Food, Culinary And Recipe Blog

For the first time, Greek researchers have found that eating a diet rich in choline and betaine, two related compounds is linked to indicators of inflammation. The researchers looked at 3042 men and women between the ages of 18 to 89, culled from a large study dubbed ATTICA. They found that those with the highest intakes of choline and betaine and the lowest levels of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, homcysteine, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor.

Rich sources of choline include eggs, wheat germ, pork, beef, cod, chicken, shrimp, salmon, broccoli, cauliflower Brussels sprouts. Betaine is highest in wheat bran, wheat germ, spinach, shrimp and beets.

 Choline helps make neurotransmitters and fats in cell membranes, while betaine helps reduce homocysteine levels.  These findings suggest that both may be key to reducing inflammation, now considered a stepping stone to heart disease and other chronic conditions.