape is delectable, but the appetizing new species of grapes has other benefits for us all.

First of all,...

Trends come and go through our society like ripples on a pond…or something like that. At one point or another we’ve all been seduced by a clever marketing scheme; for me, it’s electronics (what would I do without my iPhone?!). So is organic food just the next big trend or will it really help...

Once anything gains popularity in the eyes of consumers, whether it is brand name purses, clothes, computers, electronics or even food, fake copies begin circulating. We can easily come across a fake Burberry scarf, or get tricked by a Coach purse that looks exactly like the real thing. Well, with...

The phrase, “eat your broccoli” seems to be pounded into one’s brain since birth. Parents everywhere attempt numerous methods of coercion so that their children will develop a taste for this green vegetable early on. As a young child, I can recall sitting at the dinner table and staring at...

It’s no secret that blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and plums are rich in antioxidants. However, many people don’t know that the reason for the abundant antioxidants is mainly due to high levels of anthocyanins, chemicals that are responsible for the fruits’ vibrant colors,...

In a complete departure from our normal plant science news stories, we decided to instead bring attention to a new video game (available only for Playstation 3, alas) called “Flower”. Described as “the Read More