Syrup of grapes and mulberries - battle food for elephants (Science in the Bible).
Polyphenols help the body to cope with an increase in strenuous exercise and stress and may help memory during fear. Mulberries have anti-cholesterol, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective effects.
I’ve been reading more of the Bible, randomly dipping in, and I found this line regarding a Biblical battle and the enemy’s forces. An army of 100,000 men, 20,000 cavalry (soldiers on horses), and 32 battle elephants…. we learn that the elephants were protected, each had their own soldiers and cavalry to help protect the elephant. Being seated on an elephant in a foot soldier battle would provide height to see the battle and aim arrows at the opposing force.
“The elephants were given a syrup of grapes and mulberries to prepare them for the battle.” - 1 Maccabees 6:34
Science fact check….. smart move by the enemies. Concentrated grapes and mulberries (Zhang, et al., 2018) would be a superfood dose of polyphenols which would likely help protect an elephant or a human during intense exercise or minor wounds. Polyphenols help the body cope with oxidative stress chemicals (internal ‘rust’) and promotes immune function which tends to drop/be inhibited by intense exercise or stress. Grape polyphenols have also been studied regarding memory and fear and seem to play a role in memory recall, so prefeeding with grapes and mulberries before battle might help an elephant retain memory of its battle training or remember bravery. (Smith, et al., 2018)
Professor David Nieman, A Multi-Omics Approach to Interpreting the Influence of Polyphenols in Countering Exercise-Induced Physiological Stress, IECN 2020, *If interested, I made a copy of the links to the IECN 2020 sessions which are viewable in a Google Document.
Providing battle elephants with polyphenols prior to battle might also have helped keep them calmer by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and modulating or reducing the body’s fear response; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, see summary section at the end.
Taxation at the time could include (in a letter from King Demetrius) salt taxes, crown levies (money), and “one third of the grain and one half of the fruit of the trees.” - 1 Maccabees 10:29-30 (RNJB)
That is a hefty tax situation but the battle was over religious freedom. The enemies won that day but lost on other days.
What have we learned? If going to war with battle elephants, then give the elephants a syrup of grapes and mulberries before the battle starts. I hope this helps!
Polyphenols and Fear Response (Brave AI)
Polyphenols Fear Response
Polyphenols have been studied for their potential role in modulating fear responses, particularly in the context of mental health and neuroinflammation. Research suggests that polyphenols may exert neuroprotective effects by targeting inflammatory pathways and modulating neurotransmitter systems, which could influence fear and anxiety-related behaviors For instance, polyphenols have been shown to suppress the expression and function of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are implicated in neuroinflammatory responses associated with depression and anxiety This anti-inflammatory action may help mitigate fear responses that are exacerbated by chronic inflammation.
Additionally, polyphenols such as those found in green tea, cocoa, and berries have been linked to improved cognitive function and synaptic plasticity, which are critical for regulating emotional responses, including fear These compounds may also interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key system involved in the body's stress and fear responses By modulating HPA axis function, polyphenols could potentially reduce the physiological and psychological impact of fear.
However, the evidence for polyphenols specifically modulating fear responses is less direct compared to their effects on depression and anxiety. Most studies focus on their broader neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which may indirectly influence fear regulation. For example, a study on polyphenol-rich diets highlighted their potential to support brain health and reduce oxidative stress, which could contribute to more balanced emotional responses
In summary, while polyphenols are not explicitly studied for their role in moderating fear responses, their effects on neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter systems, and cognitive function suggest they may have a supportive role in managing fear-related conditions. Further research is needed to explore this connection more directly
Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.
Reference List
Nieman, David, A Multi-Omics Approach to Interpreting the Influence of Polyphenols in Countering Exercise-Induced Physiological Stress, IECN 2020, International Electronic Conference on Nutrients - Nutritional and Microbiota Effects on Chronic Disease. *If interested, I made a copy of the links to the IECN 2020 sessions which are viewable in a Google Document.
Ponzi, Charleeze P., Is Science a Pyramid Scheme? the Correlation Between an Author's Position in the Academic Hierarchy and Her Scientific Output Per Year, 2020-01-27, vixra.org, https://vixra.org/abs/2001.0595 *This paper is a gem, solid science, valid point, real data—a bonus reference for people who read reference lists.
Smith C, Frolinger T, Brathwaite J, Sims S, Pasinetti GM. Dietary polyphenols enhance optogenetic recall of fear memory in hippocampal dentate gyrus granule neuron subpopulations. Commun Biol. 2018 May 3;1:42. doi: 10.1038/s42003-018-0043-5. PMID: 30271926; PMCID: PMC6123622. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6123622/ (Smith, et al., 2018)
Zhang H, Ma ZF, Luo X, Li X. Effects of Mulberry Fruit (Morus alba L.) Consumption on Health Outcomes: A Mini-Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 May 21;7(5):69. doi: 10.3390/antiox7050069. PMID: 29883416; PMCID: PMC5981255. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5981255/ (Zhang, et al., 2018)
I get it.