Latest news with #UniversityofMilan
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Is decaf coffee really the better option for your health?
It's a kick-start for the day, a jolt many of us need to power through, and one of the last socially acceptable addictions. It's only when we have to go without coffee that we realise how badly we rely on it. The jitteriness and headaches from caffeine withdrawal can be so overpowering that many of us turn to decaffeinated instead, thinking surely it must be better for our health. But that might not be true, the experts say – not least because decaf coffee is not actually completely caffeine-free after all. So if you can bear to make the switch to decaf, just how much better will it be for you? What is decaf coffee, and how is it made? Decaffeinated coffee is coffee that has been treated before roasting to strip the caffeine out of it, with 'chemicals like carbon dioxide or by soaking the beans in water', says Dr Carlo La Vecchia, a professor at the University of Milan and an expert from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee. This water-based method is sometimes referred to as the Swiss method and is thought to preserve the flavour of the beans more fully. The names of other chemicals used in the decaffeination process – such as methylene chloride, a chemical banned from use in paint thinner, for its toxicity – might sound alarming. But the amount left in the beans after this process is negligible, Dr La Vecchia says. 'None of them should remain in appreciable amounts.' This process does not completely strip the beans of their caffeine content, however, leaving behind 'around 2 per cent, and in any case less than 3 per cent' of their natural caffeine levels. A normal cup of filter coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine, though the exact amount used will vary by brand, while a decaf filter coffee has closer to 2mg. The health benefits of coffee
The Age
3 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Is decaf coffee really the better option for your health?
It's a kick-start for the day, a jolt many of us need to power through, and one of the last socially acceptable addictions. It's only when we have to go without coffee that we realise how badly we rely on it. The jitteriness and headaches from caffeine withdrawal can be so overpowering that many of us turn to decaffeinated instead, thinking surely it must be better for our health. But that might not be true, the experts say – not least because decaf coffee is not actually completely caffeine-free after all. So if you can bear to make the switch to decaf, just how much better will it be for you? What is decaf coffee, and how is it made? Decaffeinated coffee is coffee that has been treated before roasting to strip the caffeine out of it, with 'chemicals like carbon dioxide or by soaking the beans in water', says Dr Carlo La Vecchia, a professor at the University of Milan and an expert from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee. This water-based method is sometimes referred to as the Swiss method and is thought to preserve the flavour of the beans more fully. The names of other chemicals used in the decaffeination process – such as methylene chloride, a chemical banned from use in paint thinner, for its toxicity – might sound alarming. But the amount left in the beans after this process is negligible, Dr La Vecchia says. 'None of them should remain in appreciable amounts.' This process does not completely strip the beans of their caffeine content, however, leaving behind 'around 2 per cent, and in any case less than 3 per cent' of their natural caffeine levels. A normal cup of filter coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine, though the exact amount used will vary by brand, while a decaf filter coffee has closer to 2mg. The health benefits of coffee
The Independent
5 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
How short walks can help burn calories and boost health
Micro- walks, defined as brief brisk strolls lasting 10 to 30 seconds, offer an accessible method for individuals to incorporate movement into their day. These short bursts of energy are shown to help burn more calories, boost metabolic rate, and improve endurance and strength. Research, including a University of Milan study, found that micro-walks can lead to expending 60 percent more energy than longer walks covering the same distance. The findings align with other studies demonstrating the health benefits of short, intense activity, such as high-intensity interval training or just 4.5 minutes of vigorous daily tasks. Ultimately, any form of exercise is beneficial, with even 7,000 steps a day being effective, and that short bursts make physical activity more achievable. What is a micro-walk? The fad may be the simple trick to make you healthier
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make stunning discovery after studying wildlife living near wineries: 'Can be further enhanced'
Researchers make stunning discovery after studying wildlife living near wineries: 'Can be further enhanced' A team of researchers from the HUN-REN Center for Ecological Research and the University of Milan recently established a connection between vineyard ecosystems and local bird and bat species. The HUN-REN Center's mission is to support biodiversity research, and it is resolute in the understanding that a more informed public can make better environmental decisions. Published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, their study addressed one part of the ongoing problem of habitat reconfiguration — that is, when natural landscapes are repurposed into human-oriented mechanisms. In an agricultural context specifically, it's crucial that we maintain a balance between crop yields for human needs and ecological sustainability, a balance these researchers aimed to identify within vineyards. In addition to being land-replenishing pollinators, birds and bats serve as natural predators, keeping pests in check while supporting beneficial arthropod species. Per it's a predisposition that can serve to our benefit as well, when it comes to vineyards and other agricultural endeavors — and by monitoring and recording bird and bat activity against arthropod activity across various Hungarian vineyards, these researchers worked to prove just that. By demonstrating that predatory birds and bats regulate pest populations on behalf of farmers, the team is encouraging the protection of these species by vineyard management, hoping that humans can work with birds and bats rather than allowing vineyards to devolve into sites of human-animal conflict. The researchers called for the sustenance of these agricultural projects without the use of synthetic pesticides — after all, why turn to polluting and often harmful chemicals when the natural solution is just as effective, requires fewer resources, and brings about less contamination to the air and soil? Uncontrolled pesticide use not only leaks toxic contaminants into the soil to kill pests, but also leaves lingering traces in the affected plants and the atmosphere of the region, posing risks to human health. Exposure through the food we eat and the air we breathe leaves us vulnerable to a variety of health concerns, ranging from reproductive damage to cancers. Moreover, the ripple effects of pesticides have lowered biodiversity around the world, destablizing ecosystems. The HUN-REN Center seeks to make its ecological findings more mainstream, bridging the gap between the discipline of environmental research and the average individual. If more of us can become cognizant of the issues infiltrating every step of our daily lives — from the pollutants we consume to the wine we drink — we can prove better-equipped to encourage our environmental authorities to address them. HUN-REN, specifically, is involved closely with the European Union. Research author Péter Batáry summed it up for "Pest control services can be further enhanced through organic management, which avoids herbicides and synthetic insecticides, thereby facilitating the colonization of beneficial arthropods and strengthening pest predation pressure in vineyards." Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 6-Foot Sarcophagus at the Bottom of a Forgotten Staircase
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: An archaeological team in Egypt's Aga Khan Mausoleum area discovered a buried Greco-Roman tomb at the bottom of a stone staircase. Located on the Nile's west bank in Aswan, the rock-cut tombs contain well-preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions. An impressive six-foot-tall limestone coffin also contained multiple mummified remains. Nine steps down a stone staircase in Egypt's Aga Khan Mausoleum, archaeologists discovered a host of hieroglyphic inscriptions among what they call 'one of the most architecturally impressive and well-preserved tombs unearthed to date.' Tucked away more than six feet underground, the tomb includes a roughly six-foot-tall limestone sarcophagus atop a rock-carved platform, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement. Vertical columns of hieroglyphic text run the length of the sarcophagus, and include prayers to local deities alongside a record stating that the tomb's owner, Ka-Mesiu, was a high-ranking official. A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission—led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan—uncovered several rock-cut tombs from the Greco-Roman period. Tomb No. 38 was the crown jewel of the discoveries, and included a nine-step staircase surrounded by mudbrick benches that were likely meant to house funerary offerings. The sarcophagus in the heart of the tomb included an anthropoid lid with a 'finely detailed human face adorned with a decorative wig and remarkable painted features.' The tomb also contained several mummies, including those of children. The find provides 'new insights into the social dynamics of the region during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods' and reinforces Aswan's historic status as a major cultural center in southern Egypt, H.E. Sherif Fathy, ministry of tourism and antiquities, said in a statement. 'These tombs not only reflect the greatness of the Pharaonic civilization but also its capacity for adaption and continuity under new administrations, such as those of the Ptolemies and the Romans,' he continued. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, added that the discovery reveals clear evidence of the necropolis' continued funerary use by various social classes over a significant amount of time. The elite were buried in tombs atop the plateau, while the middle class we buries along the slopes near the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan. Khaled said the mummies will undergo CT scans and biological analyses to attempt to discover their identities, health conditions, and causes of death. The team will also investigate the hieroglyphic inscriptions and artifacts in the hopes of gaining further insight into the funerary traditions and religious symbolism of the later periods of ancient Egyptian history. Tomb No. 38 could be just one of many discoveries to come at the site. Mohamed Abdel-Badei, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the hill's plateau hosts a series of large underground tombs dating to the Ptolemaic period that were once meant for elite families before later being reused during the Roman era. Who knows what else the area could still hide? You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
