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!

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

• depression
• anxiety
• impatience
• impulsiveness
• irritability
• insomnia
• unexplained weight gain/loss

Therefore, taking in a healthy amount of foods rich in tryptophan is important.

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. :)

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 brains 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!

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.

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 image.

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.

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.

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.