Migratory Birds Are Teaching Humans About The Benefits Of Superfood Berries

(NaturalNews) Birds such as sparrows, thrushes and warblers are
apparently experts on preventing disease and optimizing their bodies to
deal with stress. If that sounds like an exaggeration, consider this:
scientists at the University of Rhode Island (URI) have discovered these
migratory birds eat certain nutrient-packed berries instead of their
usual diet of bugs at certain times of the year. Why would this change
in eating habits be beneficial? It turns out, according to the URI
researchers, that the superfood fruit the birds eat offers protection
against oxidative stress that occurs during long flights. This news is
important because oxidative stress is known to trigger inflammation and a
host of serious diseases -- in both birds and humans.

The new research, recently announced at the American Chemical Society's 239th
national meeting held last month in San Francisco, revealed that birds
stopping over on Block Island specifically go after arrow-wood berries
which contain more anti-oxidants and pigments than the 11 other berries
that grow on the island. That means the migratory birds somehow know to
specifically zero in on arrow-wood berries, the richest source of
nutrients in the area.

Navindra Seeram, assistant professor of pharmacy and head of the Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory at URI,
and Scott McWilliams, a URI professor of wildlife ecology and
physiology who has studied migratory birds for over a decade, are
researching migratory birds' eating habits to see how this knowledge
could help human health. The two teamed up after McWilliams learned that
Seeram was researching oxidative stress and inflammation and the
effects berry fruits can have on reducing those disease-linked problems
in people. Anti-oxidants found in berries are believed to play an
important role in preventing cancer and other serious diseases.

Working with URI graduate student Jessica Bolser and post-doctoral researcher
Liya Li, Seeram and McWilliams spent months on Block Island carefully
observing what the birds' ate, collecting samples of 12 different kinds
of berries, and analyzing the berries to document their anti-oxidant
content. They found that migratory birds eat the arrow-wood berries,
digest them and defecate the seeds over wide areas, thereby ensuring the
survival of the plants.

"We're suggesting that birds choose deeply colored berry fruits in part because of their anti-oxidant
properties...the birds are attracted to the berries because of their
rich color, which we believe is a plant's response to the stress of
constant exposure to the sun and other stresses," Seeram said in a
statement to the media. "It's a partnership that benefits plant and
bird."

The URI research is expected to help bird conservation efforts because the findings could play a critical role in habitat
protection for migratory birds. It could also be a boon to human health,
guiding humans to locate nutrient-dense superfood berries by,
literally, going to the birds to see what they eat to in order to cope
with physical stress.

As NaturalNews has previously reported, a variety of berries are being studied by scientists for their
health-building properties. For example, purple berries such as
blueberries and acai contain antioxidants called anthocyanins that have
been shown to protect the heart and vision, promote mental focus, and
prevent oxidative stress (http://www.naturalnews.com/027477_b...).

For more information:
http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/?i...

, April 14, 2010
By: S. L. Baker, features writer

Views: 56

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

What US Scientist unwittingly helped the Nazis devise the V-2 Missile?

  In the early 1920’s and leading up to World War II German technology outpaces the peace time…See More
17 hours ago
tjdavis favorited Sandy's video
yesterday
tjdavis posted a photo
yesterday
Christopher Walker is now a member of 12160 Social Network
yesterday
tjdavis posted videos
Sunday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Saturday
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Saturday
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
Saturday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Saturday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
Saturday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post What Four UFO Whistle Blowers All Suffered in Common?
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
Saturday
Burbia posted a blog post

Sebastion Piñera and 5G

 Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
Saturday
tjdavis posted a photo
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Thursday
Less Prone left a comment for Tammy
"Welcome"
Thursday
tjdavis posted a video

Mike Benz: DARPA & USAID are Weaponizing Music to Control Human Behavior

Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjonesMike Benz is a former State Department official and current Executive Dire...
Thursday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted