IMPROVING TASTE OF ALCOHOL FREE BEER WITH AROMAS FROM REGULAR BEER

Consumers often complain that alcohol-free beer is tasteless, but some of the aromas it is lacking can be carried across from regular beer. Researchers from the University of Valladolid (Spain) have developed the technique and a panel of tasters has confirmed its effectiveness.

The alcohol in beer acts as a solvent for a variety of aromatic compounds; therefore, when it is eliminated, as in non-alcoholic beers, the final product loses aromas and some of its taste. It is difficult to recover these compounds, but researchers from the University of Valladolid have done just this using a pervaporation process.

"This technique consists in using a semipermeable membrane to separate two fractions from alcoholic beer: one liquid phase in which alcohol is retained, and another gaseous phase, where the aromatic compounds come in," Carlos A. Blanco, one of the authors explains. "Then, this gaseous phase can be condensed, the aromatic compounds extracted and added to non-alcoholic beer."

To conduct the study, the scientists used a special beer (with 5.5% alcohol) and another reserve beer (6.5%) from which they extracted three aromatic compounds: ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate and isobutyl alcohol. They then added these substances to two 'almost' alcohol-free beers on the market: low-alcohol beer (less than 1% ABV) and alcohol-free beer (less than 0.1% ABV)..

A panel of experts tasted them. 90% of tasters preferred enriched low-alcohol beer instead of their original factory counterparts, and this percentage rose to 80% for alcohol-free beer. The figures have been published in the 'Journal of Food Engineering'.

"In light of these results, we conclude that the taste is improved, and thus the quality of this 'alcohol-free' beer, as the majority of panellists preferred the beer with aromas to the original," Blanco confirms.

The researchers recognise that this technique cannot yet capture all the aromas and tastes associated with alcoholic beer, but it does show progress in making 'alcohol-free' varieties more palatable for the consumer.

Spain is the primary producer and consumer of alcohol-free beer in the European Union. Around 13% of the beer sold in this country is alcohol-free, consumption of which has increased in recent years due to driving restrictions and for health reasons

The Effectiveness Of Light In Improving Sleep And Chronic Pain

Today's post from neuropathicpain.org (see link below) is an interesting look at a possible new non-drug treatment for chronic pain sufferers (including neuropathy patients). The lightbulb manufacturers Osram have conducted studies using bright light therapy to reset the body's internal 24 hour clock. Disturbed sleep is often caused by and exacerbates chronic pain and although the article doesn't go into great detail about the science of it all, it's an interesting development. One to keep an eye on.

 Light at the end of the tunnel for chronic pain
Posted by admin on 26 August, 2013
 
Prof Tolle, who is president of the German Pain Society, hopes that light
therapy will be added to the chronic pain war chest. His patients at the
Comprehensive Centre for Pain Medicine, at the Technical University of
Munich, are invited to spend four weeks undergoing their usual treatments,
but bathed in lighting that is far brighter than normal.

While an average office might be illuminated to a level of 500-800 lux (the
measure of brightness), the rooms in Prof Tolle’s clinic are lit to
3,000-4,000 lux. The spectrum of light has also been tweaked so that it
contains more blue and is comfortable to the eye. In effect, the designers
from Osram, the lighting company, have transformed a dull clinic ceiling
into a wide blue summer sky.

As Prof Tolle points out, we all feel better on a bright day. Light boxes are
already used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and are sometimes
suggested for insomnia. But this is the first time continuous bright-light
therapy has been tried for chronic pain.

Andreas Wojtysiak, an Osram biologist, explains that the aim is to reset the
body’s internal 24-hour clock – the circadian rhythm – which is often upset
in people coping with pain, affecting sleep. This in turn exacerbates pain
sensations.

“Studies show that if we don’t get proper restorative sleep, we are more prone
to depression and to sensations of pain.”

Prof Tolle adds: “Patients often note a reduction in pain if they have slept
well and managed to relax.” Sleeping pills can help, he says, but are not a
long-term solution. “And the quality of sleep won’t necessarily be good
enough to make you feel refreshed.

“We believe that the stimulation of the retina with this intensive light can
regulate sleep naturally, and we are looking at a possible causal link
between additional light, better moods and reduced pain.”

His study will monitor 100 patients having light therapy over 18 months at the
clinic.

Dr Smith is positive but cautious until results are confirmed. “We will look
at anything extra that is not a drug, and has no side effects. We want
effective treatments, and something that can normalise sleep naturally is
important in the treatment of chronic pain.”

Article source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/568556/s/3064a79a/sc/14/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Chealth0Calternativemedicine0C10A2653750CLight0Eat0Ethe0Eend0Eof0Ethe0Etunnel0Efor0Echronic0Epain0Bhtml/story01.htm

http://www.neuropathicpain.org/light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-for-chronic-pain/