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U.S. Company May Have Silver Bullet In Vitamin D Fight Against Disease

2008-09-19 04:05 635

WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xenon Corp., a company internationally recognized as a leader and pioneer in the field of Pulsed Light systems, might have found the silver bullet that researchers have been seeking to increase vitamin D in their fight against disease.

It’s called Pulsed light. It’s brighter than the sun and in short pulses -- flashed on mushrooms -- increases the vitamin D content in mushrooms substantially.

Dole, the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables, has been treating Portobello and other mushroom varieties with light flashes and found that the vitamin D level increased significantly. In a recent article by The Packer magazine, Gary Schroeder, director of Dole Mushrooms, stated, "Research has shown that light can boost the vitamin D levels in mushrooms. Nature is trying to do this, and we’re just allowing it to happen."

Professor Robert Beelman of Pennsylvania State University found that white button mushrooms, the only non-animal food that contains vitamin D, is a prime source of the antioxidant L-ERGOTHIONEINE, a powerful antioxidant that scavenges free radicals and protects the cell’s DNA from damage.

"As a food scientist," Professor Beelman said, "I already knew that mushrooms were a valuable part of the diet, being a good source of B vitamins and essential minerals as well as being low in calories, fat and sodium."

"But new research is suggesting mushrooms or substances extracted from mushrooms, may have the potential to help fight cancer and heart disease. More research needs to be done in this area, but it makes powerful reading."

Professor Beelman is not alone in his findings. Many scientists and mushroom councils around the world have been researching mushrooms or substances extracted from mushrooms and are unanimous in their thoughts that mushrooms may be the new super food that could play a major role in the prevention of serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, type 1 diabetes and a variety of other maladies.

Research seems to show that because many people are spending more time in front of computers or TV or use extra heavy sun blockers they are not getting enough sunshine, and consequently, are becoming deficient in Vitamin D. Also, people in northern climates often don’t get enough sun exposure, especially in the winter, to produce adequate vitamin D.

The Xenon Pulsed light system seems to be the system of preference since it has proven highly efficient by increasing the amount of vitamin D in mushrooms in a few short bursts.

Another food application for the Xenon Pulsed light system may be in the area of killing E. coli, Salmonella and other bacteria. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation allowing certain food purveyors to take extra steps to prevent outbreaks of bacteria on produce.

Xenon’s pulsed light may also prove a boon in this area since bursts of pulsed light could possibly clean the produce safely and efficiently.

When asked about Xenon’s participation in the research, Lou Panico, CEO, remarked, "We’re proud to be part of these studies. Since our start in 1964, Xenon has always strived to be on the leading edge of product development for both industrial and research applications, evidenced by our many successful achievements."

"We’ve strongly advocated our Pulsed light over mercury because of the countless benefits, especially since we’ve always considered Xenon a ‘green company’ with emphasis on our environment."

Xenon’s system, unlike mercury, is non-toxic and completely safe for the environment. Its ultra fast processing in seconds allows low cost production and utilizes less energy than mercury’s lengthy warm-up time, since it takes only a fraction of the time required by mercury systems. Xenon’s Start-Stop-Start technology provides instantaneous operation.

Xenon Corporation, world leader in pulsed Light technology for a wide variety of industrial and research applications, designs and manufactures high performance pulsed lamps, curing systems and decontamination/sterilization systems.

Source: Xenon Corporation
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