Birds Could Teach Us A Thing Or Two About Healthy Eating

Birdbrains. Not because of this possibly creative research. Because of the lie of the first two sentences. If you are going to do the work, then at least be honest about the results. There is nothing in this article, written by the research institution itself, that proves the opening "conclusion."

Want to know what kinds of foods prevent disease? Then watch what migratory birds eat during their stopovers on Block Island.

Two University of Rhode Island scientists believe that birds choose certain berries because they offer protection against oxidative stress that occurs during long flights. Oxidative stress can lead to inflammation and a variety of diseases in birds and humans.

The team's preliminary findings show that birds stopping over on Block Island favor the arrow-wood berry, which contains more anti-oxidants and pigments than the 11 other island berries studied by the researchers.

Navindra Seeram, assistant professor of pharmacy and head of the Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory at URI, and Scott McWilliams, URI professor of wildlife ecology and physiology, have teamed up to research migratory birds' eating habits and how their diets might be used to understand the role of berries rich in anti-oxidants in human health. Research has shown a diet rich in anti-oxidants can help prevent cancer and other serious illnesses.

Seeram reported the findings at the American Chemical Society's 239th national meeting in San Francisco.

"We're suggesting that birds choose deeply colored berry fruits in part because of their anti-oxidant properties," Seeram said...

The research indicates that birds prefer to eat certain fruits that have more antioxidants and key nutrients. In return, the seeds in the berries are dispersed by the birds. "It's the way plants ensure their survival. Birds eat the berries, digest them and defecate the seeds over wide areas," McWilliams said...

"That's what is so great about URI," Seeram said. "Because the University is small, without the usual bureaucratic walls, we can create these partnerships. This collaboration between professors in two separate colleges would not have happened so easily in other universities and produced results so quickly."

The researchers are spreading their defecation products over wide areas.

Apparently, research is the oldest profession.