Health Benefits Of Miso

MISO Reaches Smart Grid Milestone

The Midwest Independent System Operator Inc. (MISO) and its members have achieved a milestone in their three-year smart grid program to install synchrophasors across the region, integrating 44 at strategic points along the regional transmission network. The $34.5 million program is funded partly by $17.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus funds awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) to modernize the nation's electrical grid.

Representatives from the DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, which manages the $3.4 billion Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) program, visited MISO in May to review progress on the first round of deployment of the phasor measurement units (PMUs). The synchrophasor program began March 30, 2010, and aims to deploy 165 PMUs at strategic substations in the MISO region.

Synchrophasors will allow MISO's grid operators to view vital measurements of real-time system conditions at a detailed level previously impossible to reach. PMUs collect data 30 times every second—faster than the previous once every 4 seconds.

MISO is collecting synchrophasor data from the 44 member PMUs installed on 10 of its members' systems. MISO members in the project include: Ameren, Duke Indiana, Great River Energy, Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc., Indianapolis Power & Light Co., International Transmission Co., Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board, MidAmerican Energy Co., Minnesota Power, Northern Indiana Public Service Co., Otter Tail Power Co. and Vectren Corp. The next phase consists of developing applications that will analyze the data collected so operators will have a clearer picture of grid stress points and can adjust accordingly.

MISO ensures reliable operation and equal access to high-voltage power lines in 13 of the United States and the Canadian province of Manitoba. MISO was approved as the nation's first regional transmission organization in 2001.

••• Transmission Investment Continues to Rise

By James P. Fama , Edison Electric Institute

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) member companies will increase their already large investment in the nation's electric transmission system.

Whether to expand to meet rising electricity demand, integrate renewable energy sources or modernize, shareholder-owned electric companies will invest at least $61 billion (nominal dollars) in transmission infrastructure improvements by 2021, according to EEI's March 2011 report “Transmission Projects: At A Glance.” This spending estimate, derived from a sampling of more than 100 transmission projects planned or underway, will be on top of the nearly $55 billion (2009 dollars) EEI members spent on the nation's grid between 2001 to 2009.

Seth's blog » Blog Archive » Health Benefits of Miso, According to ...

The Marukome company calls itself “the leading miso manufacturing company in Japan.” As  a corporate brochure says, “world-renowned Japanese longevity is deeply related to the traditional food of Japan.” Miso is probably the most traditional food of Japan, in the sense that the Japanese eat a lot of it per capita, far more per capita than people in any other country. They eat lots of fish, too, but that’s not unusual.

A corporate brochure for the Marukome company that I got at the recent Fancy Food Show makes many health claims for miso. Some involve the whole product. Two are interesting. 1. “Miso soup also helps prevent heart disease and diabetes.” This is vague, unfortunately. 2. “In 1981, researchers at Japan  Cancer Center announced that miso soup lowers the risk of stomach cancer when consumed every day. Miso soup also lowers the risk of other cancers including liver cancer.” This sounds like a survey result: daily consumption of miso was associated with lower risk of various cancers. At least it is specific enough to check.

The brochure also makes health claims based on components: Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, “Enzyme”, Sabonin, etc. Each somehow improves health — for example, Vitamin B12 “reduces mental fatigue.” What interests me is that “improves immune function” isn’t on the list, nor does the list mention the microorganisms that grow in miso. Improves immune function I believe to be the main benefit of miso and the reason it reduces cancer. Judging by this brochure, you’d think this is a new idea in Japan, where lots of fermented foods are eaten. In Japan I met someone (a nurse) who said that perhaps a third of Japanese think that to be healthy you should eat fermented foods regularly. Perhaps the usual belief is that they improve digestion and better digestion somehow wards off cancer.