As the semester closes I have chosen to close this blog as well. Although it has been interesting, and certainly informative, I don't think I've got the time to really continue it. I feel like I've investigated a range of topics that I probably never would have been exposed to, and learned a plethora of facts that, if I brought them up to friends, would probably think I was ridiculous for knowing.
I've found that writing a few blogs a week really has the ability to improve me as a writer, more than I think I would have learned from writing a few papers. It has also been easier to fit in considering it's informal and I can write about whatever I choose. Plenty of things in my everyday life could spark an idea, I hardly ever looked up topics.
On top of everything though I learned a lot about other things. Reading other peoples blogs has been eye opening technologically and emotionally, and has allowed me to learn about things I would have never read about otherwise. Cars, fishing, television production...things that, although I remain uninterested, have helped me become more well rounded.
All in all, I sadly close this blog.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Liquor makes you sicker
Maybe that last shot of Everclear was not the 'lucky one' that you hoped that it would be. Now life sucks and you're missing out on everything fun because you have a hangove
r. Certain drugs claim that they help prevent hangovers, such as chaser, however the general consensus is that they hardly work. Food and drink, however, can work as natural and plentiful remedies that don't require a trip to CVS on your worst day of the year.
Dehydration is one of the major theorized causes of a hangover, which is why it's suggested that when drinking you continue hydrating with fluids (such as water not the cranberry juice in your cocktail). However, considering this will slow down the partying process, it's often a suggestion that goes unpracticed. That's why the next day you should make a point to hydrate sufficiently.
First and foremost you should drink plenty of water. Gatorade is often praised as well for its ability to replenish the electrolytes you lost during your binge. Orange juice is also hailed for its abilities, due to the fast-acting carbohydrates that help counter low blood-sugar levels. It also helps replace the potassium that your body is now running on a limited supply of.
Upon thorough research on the web, I uncovered some other interesting 'cures.'
Burnt toast is apparently a great remedy, as the carbon supposedly has the ability to filter the impurities in your body.
Fatty and greasy foods, though they sound unappealing when even gazing at something as bland as bread makes you want to puke, are sworn by partiers to reduce the effects of alcohol by coating the stomach with the oiliness, thus interrupting alcohol absorption.
Drinking pickle juice appeals to the Polish, they consider it a common remedy for hangovers.
The caffeine in Pepsi and Coke help ease the headache, as well as cola syrup having medicinal abilities to soothe the stomach. Be careful with this advice, however, as drinking too many caffeinated beverages will only cause you to become more dehydrated.
And, my favorite cure, more alcohol. Clearly this is the cure for people now-a-days, as procrastination seems to be very popular. It seems logical to continue consuming alcohol, as your body will need to devote to dealing with the new alcohol it will pay less attention to the old. While this may work for a little while there seems to me to be no point it just putting it off. I would rather get it out of the way rather than wonder if my boss will notice if I smell like a brewery today or not.
I have never tried any of these but certain websites that I checked "swore by partiers" so that seems pretty legitimate. Partiers are usually the most knowledgeable and reasonable people, as well as renowned specialists in the field.
r. Certain drugs claim that they help prevent hangovers, such as chaser, however the general consensus is that they hardly work. Food and drink, however, can work as natural and plentiful remedies that don't require a trip to CVS on your worst day of the year.Dehydration is one of the major theorized causes of a hangover, which is why it's suggested that when drinking you continue hydrating with fluids (such as water not the cranberry juice in your cocktail). However, considering this will slow down the partying process, it's often a suggestion that goes unpracticed. That's why the next day you should make a point to hydrate sufficiently.
First and foremost you should drink plenty of water. Gatorade is often praised as well for its ability to replenish the electrolytes you lost during your binge. Orange juice is also hailed for its abilities, due to the fast-acting carbohydrates that help counter low blood-sugar levels. It also helps replace the potassium that your body is now running on a limited supply of.
Upon thorough research on the web, I uncovered some other interesting 'cures.'
Burnt toast is apparently a great remedy, as the carbon supposedly has the ability to filter the impurities in your body.
Fatty and greasy foods, though they sound unappealing when even gazing at something as bland as bread makes you want to puke, are sworn by partiers to reduce the effects of alcohol by coating the stomach with the oiliness, thus interrupting alcohol absorption.
Drinking pickle juice appeals to the Polish, they consider it a common remedy for hangovers.
The caffeine in Pepsi and Coke help ease the headache, as well as cola syrup having medicinal abilities to soothe the stomach. Be careful with this advice, however, as drinking too many caffeinated beverages will only cause you to become more dehydrated.
And, my favorite cure, more alcohol. Clearly this is the cure for people now-a-days, as procrastination seems to be very popular. It seems logical to continue consuming alcohol, as your body will need to devote to dealing with the new alcohol it will pay less attention to the old. While this may work for a little while there seems to me to be no point it just putting it off. I would rather get it out of the way rather than wonder if my boss will notice if I smell like a brewery today or not.
I have never tried any of these but certain websites that I checked "swore by partiers" so that seems pretty legitimate. Partiers are usually the most knowledgeable and reasonable people, as well as renowned specialists in the field.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Did you take your vitamins?
Turns out taking those vitamins might not be the equivalent of having an apple a day. A study found that after time antioxidants like the ones lining the shelves in CVS (vitamin A, E, C, and beta-carotene, for example) actually lose their antioxidant qualities.
The Cochrane Collaboration is a network of volunteers supported by a small staff, dedicated to improving health-care decision making all over the world. Their study included thousands of individuals over many trials, making their information well-tested and legitimate, as least it's quite enough to scare me. They have recently found some startling results, and I found this statement to be cause of alarm: "Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E may increase mortality." Allowing these supplements to sit on the shelves in stores decreases their ability to improve health, and in some cases increases risk of other implications.
A similar study was done with tea, known and praised for its antioxidant abilities. Tea doesn't spoil once packaged, therefore leading many to believe that its always still good. However Mendel Friedman and colleagues from the Albany, Calif.-based Western Regional Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture found "that among the teas we looked at there seems to be a progressive decrease in the amount of antioxidants as a function of time." After the longest period they tested, 6 months, up to 32% of the benefits had been stripped, and considering that the tea that you purchase at the grocery store has probably been sitting there for much longer than just 6 months, you are fooling yourself thinking that its so good for you.
This issue seems kind of shocking to me, and obviously more research is still needed, though I still feel its pertinent. Check out some of those sites and read more about the studies, they're pretty interesting.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Allergic?
Have you ever noticed that those people who have food allergies always seem to have the same ones? I mean in my short life of 18 years I have met probably five to ten people who are lactose intolerant and probably just as many people allergic to nuts. However I have met only a few people allergic to things like cherry flavoring or tomatoes. Though this may seem like a coincidence it actually is not. According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network there are eight foods that account for 90% of all food allergies. It may be important to know a little about each in case you need to cook for or order food for someone affected by these allergens. Of the most common are:
Milk:
It's fortunate if you're allergic to milk (well, not that fortunate) because its easy to substitute for. Often times when people don't have milk they will already naturally make the substitution, without any unwanted repercussions in the taste of the food. For example using water
in hot chocolate instead of milk, or even in oatmeal.
However some things that one who is allergic to milk needs to be aware of is the fact that it may hide slyly in a product that you wouldn't ever consider would have milk in it. This includes being wary of canned tuna (some brands include casein, a milk protein used in many foods as a binding agent) and steak, which is sometimes buttered in restaurants to add flavor.
Eggs:
Eggs are an easy substitute because lately with vegan diets becoming more popular, its necessary to find alternatives for eggs, especially in baking. A few of the recipes for egg substitute are as follow:
Peanuts
On products that contain peanuts a warning is listed on the packaging, which could mean that there might not be peanuts in it but that it's processed on machinery that also processes peanuts. One more thing that may slip past people trying to avoid peanuts is Arachis oil, which is just peanut oil under another name.
Tree nuts
This category includes most other nuts that you would be familiar with, including cashews, walnuts, pecans and almonds. Something to watch out for would be hackysacks or beanbags that use crushed nutshells.
Fish
Having a fish allergy doesn't always mean being allergic to all fish. Pollock, salmon, cod, t
una, snapper, eel, and tilapia are among the most common fish to be allergic to. Luckily fish is a pretty easy food to avoid and is more likely to come on in adulthood than in childhood. People with this allergy should be careful of Caesar salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce as well, as they are known to contain anchovies. Someone with a severe fish allergy should also avoid places where fish is cooking such as seafood restaurants as fish protein can become airborne.
Shellfish
Shellfish allergies are similar to fish allergies.
Soy
Avoiding these products may be difficult considering the popularity of soy in today's processed foods. Looking further into the issue its shown that soy is actually an ingredient in over 60% of today's proce
ssed foods. Some culprits include:
This allergy is actually more difficult to manage than one may think. That's because wheat in contained in obscure foods where you would not expect it- such as imitation crab meat, hot dogs and ice cream. There are a few tricks to dealing with a wheat allergy, of these are a few substitutions, these are for one cup of wheat flour:
Milk:
It's fortunate if you're allergic to milk (well, not that fortunate) because its easy to substitute for. Often times when people don't have milk they will already naturally make the substitution, without any unwanted repercussions in the taste of the food. For example using water
in hot chocolate instead of milk, or even in oatmeal.However some things that one who is allergic to milk needs to be aware of is the fact that it may hide slyly in a product that you wouldn't ever consider would have milk in it. This includes being wary of canned tuna (some brands include casein, a milk protein used in many foods as a binding agent) and steak, which is sometimes buttered in restaurants to add flavor.
Eggs:
Eggs are an easy substitute because lately with vegan diets becoming more popular, its necessary to find alternatives for eggs, especially in baking. A few of the recipes for egg substitute are as follow:
- 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 T. liquid, 1 T. vinegar
- 1 tsp. yeast dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 T. water, 1 1/2 T. oil, 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 packet gelatin, 2 T. warm water. Do not mix until ready to use.
Peanuts
On products that contain peanuts a warning is listed on the packaging, which could mean that there might not be peanuts in it but that it's processed on machinery that also processes peanuts. One more thing that may slip past people trying to avoid peanuts is Arachis oil, which is just peanut oil under another name.
Tree nuts
This category includes most other nuts that you would be familiar with, including cashews, walnuts, pecans and almonds. Something to watch out for would be hackysacks or beanbags that use crushed nutshells.
Fish
Having a fish allergy doesn't always mean being allergic to all fish. Pollock, salmon, cod, t
una, snapper, eel, and tilapia are among the most common fish to be allergic to. Luckily fish is a pretty easy food to avoid and is more likely to come on in adulthood than in childhood. People with this allergy should be careful of Caesar salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce as well, as they are known to contain anchovies. Someone with a severe fish allergy should also avoid places where fish is cooking such as seafood restaurants as fish protein can become airborne.Shellfish
Shellfish allergies are similar to fish allergies.
Soy
Avoiding these products may be difficult considering the popularity of soy in today's processed foods. Looking further into the issue its shown that soy is actually an ingredient in over 60% of today's proce
ssed foods. Some culprits include:- cereals
- baby formulas
- crackers
- sauces
- soups
This allergy is actually more difficult to manage than one may think. That's because wheat in contained in obscure foods where you would not expect it- such as imitation crab meat, hot dogs and ice cream. There are a few tricks to dealing with a wheat allergy, of these are a few substitutions, these are for one cup of wheat flour:
- 7/8 cup rice flour
- 5/8 cup potato starch flour
- 1 cup soy flour plus 1/4 cup potato starch flour
- 1 cup corn flour
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Food frenzy
I can't say that I haven't gone for thirds or fourths before, maybe during the holidays or after a particularly long day. However, people like Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi are my heroes!
Competitive eating has been, according to I.F.O.C.E (The International Federation of Competitive Eating) "among the most diverse, dynamic and demanding sports in history." Tell me why these superstars aren't pulling in the millions of dollars that basketball or football players make every year?! It has always been a fascinating sport, consisting of all different kinds of challenges. It mostly only uses one food, such as hot dogs or pies. Usually the idea is to eat as much food as possible as quick as you can. However, competitions sometimes throw in twists, such as eating the pies with no hands, which ultimately results in the most barbaric fiend winning.
There are two organizations that regulate the sport and ensure the safety of the competitors. One, as mentioned above, I.F.O.C.E, and second AICE (Association of Independent Competitive Eaters). Both organizations focus on maintaining the safety of the competitors and the spectators while still creating environments that the media and the public can enjoy. However, one of the major differences between the two is the range of their competition coverage. AICE covers competitions held within just the United States, whereas IFOCE also coordinates with Japan, England, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Thailand and Ukraine.
The sport of competitive eating actually has quite the history. For example, Nathan's fourth of July hot dog eating contest, being one the the most well known, actually first took place in 1916. This competition has occurred almost every year since, only being canceled twice due to current events at the time. This single event is hailed as the international championship event to which some have even mentioned it to resemble the Olympics of competitive eating.
Another amazing contest that is held by GoldenPalace.net is a competition to break a world record. The rules are that the IFOCE competitors must attempt to eat more than 36.5 grilled cheese sandwiches within ten minutes. As big of a fan of the delicious and cheesy treat that is the grilled cheese sandwich, I might not be able to devour 37 of them in that amount of time. However, if I could accomplish this task it might be well worth my time because the prize is $100,000.
One of the other more well-known competitions would be the World Pizza Eating Competition held by the Bacci Pizzeria in Chicago, Illinois. While the rules are unclear, the prize is $2,500 and the title of World Pizza Eating Champion. However there are far less known competitions ranging from what might be considered normal, such as pie-eating contests, to the very strange competitions like World Asparagus Eating Championship. There also appears to be competitions for "Good garlicky greens," "Louisiana Downs World's Grit Eating," and "Spike TV's World Pig-Skin Eating." Most of which are sanctioned by the IFOCE. If interested in reading more on these competitions you can visit the Major League Eating web page for more information.
While not all of these events are greatly publicized, there are still many options to view some of these competitions. Spike TV has been known to show the larger competitions. Other TV channels such as the Food Channel and the Travel Channel have various programs that display all kinds of competitions. Shows like Man v. Food like I have mentioned in previous blogs, where the media covers smaller restaurants and the competitions they hold in order to get their name out into the public.
Grilled cheese eating!
Competitive eating has been, according to I.F.O.C.E (The International Federation of Competitive Eating) "among the most diverse, dynamic and demanding sports in history." Tell me why these superstars aren't pulling in the millions of dollars that basketball or football players make every year?! It has always been a fascinating sport, consisting of all different kinds of challenges. It mostly only uses one food, such as hot dogs or pies. Usually the idea is to eat as much food as possible as quick as you can. However, competitions sometimes throw in twists, such as eating the pies with no hands, which ultimately results in the most barbaric fiend winning.
There are two organizations that regulate the sport and ensure the safety of the competitors. One, as mentioned above, I.F.O.C.E, and second AICE (Association of Independent Competitive Eaters). Both organizations focus on maintaining the safety of the competitors and the spectators while still creating environments that the media and the public can enjoy. However, one of the major differences between the two is the range of their competition coverage. AICE covers competitions held within just the United States, whereas IFOCE also coordinates with Japan, England, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Thailand and Ukraine.
The sport of competitive eating actually has quite the history. For example, Nathan's fourth of July hot dog eating contest, being one the the most well known, actually first took place in 1916. This competition has occurred almost every year since, only being canceled twice due to current events at the time. This single event is hailed as the international championship event to which some have even mentioned it to resemble the Olympics of competitive eating.
Another amazing contest that is held by GoldenPalace.net is a competition to break a world record. The rules are that the IFOCE competitors must attempt to eat more than 36.5 grilled cheese sandwiches within ten minutes. As big of a fan of the delicious and cheesy treat that is the grilled cheese sandwich, I might not be able to devour 37 of them in that amount of time. However, if I could accomplish this task it might be well worth my time because the prize is $100,000.
One of the other more well-known competitions would be the World Pizza Eating Competition held by the Bacci Pizzeria in Chicago, Illinois. While the rules are unclear, the prize is $2,500 and the title of World Pizza Eating Champion. However there are far less known competitions ranging from what might be considered normal, such as pie-eating contests, to the very strange competitions like World Asparagus Eating Championship. There also appears to be competitions for "Good garlicky greens," "Louisiana Downs World's Grit Eating," and "Spike TV's World Pig-Skin Eating." Most of which are sanctioned by the IFOCE. If interested in reading more on these competitions you can visit the Major League Eating web page for more information.
While not all of these events are greatly publicized, there are still many options to view some of these competitions. Spike TV has been known to show the larger competitions. Other TV channels such as the Food Channel and the Travel Channel have various programs that display all kinds of competitions. Shows like Man v. Food like I have mentioned in previous blogs, where the media covers smaller restaurants and the competitions they hold in order to get their name out into the public.
Grilled cheese eating!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tired? Try tryptophan
Need to pull an all-nighter to finish that 15 page report on the history of the magic 8-ball? Well the first thing you need to do is put down that Elk meat smothered in Swiss cheese and coated in chocolate.
Certain foods (such as milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish and nuts) have components of their chemical makeup that help to lull you to sleep. Now this can be great, I think, if you want to go to sleep. However that is seldom the case for me, and maybe you, so this information should be beneficial!
Tryptophan, you are the devil. According to definition, Tryptophan: is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet. It is encoded in the standard genetic code as the codon UGG.
Now what would be most revelant to you, I assume, is the fact that one of it's purposes is that it synthesizes serotonin. Serotonin plays the role of a neurotransmitter in the Central Nervous System. This is where it does the work that we can usually associate it with, having a role in the modulation of aggression, anger, body temperature, appetite, sleep, mood, and metabolism, along with various others. Obviously, therefore, eating foods that are high in tryptophan encourage the release of sleep hormones.
If your diet is lacking in this amino acid, however, certain conditions can be developed such as
I'm sure that you've heard that turkey makes you sleepy. On the subject I'll address this issue. While turkey does have the magic chemical, it has less than even cheddar cheese. No one ever assumes that they're sleepy because of that sandwich they had for lunch, but yet, poor turkey is always singled out. The real truth of this myth probably stems from the fact that large amounts of turkey are eaten particularly at Thanksgiving, one of, if not the, largest meal of the year. Thus, the drowsiness most likely can be attributed to the intake of carbohydrates, not the turkey specifically.
Christopher Wanjek, LiveScience's Bad Medicine Columnist, debunks the traditional turkey myth.
So, if you're ever wondering, "WHY am I so tired?!" Search vehemently online for the glycemic index on every food you consumed during the day. :)
Certain foods (such as milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish and nuts) have components of their chemical makeup that help to lull you to sleep. Now this can be great, I think, if you want to go to sleep. However that is seldom the case for me, and maybe you, so this information should be beneficial!
Tryptophan, you are the devil. According to definition, Tryptophan: is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet. It is encoded in the standard genetic code as the codon UGG.
Now what would be most revelant to you, I assume, is the fact that one of it's purposes is that it synthesizes serotonin. Serotonin plays the role of a neurotransmitter in the Central Nervous System. This is where it does the work that we can usually associate it with, having a role in the modulation of aggression, anger, body temperature, appetite, sleep, mood, and metabolism, along with various others. Obviously, therefore, eating foods that are high in tryptophan encourage the release of sleep hormones.
If your diet is lacking in this amino acid, however, certain conditions can be developed such as
- depression
- anxiety
- impatience
- impulsiveness
- irritability
- insomnia
- unexplained weight gain/loss
I'm sure that you've heard that turkey makes you sleepy. On the subject I'll address this issue. While turkey does have the magic chemical, it has less than even cheddar cheese. No one ever assumes that they're sleepy because of that sandwich they had for lunch, but yet, poor turkey is always singled out. The real truth of this myth probably stems from the fact that large amounts of turkey are eaten particularly at Thanksgiving, one of, if not the, largest meal of the year. Thus, the drowsiness most likely can be attributed to the intake of carbohydrates, not the turkey specifically.
Christopher Wanjek, LiveScience's Bad Medicine Columnist, debunks the traditional turkey myth.
The massive intake of carb-heavy calories stimulates the release of insulin, which in turn triggers the uptake of most amino acids from the blood into the muscles except for tryptophan.With other amino acids swept out of the bloodstream, tryptophan—from turkey or ham or any meat or cheese, for that matter—can better make its way to the brain to produce serotonin. Without that insulin surge, tryptophan would have to compete with all the other kinds of amino acids in the big meal as they make their way to the brain via a common chemical transport route. And not enough tryptophan would make it to the brain because other basic amino acids are far more plentiful in food.
So, if you're ever wondering, "WHY am I so tired?!" Search vehemently online for the glycemic index on every food you consumed during the day. :)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
animate animals
The comedian Kevin Brennan, who I mentioned in an earlier blog, has a funny act about vegetarians. He says: "I was on a date with a vegetarian once..I ordered a chicken sandwich and the woman's like, "You eat MEAT? I could never eat a living thing I'm a vegetarian!"And so I'm like well you know plants are living things too...they're just easier to catch." I thought that the point he made was pretty legitimate, I mean, plants ARE living. Eating fresh vegetables are necessary for our diets in order to get the proper intake of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. So on this topic I started thinking and on a tangent I came up with my idea for this blog. Eating living things that aren't so vital and that are hardly conventional.
In some cultures such as Judaism, the practice of eating live animals is absolutely forbidden. For instance, of the Noahide laws, or the seven laws of Noah, one includes a dietary law which prohibits the taking of flesh from an animal while it's still living. In my opinion Noah knew what was up. Eating animals while they're still alive is only cool if the animal is incredibly disgusting or really terrifying- and it's being eaten by someone on TV getting paid (or with the lure of) a fantastic sum of money or terrific prizes. Also, I'm not one to take things that make my life easier for granted. I mean sure it's a hard life for Bear Grylls but I've got modern conveniences that make me bubble with joy. The microwave! The stove! The oven! Ding! Food is done! We have these abilities today in most countries, and it's a horrible tragedy to me to think of people simply gobbling up their food while it's still kicking.
Octopus. They're kind of cute in cartoons with their big squishy heads and droopy legs flopping around. However I don't think I would find them quite as charming if I had a great big juicy live specimen on my plate for dinner. The Koreans believe that this sannakji, a raw dish of octopus tentacles, brings stamina and strength. While I must admit that the tentacles are sliced up into pieces to make them easier to eat, that doesn't mean that they aren't still squirming. The little babies are seasoned with sesame oil and considered ready to serve. One who eats them must be very careful as well, as their suction cups can get stuck to your throat and cause a choking hazard, so they must be swallowed quickly. I think I'll stick to eating pasta packed full of carbs to build up strength instead of these unfortunate creatures.
San zhi er, or "three screams" is possibly even worse than the octopus. In this case the little critter being devoured is a baby mouse. "Three screams" refers to the cries of the rodent as is meets its death. The first scream is emitted when the mouse is stuck with the chopsticks (or fork depending on how authentically Chinese you are), the second comes with the mouse is dipped in seasonings, and the third and last- when the diner takes a bite. I'm not one to be fighting against animal cruelty, I mean, I love me some veal and chicken cordon bleu and tasty bacon strips- but this seems ridiculous to me.
Brains are very important in the role of society as a whole. Obviously the human brain is what sets us apart from other primates, rodents, birds, fish, etc. Therefore with our big, intelligence endowed brains, we should be smart enough not to eat monkey brains. Monkey brai
ns are believed by the Chinese to cure impotence, and the practice has sadly led to over-hunting. There seems to be other, more tested, methods to cure impotence in today's world. As a matter of fact, watch TV for about an hour and you'll see 2 or 3 of them. Anyway, the process is not without horror in itself. The monkey is first intoxicated with rice wine to subdue him, then their limbs are bound to keep them from fidgeting and fighting once they come to. The monkey is tied underneath a table with a hole cut in the top, where it's bald head (having been previously shaved) is showing through the top of the table. The skull is cut open and the brains are seasoned while the creature is still alive. The diners dig in immediately while the brains are still warm. Haven't they heard of popping it into the microwave or something? There are plenty of other ways to heat up a delicious treat other than by using body temperature. Hm, natural though I guess?
So, if you're into the freshest food, here's a few ideas. Actually very popular!
In some cultures such as Judaism, the practice of eating live animals is absolutely forbidden. For instance, of the Noahide laws, or the seven laws of Noah, one includes a dietary law which prohibits the taking of flesh from an animal while it's still living. In my opinion Noah knew what was up. Eating animals while they're still alive is only cool if the animal is incredibly disgusting or really terrifying- and it's being eaten by someone on TV getting paid (or with the lure of) a fantastic sum of money or terrific prizes. Also, I'm not one to take things that make my life easier for granted. I mean sure it's a hard life for Bear Grylls but I've got modern conveniences that make me bubble with joy. The microwave! The stove! The oven! Ding! Food is done! We have these abilities today in most countries, and it's a horrible tragedy to me to think of people simply gobbling up their food while it's still kicking.
Octopus. They're kind of cute in cartoons with their big squishy heads and droopy legs flopping around. However I don't think I would find them quite as charming if I had a great big juicy live specimen on my plate for dinner. The Koreans believe that this sannakji, a raw dish of octopus tentacles, brings stamina and strength. While I must admit that the tentacles are sliced up into pieces to make them easier to eat, that doesn't mean that they aren't still squirming. The little babies are seasoned with sesame oil and considered ready to serve. One who eats them must be very careful as well, as their suction cups can get stuck to your throat and cause a choking hazard, so they must be swallowed quickly. I think I'll stick to eating pasta packed full of carbs to build up strength instead of these unfortunate creatures.
San zhi er, or "three screams" is possibly even worse than the octopus. In this case the little critter being devoured is a baby mouse. "Three screams" refers to the cries of the rodent as is meets its death. The first scream is emitted when the mouse is stuck with the chopsticks (or fork depending on how authentically Chinese you are), the second comes with the mouse is dipped in seasonings, and the third and last- when the diner takes a bite. I'm not one to be fighting against animal cruelty, I mean, I love me some veal and chicken cordon bleu and tasty bacon strips- but this seems ridiculous to me.
Brains are very important in the role of society as a whole. Obviously the human brain is what sets us apart from other primates, rodents, birds, fish, etc. Therefore with our big, intelligence endowed brains, we should be smart enough not to eat monkey brains. Monkey brai
ns are believed by the Chinese to cure impotence, and the practice has sadly led to over-hunting. There seems to be other, more tested, methods to cure impotence in today's world. As a matter of fact, watch TV for about an hour and you'll see 2 or 3 of them. Anyway, the process is not without horror in itself. The monkey is first intoxicated with rice wine to subdue him, then their limbs are bound to keep them from fidgeting and fighting once they come to. The monkey is tied underneath a table with a hole cut in the top, where it's bald head (having been previously shaved) is showing through the top of the table. The skull is cut open and the brains are seasoned while the creature is still alive. The diners dig in immediately while the brains are still warm. Haven't they heard of popping it into the microwave or something? There are plenty of other ways to heat up a delicious treat other than by using body temperature. Hm, natural though I guess?So, if you're into the freshest food, here's a few ideas. Actually very popular!
Monday, March 9, 2009
scandalous sushi
After writing the blog about aphrodisiacs, I was thinking about some other ways people 'spice' food up. Not much time passed before I got to thinking about the craze people seem to have for eating food off others. Personally if I'm at a restaurant and I get a plate that looks kind of dirty or a spoon that has residue I am either slightly distraught or so extremely so that I ask for a replacement. Now I don't know about you but it sure is hard to tell if there is bacteria on someones skin... a lot more difficult than on a pristine white plate or some shiny silverware. Even the cleanest person, fresh out of the shower, touches the dirty doorknob on the bathroom door or uses a towel that could have fallen on the floor. Also, considering each day we shed thousands upon thousands of skin cells, one cannot be too sure how many they're ingesting when feeding off another persons torso. While I admit (grudgingly) that I probably eat other peoples skin cells that have fallen into my food all the time, I don't want to make absolutely sure that I get my fix everyday. Anyway, after stumbling along this topic I decided to do some research and find out if people simply enjoyed taking shots off hot women or if the fad was even more than that.
While I may face some serious opposition here, I hate sushi. I think that when pondering things that could make it even worse, I could not have possibly thought up eating it off a man wearing a speedo laying on a table...especially a man costing approximately $1100. That would seem too absurd to be even possible. This Japanese tradition is called Nyotaimori, meaning 'female body presentation.' There is also nantaimori, which is the male version. It's supposed to be a type of 'food play,' which brings the food closer the the temperature of the body. I guess that sometimes that could be good but I
like my cold food cold and my hot food hot. I don't attempt to bring some cold food up to the temperature of my body because honestly I find that kind of weird. Another little issue I had with this practice was this: when I get warm...I get sweaty. I suppose having your food a little warmed up by some sexy woman/man could be a plus, but I don't think I would enjoy the added moistness.
While the idea in general is pretty exotic I would have to say that the laws governing it are pretty ridiculous as well. The body must be shaved, for the presence of pubic hair is sexual. Hmm, I'm pretty sure the lack of any clothing and the implementation of food arranged on the persons body is pretty sexual in itself. I especially find that this is the case with the food being as temporary as it is... in the beginning the food is strategically located in order to best cover certain areas of the body which are frequently considered obscene, though after hungry customers dive in such cannot be expected as the end result.
In some countries the laws are slightly different governing the practice, as China has banned it on moral grounds. (Morals??! Who needs them?) Other countries only permit it when the 'plate' is wrapped in clingfilm to prevent the skin and food from actually touching. (How will I get my fix of skin cells? :( ) Regardless, it's pretty ridiculous.
While I may face some serious opposition here, I hate sushi. I think that when pondering things that could make it even worse, I could not have possibly thought up eating it off a man wearing a speedo laying on a table...especially a man costing approximately $1100. That would seem too absurd to be even possible. This Japanese tradition is called Nyotaimori, meaning 'female body presentation.' There is also nantaimori, which is the male version. It's supposed to be a type of 'food play,' which brings the food closer the the temperature of the body. I guess that sometimes that could be good but I
like my cold food cold and my hot food hot. I don't attempt to bring some cold food up to the temperature of my body because honestly I find that kind of weird. Another little issue I had with this practice was this: when I get warm...I get sweaty. I suppose having your food a little warmed up by some sexy woman/man could be a plus, but I don't think I would enjoy the added moistness.While the idea in general is pretty exotic I would have to say that the laws governing it are pretty ridiculous as well. The body must be shaved, for the presence of pubic hair is sexual. Hmm, I'm pretty sure the lack of any clothing and the implementation of food arranged on the persons body is pretty sexual in itself. I especially find that this is the case with the food being as temporary as it is... in the beginning the food is strategically located in order to best cover certain areas of the body which are frequently considered obscene, though after hungry customers dive in such cannot be expected as the end result.
In some countries the laws are slightly different governing the practice, as China has banned it on moral grounds. (Morals??! Who needs them?) Other countries only permit it when the 'plate' is wrapped in clingfilm to prevent the skin and food from actually touching. (How will I get my fix of skin cells? :( ) Regardless, it's pretty ridiculous.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
freaky foods
Have you ever felt especially 'excited' after consuming an avocado ("ahuacatl") or perhaps some asparagus? Well that's because along with oysters, chocolate, chilies, bananas, carrots, and a plethora of other 'sexy' foods, they are believed to be the 'foods of love' or aphrodisiacs.
A little information on a few of the most common treats may give some insight as to why
they're considered (or shouldn't be) such arousing foods.
The avocado grows on trees, where it commonly hangs in pairs and was hailed as the "testicle tree" by the Aztecs in reference to the appearance of the fruit. Initially the avocado was not eaten by those wishing to portray a chaste im
age.
Bananas have an obviously phallic shape, and the flowers on the plant do as well. They are also packed full of potassium and B vitamins, which are said to be necessary for sex hormone production.
Chocolate, although frequently hailed as a sexual treat has less serotonin and phenyl ethylamine (chemicals that often can give a 'rush' like that of intercourse) than cheese. That's right, cheese is a more sensual and erotic
food than chocolate. "You're more likely to go into a diabetic coma than get that rush because you'd have to eat so much chocolate to get the effect," says Amy Reiley, graduate from Cordon Bleu culinary schools as well as author of "Fork me, spoon me: The sensual cookbook"
As for oysters, Discovery Health debunks this myth in an article on aphrodisiacs when it asserts that, "In the case of oysters, probably the classic among the alleged aphrodisiacs, chemical analysis shows that it consists of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals. None of these components is in any way known to affect sex drive or performance."
Why do these foods work? Well, scientifically some of them just don't. It's somewhat of a placebo effect, people think that they will work, and in turn, are more alert for the smallest signal that they are working. Others, which actually do have some 'arousing' qualities, can attribute most of their success to other aspects as well. For example consuming certain nutrients makes your skin glow brighter or makes your mood generally better. Therefore when the opportunity arises you look a feel better, making many think that the supposed aphrodisiac has directly turned them on.
Some crazy other sensual dishes include scrumptious green blister beetle, or the Spanish fly. It is said to create irritation and burning which leads to a swelling of the genitals. Ugh, that doesn't seem great at all to me! It can also cause permanent kidney damage, and ...death. Does not seem worth it!
Also, there is toad venom. Which according to FOXNews.com, killed a 35 year old man. What is worse is that although it's banned by the FDA it's sold frequently in local sex shops. The substance can disrupt the natural rhythm of your heart. Does not seem worth it either..
So, if you were going to try one of these magical myths, try sticking to the carrots, or oysters, or something. Eating the powder of the remains of a ground up beetle cannot possibly create pleasing sensations judging from the fact that it's horribly repulsive. Also chicks never dig the guys who eat toad venom.
A little information on a few of the most common treats may give some insight as to why
they're considered (or shouldn't be) such arousing foods.The avocado grows on trees, where it commonly hangs in pairs and was hailed as the "testicle tree" by the Aztecs in reference to the appearance of the fruit. Initially the avocado was not eaten by those wishing to portray a chaste im
age.Bananas have an obviously phallic shape, and the flowers on the plant do as well. They are also packed full of potassium and B vitamins, which are said to be necessary for sex hormone production.
Chocolate, although frequently hailed as a sexual treat has less serotonin and phenyl ethylamine (chemicals that often can give a 'rush' like that of intercourse) than cheese. That's right, cheese is a more sensual and erotic
food than chocolate. "You're more likely to go into a diabetic coma than get that rush because you'd have to eat so much chocolate to get the effect," says Amy Reiley, graduate from Cordon Bleu culinary schools as well as author of "Fork me, spoon me: The sensual cookbook"As for oysters, Discovery Health debunks this myth in an article on aphrodisiacs when it asserts that, "In the case of oysters, probably the classic among the alleged aphrodisiacs, chemical analysis shows that it consists of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals. None of these components is in any way known to affect sex drive or performance."
Why do these foods work? Well, scientifically some of them just don't. It's somewhat of a placebo effect, people think that they will work, and in turn, are more alert for the smallest signal that they are working. Others, which actually do have some 'arousing' qualities, can attribute most of their success to other aspects as well. For example consuming certain nutrients makes your skin glow brighter or makes your mood generally better. Therefore when the opportunity arises you look a feel better, making many think that the supposed aphrodisiac has directly turned them on.
Some crazy other sensual dishes include scrumptious green blister beetle, or the Spanish fly. It is said to create irritation and burning which leads to a swelling of the genitals. Ugh, that doesn't seem great at all to me! It can also cause permanent kidney damage, and ...death. Does not seem worth it!
Also, there is toad venom. Which according to FOXNews.com, killed a 35 year old man. What is worse is that although it's banned by the FDA it's sold frequently in local sex shops. The substance can disrupt the natural rhythm of your heart. Does not seem worth it either..
So, if you were going to try one of these magical myths, try sticking to the carrots, or oysters, or something. Eating the powder of the remains of a ground up beetle cannot possibly create pleasing sensations judging from the fact that it's horribly repulsive. Also chicks never dig the guys who eat toad venom.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Hunger, the female foe
Hungry? New brain-imaging studies show that women can't control the feeling while men can. Perhaps this is why I absolutely need that fourth helping of lasagna. :(
U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National laboratory performed an experiment in which PET (positron emission tomography) scans were used on participants to monitor their brain activity while being exposed to the pungent aromas of their favorite foods. The study took place over three days of testing, each day different but all following a 20 hour fasting period.
On one of the days (as the three tests were performed in random order for each person) the volunteer was subjected to their favorite treat- they smelled, tasted, and even gazed upon the meal. The scan showed the areas of the brain that the presentation affected by studying where the glucose was being used.
Another day consisted of the same kind of showcase of the food, however on this day the participants were told to control their hunger prior to being exposed to the food.
The third test was just a control, which didn't include the use of food at all.
After each scan the participants were asked to rate their hunger and desire to eat. Not surprisingly, both men and women alike reported less hunger when they had been told to inhibit it. However, the PET scans showed a different story. The lead author of the study, Gene-Jack Wang reflected on the results.
This could possibly be the reason that women have such a difficult time losing weight when it seems easier for men. The study shows that women do try to comply with what is right, but have difficulty because of their brain make-up. In a real world example this may be equivalent to women recognizing that they need to lose weight and even trying to take control of their health, but being sadly inhibited by desires that they have little ability to control.
Wang states that "For many years scientists and the pharmaceutical industry have developed obesity treatments based on the theory that unbalanced nutritional needs are the primary cause of overeating and obesity." With this new research the old theory has been altered in the case of women, hopefully providing the ability to usher in new healthier generations.
Karen Miller-Kovach, chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers International, realizes that this issue is even greater than it may be originally taken as. Many people assume that the brain's of both men and women function similarly in the case of motivation and self-control, citing that the similar percentage of men and women who are obese. While this is possible, Miller-Kovach claims that "Overweight women are more likely than overweight men to accurately assess their own condition." This would lead one to believe that women have a better chance of losing weight and thus the statistics stating that women and men have equal levels of obesity must be incorrect. However this only solidifies the argument that women must have a more difficult time in their struggle, as more recognize the issue but less progress is shown regardless.
There are often specific diets aimed at women perhaps for this reason. Slimquick is one of these aids. Others include Zalestrim, Estrin-D, and Curvelle. The market for these drugs is virtually endless- more and more people every year want to be fit, especially with the growing epidemic America has recently witnessed. However those formulas that are aimed particularly at women gain their success from the difficulty that women have when trying to lose weight as opposed to men.
I found that this new information was actually rather enlightening- not that I want to lose weight but that in my life I've seen others struggle with it, especially women. Here's the commercial that gave me the idea for the blog. I'm sure that many of you have seen it.
U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National laboratory performed an experiment in which PET (positron emission tomography) scans were used on participants to monitor their brain activity while being exposed to the pungent aromas of their favorite foods. The study took place over three days of testing, each day different but all following a 20 hour fasting period.
On one of the days (as the three tests were performed in random order for each person) the volunteer was subjected to their favorite treat- they smelled, tasted, and even gazed upon the meal. The scan showed the areas of the brain that the presentation affected by studying where the glucose was being used.
Another day consisted of the same kind of showcase of the food, however on this day the participants were told to control their hunger prior to being exposed to the food.
The third test was just a control, which didn't include the use of food at all.
After each scan the participants were asked to rate their hunger and desire to eat. Not surprisingly, both men and women alike reported less hunger when they had been told to inhibit it. However, the PET scans showed a different story. The lead author of the study, Gene-Jack Wang reflected on the results.
Even though the women said they were less hungry when trying to inhibit their response to the food, their brains were still firing away in the regions that control the drive to eat. In contrast, men’s brain activity decreased along with their self-reports of hunger during the scan when they were asked to keep their hunger in check.
This could possibly be the reason that women have such a difficult time losing weight when it seems easier for men. The study shows that women do try to comply with what is right, but have difficulty because of their brain make-up. In a real world example this may be equivalent to women recognizing that they need to lose weight and even trying to take control of their health, but being sadly inhibited by desires that they have little ability to control.
Wang states that "For many years scientists and the pharmaceutical industry have developed obesity treatments based on the theory that unbalanced nutritional needs are the primary cause of overeating and obesity." With this new research the old theory has been altered in the case of women, hopefully providing the ability to usher in new healthier generations.
Karen Miller-Kovach, chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers International, realizes that this issue is even greater than it may be originally taken as. Many people assume that the brain's of both men and women function similarly in the case of motivation and self-control, citing that the similar percentage of men and women who are obese. While this is possible, Miller-Kovach claims that "Overweight women are more likely than overweight men to accurately assess their own condition." This would lead one to believe that women have a better chance of losing weight and thus the statistics stating that women and men have equal levels of obesity must be incorrect. However this only solidifies the argument that women must have a more difficult time in their struggle, as more recognize the issue but less progress is shown regardless.
There are often specific diets aimed at women perhaps for this reason. Slimquick is one of these aids. Others include Zalestrim, Estrin-D, and Curvelle. The market for these drugs is virtually endless- more and more people every year want to be fit, especially with the growing epidemic America has recently witnessed. However those formulas that are aimed particularly at women gain their success from the difficulty that women have when trying to lose weight as opposed to men.
I found that this new information was actually rather enlightening- not that I want to lose weight but that in my life I've seen others struggle with it, especially women. Here's the commercial that gave me the idea for the blog. I'm sure that many of you have seen it.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
free fuel
According to our favorite source of never faulty information, Wikipedia, a hotdog is defined as such: a smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll.
That makes it sound even better than it actually even is! I thought it was impossible.
Anyway, getting to the point, hot dogs are pretty easy to cook. You can cook them in the microwave (my favorite!), the oven, on the stove, and even on the grill. However, cooking hot dogs has become even better! With this innovative technique you can say goodbye to that pesky electric bill or the ridiculous cost of propane or coal. Say hello to: solar cooker.
I was first introduced to this strikingly technological device at Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary school. I wouldn’t say that it was quite as advanced as the one that I am planning to reveal to you tonight, but never the less it was impressive at the time.
The need for another source of energy has been mounting exponentially in the past decade with the oil crisis at large. However, the severity of the situation has been acknowledged by countless individuals starting even farther back than the past 10 years. In 1973 Nobel Prize winner George Porter asserted that, “I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy…If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago.” It appears that we HAVE harnessed it now, regardless of how archaic this technology may seem to some. In essence, it’s really just a do-it-yourself box.
While solar cooking can be time consuming, it has a few decided benefits. It’s very difficult to burn food when using a solar cooker, and food cooked in this way tends to retain its moisture as well. On top of that it’s exceptionally safe and it doesn’t heat up the kitchen. Well...I mean it isn’t exactly used in the kitchen so that would explain that advantage.
While explaining the process can be very lengthy, the general idea is quite simple. There are a few sites that explain the creation in detail, and would be more informative than if I tried. Therefore, let me give you a couple of links.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/solarbox.htm I like this one because it makes the process pretty clear, as well as providing cheap alternatives and ways to make your solar cooker more efficient.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2083_make-solar-oven.html This one uses black construction paper instead of the black paint, which may be easier for some.
According to Solar Cookers International, using solar energy can be even more useful than what you may think.
Some groups gaining from solar cooking include:
-households
-health professionals
-businesses
-governments
Just take a look at this:
Hopefully there will be an effort to spread the knowledge to disadvantaged households. Also, I hope that you try this out in your spare time! It's pretty fun or at least I thought so when I was 8! :)
That makes it sound even better than it actually even is! I thought it was impossible.
Anyway, getting to the point, hot dogs are pretty easy to cook. You can cook them in the microwave (my favorite!), the oven, on the stove, and even on the grill. However, cooking hot dogs has become even better! With this innovative technique you can say goodbye to that pesky electric bill or the ridiculous cost of propane or coal. Say hello to: solar cooker.
I was first introduced to this strikingly technological device at Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary school. I wouldn’t say that it was quite as advanced as the one that I am planning to reveal to you tonight, but never the less it was impressive at the time.
The need for another source of energy has been mounting exponentially in the past decade with the oil crisis at large. However, the severity of the situation has been acknowledged by countless individuals starting even farther back than the past 10 years. In 1973 Nobel Prize winner George Porter asserted that, “I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy…If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago.” It appears that we HAVE harnessed it now, regardless of how archaic this technology may seem to some. In essence, it’s really just a do-it-yourself box.
While solar cooking can be time consuming, it has a few decided benefits. It’s very difficult to burn food when using a solar cooker, and food cooked in this way tends to retain its moisture as well. On top of that it’s exceptionally safe and it doesn’t heat up the kitchen. Well...I mean it isn’t exactly used in the kitchen so that would explain that advantage.
While explaining the process can be very lengthy, the general idea is quite simple. There are a few sites that explain the creation in detail, and would be more informative than if I tried. Therefore, let me give you a couple of links.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/solarbox.htm I like this one because it makes the process pretty clear, as well as providing cheap alternatives and ways to make your solar cooker more efficient.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2083_make-solar-oven.html This one uses black construction paper instead of the black paint, which may be easier for some.
According to Solar Cookers International, using solar energy can be even more useful than what you may think.
Some groups gaining from solar cooking include:
-households
-health professionals
-businesses
-governments
Just take a look at this:
Many poverty-stricken families worldwide spend 25% or more of their income on cooking fuel. Sunlight — solar cooker "fuel" — is free and abundant. Money saved can be used for food, education, health care, etc.Taking this information into consideration and helping to spread solar technology can be salubrious to families all over, whether they be in the United States or outside of it. The simple solar oven cooker requires only a very small investment of time and money as well as requiring little effort to produce fully cooked and safe food.
Hopefully there will be an effort to spread the knowledge to disadvantaged households. Also, I hope that you try this out in your spare time! It's pretty fun or at least I thought so when I was 8! :)
Would you work for food?
I figured that once a week I would watch a different food based TV show for anyone who may be interested. The episode of Will Work for Food that I watched last night was about pizza tossing and apple cider making with host Adam Gertler. The pizza tossing is in Castro Valley California where world pizza tossing champion Tony Gemignani teaches the host how to properly make the dough and toss the pizza. Ingredients used to make the dough include olive oil, flour, water, salt, sugar, and yeast. To prepare, you slowly mix the dough for 15 minutes. After mixing you should have a large amount of dough to work with. You want to make pieces of the dough into balls for tossing, so to check to see if the dough is good to toss gently press the dough and it should rise back to its ball position. Then you roll out the dough. To toss the pizza you would put the dough in the palm you one hand and twist your hand when you toss it into the air. Then of course to catch the dough properly you make two fists and let it land on your fists. You must toss the dough about 150 times before it is ready for the sauce and toppings.
Then the host goes with the owners to a cider mill in Michigan to the stock of apples that are picked from the orchard. The apples are hand inspected and those with defects are thrown out. After sorting the apples they head to the mill and oil the equipment. A sheet of cheesecloth is laid down so that the cider can drip through the boards. Apples are put into the grinder where they are mashed and then again inspected and more thoroughly pressed and evened. This process continues until they have added eight layers onto the press. (Each layer makes 20 gallons!) Cider begins to drip out from the weight alone, though the next step is to start the pump. The hydraulic press squeezes the cider out of the mash and ensures that the cider is pumped to the refrigerated storage tanks. The finished cider goes to customers whereas the unused mash goes to local farmers for feed for their stock.
This is pretty much the sum of the episode, it was pretty interesting though I find shows like Unwrapped, which are similar, to be more fascinating.
Then the host goes with the owners to a cider mill in Michigan to the stock of apples that are picked from the orchard. The apples are hand inspected and those with defects are thrown out. After sorting the apples they head to the mill and oil the equipment. A sheet of cheesecloth is laid down so that the cider can drip through the boards. Apples are put into the grinder where they are mashed and then again inspected and more thoroughly pressed and evened. This process continues until they have added eight layers onto the press. (Each layer makes 20 gallons!) Cider begins to drip out from the weight alone, though the next step is to start the pump. The hydraulic press squeezes the cider out of the mash and ensures that the cider is pumped to the refrigerated storage tanks. The finished cider goes to customers whereas the unused mash goes to local farmers for feed for their stock.
This is pretty much the sum of the episode, it was pretty interesting though I find shows like Unwrapped, which are similar, to be more fascinating.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
fatal or favorable?
Food poisoning..have you had it? Chances are high, considering that 1 out of every four people has. Symptoms include fever, rapid heartbeat, abdominal cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. But don't be so quick to judge! Food poisoning can be great if you have one or more of these several issues I've conjured up...
-If you're stricken with bradycardia...a could be life-threatening disorder, which doesn't allow the heart to pump enough blood. (Rapid heartbeat can fix this!)
-If you're suffering from hypokalemia....a condition where potassium in the blood is low, sometimes causing constipation. (Diarrhea can fix this!)
-Or if your body temperature seems to have dropped so low that you have entered a state of hypothermia. (Fever can fix this!)
The American proverb "The sweetest nuts have the hardest shells" illustrates the exact feelings I have about food poisoning. That is, while one may have unfavorable opinions towards the embarrassing and excruciating side effects associated with food poisoning (Or the frustrating nature of the shell's surface), it's important to realize that it can be a very positive thing in the end (You get to enjoy the sweetness once you've cracked the shell). So don't be so down if you've contracted a sometimes fatal illness, live it up, instead.
-If you're stricken with bradycardia...a could be life-threatening disorder, which doesn't allow the heart to pump enough blood. (Rapid heartbeat can fix this!)
-If you're suffering from hypokalemia....a condition where potassium in the blood is low, sometimes causing constipation. (Diarrhea can fix this!)
-Or if your body temperature seems to have dropped so low that you have entered a state of hypothermia. (Fever can fix this!)
The American proverb "The sweetest nuts have the hardest shells" illustrates the exact feelings I have about food poisoning. That is, while one may have unfavorable opinions towards the embarrassing and excruciating side effects associated with food poisoning (Or the frustrating nature of the shell's surface), it's important to realize that it can be a very positive thing in the end (You get to enjoy the sweetness once you've cracked the shell). So don't be so down if you've contracted a sometimes fatal illness, live it up, instead.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The children's crusade
When I hear the word 'obesity,' I often think of that kind that is self-inflicted. And to me, self-inflicted obesity requires a lot of work. I was watching Kevin Brennan on Comedy Central the other day and he was making a joke that made me think. "How do you get so fat you can't get out of your house?" he said, "Don't you gradually get fatter? It's not something that happens overnight like Willie Wonka and that blueberry girl."
However not all obese people have the ability to realize that the food they're ingesting may cause some severe weight gain, leading to a life of living hell. There are multiple groups of people that could fall into this category of innocents, though the one that I find most alarming is the children. "Think of the children." Even Hitler did it in Mein Kampf when he wrote "the state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people." So why don't we?
Well I assume there are a couple reasons for this obvious disregard of the very 'precious treasures' that we supposedly feel an instinctual need to protect. The one which I am currently concerned with is profit- more specifically that of the growing fast food industry.
Children, especially those who are too young to prepare their own food, have little or no say in the food that they eat. While they may refuse certain items on grounds of dislike they still have little representation when mom is at the grocery store. In the past few decades as parents become busier and busier it's much more difficult to prepare a hearty meal that is not only nutritious but that your kid will actually eat. Therefore, fast food has become the ever popular breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner...and even 'fourth meal.'
Recently some alarming studies have shown that these fast food joints have just been springing up relatively close to elementary, junior, and high schools. Of course this is a great marketing technique on part of the owner, however relatively new evidence shows that these seemingly harmless- and at times even convenient greasy eateries, have been linked to obesity in school age children. With the type of menu a child is already limited to, this expansion can only be detrimental.
Brennan Davis, Ph.D., of Azusa Pacific University reported in The American Journal of Public Health that "Students at schools near fast-food restaurants had higher rates of obesity after controlling for a lot of different variables than students whose schools were not near fast food restaurants."
A bulletin on aging and health conducted by The National Bureau of Economic Research also demonstrates similar results, stating that "Among 9th grade children, a fast food restaurant within a tenth of a mile of a school is associated with at least a 5.2 percent increase in obesity rates."
A high school student whose school is within walking distance of a takeout restaurant is obviously influenced to act on their temptations. Honestly the food that cafeterias offer isn't awful, but it sure as hell isn't good. If there's an opportunity to dine away from the left-over mystery spaghetti-like pasta, chances are the kid is going to do it. Similarly, younger children often get their way when tired parents don't want to deal with a crying brat complaining that they couldn't get their happy meals. It's awfully tempting when it's right on the drive home- allowing parents to save time as well as please their children.
I personally think that although it would be somewhat unfair to simply ban fast food restaurants within a close vicinity of schools the noticeable effects should be considered when allowing new ones to open. As you can see the impact is already great, and as you can probably see even better- the toll it has taken on our children. It's important to address this issue as it will only grow ever more prominent.
However not all obese people have the ability to realize that the food they're ingesting may cause some severe weight gain, leading to a life of living hell. There are multiple groups of people that could fall into this category of innocents, though the one that I find most alarming is the children. "Think of the children." Even Hitler did it in Mein Kampf when he wrote "the state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people." So why don't we?
Well I assume there are a couple reasons for this obvious disregard of the very 'precious treasures' that we supposedly feel an instinctual need to protect. The one which I am currently concerned with is profit- more specifically that of the growing fast food industry.
Children, especially those who are too young to prepare their own food, have little or no say in the food that they eat. While they may refuse certain items on grounds of dislike they still have little representation when mom is at the grocery store. In the past few decades as parents become busier and busier it's much more difficult to prepare a hearty meal that is not only nutritious but that your kid will actually eat. Therefore, fast food has become the ever popular breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner...and even 'fourth meal.'
Recently some alarming studies have shown that these fast food joints have just been springing up relatively close to elementary, junior, and high schools. Of course this is a great marketing technique on part of the owner, however relatively new evidence shows that these seemingly harmless- and at times even convenient greasy eateries, have been linked to obesity in school age children. With the type of menu a child is already limited to, this expansion can only be detrimental.
Brennan Davis, Ph.D., of Azusa Pacific University reported in The American Journal of Public Health that "Students at schools near fast-food restaurants had higher rates of obesity after controlling for a lot of different variables than students whose schools were not near fast food restaurants."
A bulletin on aging and health conducted by The National Bureau of Economic Research also demonstrates similar results, stating that "Among 9th grade children, a fast food restaurant within a tenth of a mile of a school is associated with at least a 5.2 percent increase in obesity rates."
A high school student whose school is within walking distance of a takeout restaurant is obviously influenced to act on their temptations. Honestly the food that cafeterias offer isn't awful, but it sure as hell isn't good. If there's an opportunity to dine away from the left-over mystery spaghetti-like pasta, chances are the kid is going to do it. Similarly, younger children often get their way when tired parents don't want to deal with a crying brat complaining that they couldn't get their happy meals. It's awfully tempting when it's right on the drive home- allowing parents to save time as well as please their children.
I personally think that although it would be somewhat unfair to simply ban fast food restaurants within a close vicinity of schools the noticeable effects should be considered when allowing new ones to open. As you can see the impact is already great, and as you can probably see even better- the toll it has taken on our children. It's important to address this issue as it will only grow ever more prominent.
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