’Purple Corn’ New Treatment for Diabetes and Kidney Disease?

Sep 19, 2012

Diabetic Diet Might Include ‘Purple Corn’ In the Future

Purple corn has been discovered as a potential new treatment option for those who have type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. Scientists from Korea’s Hallym University Department of Food and Nutrition and Department of Biochemistry investigated the cellular and molecular activity of purple corn anthocyanins (PCA) to determine how it affects the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Nephropathy is a scientific term meaning damage or disease of the kidney and anthocyanin’s are pigments that are responsible for the colour of a plant or vegetables. These pigments also tend to have health benefits or are used as dietary antioxidants and in this case purple corn. The findings from the study suggest that PCA inhibits pathways of the development of DN, which may lead to new discoveries in the development of therapies for treating type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. The study was published in the American Journal of Physiology.

Purple corn is typically grown in Peru and Chile and is similar to blue corn. The kernels of purple corn has been used in regions where they are locally grown to colour foods and beverages and have been more recently utilized for research purposes to link health benefits.

Video: Early Fall Colors | Scenic Ontario Road Trip!

All adventures must come to an end, but not without one more journey! Join The Wandering Shepherds as we say farewell to our cozy Calabogie cottage and take the scenic road trip home to Ewetopia Farms. Our first stop was a breathtaking hydroelectric generating station, framed by cliffs, rushing water, and brilliant fall leaves that seemed to have changed overnight. From there, we meandered along winding backroads through lakes and hills, soaking in the spectacular autumn scenery. This year, the colors seemed to arrive earlier than usual—perhaps due to the summer’s drought? Whatever the reason, it was an unforgettable display of Ontario’s fall beauty. Finally, our holiday drew to a close as we pulled back into Ewetopia Farms, ready to return to the sheep and our daily vlogs. But this trip reminded us how important it is to pause, explore, and appreciate the simple beauty around us.