The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| ‘Superfoods’ may not be as beneficial as once thought Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:13 AM PDT  Broccoli may be described as a superfood but a group of scientists say they may not pack as much of a punch as previously thought. – shutterstock.com The new findings out of London's Kingston University may debunk exaggerated health claims and challenge the purported health benefits of certain fruits and vegetables touted as superfoods, scientists say. That's because while polyphenols may work well under laboratory conditions, in the human body they may be less efficient if they're unable to get past the gut membrane and to the rest of the body, explained lead author Lucy Jones. For the study, researchers used a model that mimics the small intestine where nutrients are taken up and assessed whether or not nutrients are able to penetrate the membrane. The model used, the Caco-2, is made up of a single layer of cells that mimics the characteristics and function of micro-hairs which work to help in the absorption process. So far, the research team has tested herbs such as parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme – herbs which have been touted for their anti-cancer properties – and found that while they may have a local effect in the gut itself, their impact on the rest of the body was negligible. Despite the results, fruits and vegetables are good sources of fibre and other nutrients. In another study out of the US last year, researchers suggested teaming broccoli up with spices like mustard, horseradish or wasabi to help with absorption in the upper part of the digestive system and enhance the cancer-fighting properties. – AFP/Relaxnews |
| Major changes await the Botanic Gardens Posted: 07 Oct 2012 10:32 PM PDT  The expansion of the Gardens is an opportunity to make use of the new space to meet new challenges. This was in accordance with Section 13 of the Town and Country Planning Act—the public's feedback has to be taken into consideration before such a plan is gazetted. The Penang Botanic Gardens, sometimes known as Waterfall Gardens, is a 72-acre garden established in 1884 on an old granite quarry. As beloved as it is though, its management has faced plenty of criticism from the public due to what has been described as ad hoc development within the Gardens, done without a proper development plan. "Part of the problem is due to poor planning and implementation of projects, especially in the last 20 years or so," said Datuk Dr Leong Yueh Kwong, a botanist and a member of the Botanic Gardens' management committee. Indeed, in some cases, the projects have been downright befuddling. The most notorious of these were the concrete arches at the Gardens' entrance which were erected in 2010 and eventually demolished that same year after widespread criticism and ridicule.  Among the most significant changes the SAP is proposing is turning the Botanic Gardens into a major biodiversity centre. If it works, it will give the Botanic Gardens some much-needed direction and focus. But can it accomplish this? Among the most significant changes the SAP is proposing is turning the Botanic Gardens into a major biodiversity centre, focusing on scientific research and the conservation of plants. It is also proposed that the Gardens be expanded to a whopping 242-hectares , which would make the Penang Botanic Gardens the largest of its kind in the country. According to the draft SAP, "The expansion of the garden into its surrounding hill forest with large numbers of forest trees is a tremendous asset for a natural arboretum, which can be promoted as a botanical garden with a natural tropical rainforest." With the new plan come exciting new opportunities. "The expansion of the Gardens is an opportunity to make use of the new space to meet new challenges, such as biodiversity conservation, education, horticulture and recreation, in the coming decades," said Leong. The expanded area, he added, can also act as a safeguard and buffer zone to protect the Gardens from future development. The proposed new attractions will be a significant boon to Penang's tourism sector even as money flows in from the federal government. "The SAP will ensure that the Penang Botanic Gardens will be allocated the necessary funding for the proposed projects," said Botanic Gardens assistant director Salasiah Yusop. The SAP isn't perfect, however. Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, an architect and former chairman of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, believes that not enough justifications have been provided regarding the proposed recommendations. "The presentations made so far give an impression that there has been inadequate study of the problems affecting the Botanic Gardens, such as user statistics and the implications of the last changes that happened in the garden," he said. "Like the arches." Salasiah admits that the proposed expansion plan will be quite a challenge for the Botanic Gardens, especially when it comes to supervision. However, she believes that the currently ongoing upgrades in the management staff and the eventual recruitment of more professional staff (if the SAP is gazetted) will ensure the Gardens is more professionally maintained and managed in the future. A more immediate concern for residents and business owners on the neighbouring Penang Hill is the fact that the jeep track to the hill will be absorbed by the Botanic Gardens as part of the SAP. Would residents still be able to access the track? "The road leading to the track should remain publicly accessible," said Lim. "The jeep track should be an important access to the hill, not as an alternative route." According to Salasiah, a special permit can be given to the public to access the jeep track through the garden. This is a good short-term solution, but over the long term, a realignment of the road may need to be done. "One earlier proposal was for JKR to realign the road to be outside the Gardens," said Leong.  The expanded area can also act as a safeguard and buffer zone to protect the Gardens from future development. Another criticism of the SAP is its failure to fix long-running problems, or past mistakes. "The SAP has not identified the key issues, such as traffic, and did not make any attempt to rectify the mistakes done by the previous management," said Leong. "The fundamental issue of the traffic management was not addressed properly," Lim agreed. There needs to be a comprehensive traffic study that takes into account a wide variety of situations, such as the traffic conditions during peak hours and special occasions and events like Thaipusam and music festivals that sometimes take place in the Gardens. "The SAP gave a figure of 100 to 120 parking lots to be created near the new office," said Leong. "What is the basis of such a figure? Has there been a traffic study? If so, is there a separate technical report available for review?" Federal Department of Town and Country Planning officer Nazrina Mohd Haniffa confirmed that no traffic studies have been conducted. All told, there are 13 proposed projects under the SAP, including a herbarium, visitor centre and treetop walk, as well as four programmes: human resource training and recruitment of new staff; conferences and publications; marketing; and publicity and awareness campaigns. Each will need detailed feasibility studies before any implementation can take place. According to Salasiah, the Gardens received plenty of feedback from the public and various organisations, including the Malaysian Nature Society and the Penang Heritage Trust, all of which will be collected by the JPBD for a revised version of the SAP which will then be presented to the State Planning Committee for approval. Lim said that the SAP has to be utilised by a proper management board instead of bureaucrats. The Gardens' management, he argues, should not continue as a government department but should be placed under a properly constituted board with enough autonomy to recreate a truly significant botanic garden. Clearly, there are positive and negative aspects to the proposed SAP, hence the need for public opinion as well as a review by experts. This will ensure that the Penang Botanic Gardens can be sustained for future generations, even as its role and scope evolves over the years. Mohd Firdaus Habib Mohd is a research analyst at the Penang Institute and has participated in various projects involving urban planning, local governance and housing. He is currently pursuing his Phd in Ecotourism. This article is taken from the October 2012 issue of Penang Monthly. |
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