Chili peppers can help you stay slim
If you are a fan of fattening foods then start consuming chili peppers to stay slim. A study involving an Indian-origin researcher has revealed that an ingredient found in chili peppers could help you prevent weight gain after eating a high-fat diet. As capsaicin — the chief ingredient in chili peppers — stimulates energy burning, a dietary supplement could be developed to do away with restriction in calorie intake, the findings suggest. “Our group’s lab data revealed that dietary capsaicin suppresses high-fat-diet-induced obesity,” said Vivek Krishnan, a graduate student from the University of Wyoming. “In our bodies, white fat cells store energy and brown fat cells serve as thermogenic (heat produced by burning fat) machinery to burn stored fat. Eating calorie-rich food and a lack of physical activity cause an imbalance in metabolism that leads to obesity,” Krishnan explained.
Blood test to predict dementia risk
Researchers have identified a new biomarker that could predict the risk of developing dementia by a simple blood test. A low level of the biomarker apolipoprotein E in our blood increases the risk of developing dementia in the future, the findings of the study involving 76,000 people showed. The results could lead to postponement or prevention of the disease that affects memory altogether. “The blood test will help provide a more precise risk evaluation of a citizen’s risk of developing dementia later in life. Thus, the citizens at the greatest risk of developing the illness are more easily identified,” said researchers. The low level of apolipoprotein E in the blood most likely reflects a low level of apolipoprotein E in the brain, and this indicates that the viscous compound, amyloid beta protein, is less effectively removed.
Robots to give company to the elderly
Robots could now serve one more purpose: being a companion to the elderly and help them in facing isolation and loneliness. A prototype of one such social robot has been built by researchers. Not only will it provide the elderly company, but the robot will also be capable of emotion and memory. This was done as part of a project called ACCOMPANY (Acceptable Robotics Companions for Ageing Years), which was led by senior lecturer Farshid Amirabdollahian and nine partner institutions from five European nations. Amirabdollahian said, “This project proved the feasibility of having companion technology, while also highlighting different important aspects such as empathy, emotion, social intelligence as well as ethics and its norm surrounding technology for independent living.” The robots will use a Care-O-bot 3 platform, which will be compatible with a smart-home environment.