Chinese researchers have taken a step towards removing a protein from prawns that cause an allergic response, without resorting to genetic manipulation. Li Zhenxing led the research at the Ocean University of China.The team revealed that treating prawns with a combination of heat and irradiation significantly reduced the level of reactive proteins called allergens. They took blood from patients with shrimp allergies, added samples of treated and untreated prawn, and measured how antiboides in the blood reacted. They found that levels of "Pen a 1" , one of the major allergens, decreased 20-fold after treatment.Zhenxing's team suggests that irradiation damages the proteins, revealing hidden reactive amino acid residues. Subsequent heating then destroyes the exposed residues. "Radiation and heat seems to be a promising method for reducing the immunoreactivity" said the researchers.
Banana Walnut Cake Ingredients: Bananas: 4 large Walnuts: 5-6 Butter or margarine: 10 tbsps Sugar: 3/4 cup Eggs: 3 Refined flour: 2 cups Baking powder: 1 tsp Baking soda: 1/4 tsp Coffee powder: 1 tsp Vanilla essence: 1 tsp Cinnamon powder: 1 tsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed): 1tbsp Milk: 10 tbsps Method of preparation: 1. Shell walnuts and coarsely chop them. 2. Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. 3. In a separate bowl break the eggs one at a time and beat them well. 4. Add the beaten eggs to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well. 5. Sieve flour with baking powder and baking soda. 6. Mix walnuts, vanilla essence, coffee powder and cinnamon in a bowl. 7. Mash the bananas, add lemon juice. Mix it in the nuts mixture. 8. Add the flour miture alternating with the banana mixture to the butter, sugar and egg mixture. Add milk. Mix lightly. 9. Pour the batter in a buttered, baking dish. Bake in a preheated oven at 175 deg C/350 deg F for about 1 hour
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