WESLACO The growing national interest in foods that can help prevent cancers and other human diseases has lead to the creation of an ambitious and unique college-level class that will be taught via teleconferencing by leading nutraceutical researchers from throughout the United States and Canada.
Titled Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Human Health, the class is the idea of Dr. Bhimu Patil, a researcher and professor at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco. Nearly 20 researchers who each specialize in the healthful aspects of various fruits and vegetables will teach the class on a rotating basis. The class begins Jan. 19 and ends May 4.
Teaching this class just by myself, said Patil, would limit what students could learn about healthy foods because, based on my research, I could teach only about the healthful chemicals to be found in grapefruit and onions. Involving scientists from other institutions will give students a well-rounded knowledge of the many other so-called designer foods that people can consume to help them live longer and healthier lives.
Patil, the project director, said the class will be funded in its first three years by a USDA Challenge grant, then likely will be absorbed by The Texas A&M University System.
For those teaching scientists based in Texas, their lectures will be broadcast from their own facilities via closed-circuit TV to all participating students. For those teachers outside the state, our funding will allow for them to be flown here to broadcast their lectures from our citrus research facilities in South Texas, he said.
Among the institutions represented by the rotating professors are John Hopkins University, the AMC Cancer Research Center in Colorado, Ohio State University, the Institute of Bioscience and Technology, the University of Texas, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University, the University of Maryland, the University of Wisconsin, USDA-ARS in Albany, Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research in Kentville, Canada.
Patil said officials at the various cancer research centers and universities involved were quick to embrace the idea and efforts of the class, a course he said is the first of its kind in the world.
Collaborators were most willing to participate because for the first time ever, Patil said, students will learn from the various researchers themselves the very latest medical and horticultural research information thats been developed on just how healthy specific fruits and vegetables are for humans.
The prefix phyto refers to plants, Patil said, and while some phytochemical compounds can be toxic, the majority of class time will be devoted to those that are beneficial.
Are red grapes healthier, for example, than white grapes? Which parts of citrus have the highest concentrations of lycopene, a phytochemical known to prevent prostate cancer? Which foods are known to help prevent breast cancer? These are the types of issues well be exploring in this course, said Patil.
Students can attend the class at nine sites throughout the state including Weslaco, College Station, Kingsville, Stephenville, Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, and Lubbock.
The class is a 3 credit-hour college course for both graduate and undergraduate students. Patil says those wishing to forgo credit hours (and exams) can register and attend the class as a continuing education course. For more information, contact Patil at 956-968-2132, or visit the class web site at http:// phytochemicals.tamu.edu.
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