Food – Encyclopedia.com

Is it True That Honey Never Goes Bad?

Makayla — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:09:03 +0000

Many scientists have found evidence that honey never goes bad. Pots of honey that have been sitting in tombs for hundreds of years were just as fresh as when they were made, according to the archaeologists who found them. Does this mean that honey never goes bad and will be delicious forever? It’s not quite that simple. Honey never goes bad as long as it’s sealed. Sealed honey has can remain untainted forever. It isn’t the only food that doesn’t go bad when it’s stored. Things like rice and sugar are also stable for an indefinite amount of time. However, there is one key difference between preserved honey and stored sugar. Honey is able to remain stable and unspoiled in it’s edible form. So is it wise to eat 100,000 year old honey? Researchers say it would taste and look like it did the very day it was put into the jar. Mind-blowing as it is, honey does not go bad, no matter how long it’s been stored. Turns out what makes honey so stable is also what makes it so delicious and beneficial. Honey never goes bad Honey that remains sealed never goes bad. Even honey that has been opened has a very low chance of spoiling or turning into a breeding ground for bacteria. Experts say the reason honey never goes bad is complex. The truth behind why honey never goes bad is because of what’s in the honey and how bees make it. Honey never goes bad because it’s makeup essentially suffocates bacteria, insects and any other micro-organism that tries to live inside it. It contains very little water in it’s natural form and unless water and moisture is introduced, it will stay stable for years. In additional being low on the water bacteria needs to thrive, honey is also very acidic. So acidic (between 3 and 4.5 on the ph scale) in fact that it actually kills anything that tries to live inside it. Honey never goes bad because bees are amazing Natural and raw honey contains a perfect storm for longevity and preservation. It contains very little water and is quite acidic but those two things aren’t the only thing working in favor of the honey. Bees consume nectar which is mostly water. Inside their stomach, their system breaks down the nectar into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. This hydrogen peroxide works inside the honey in the same that it works when humans use it on wounds. For this and many other reasons, honey has been used for it’s medicinal properties around the globe. Honey never goes bad because of the same reasons it’s a valuable resource to many humans. The way honey is made and what it contains creates an environment that makes it nearly impossible for bacteria and micro-organisms to grow. This means that honey will keep forever – as long as it’s sealed. This isn’t the case for all honey though. Once it’s opened, the opportunity for moisture to seep in and cause bacteria to grow increases. Honey never goes bad as long as it’s sealed but eating honey that has been left open could still be risky.

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Is it True That 80% of Weight Loss is Diet?

Makayla — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:27:52 +0000

Is it True That 80% of Weight Loss is Diet? More and more people are trying to lose weight. Not only are New Years’ Resolutions right around the corner, but overall, the world has a weight problem. For aesthetic and health reasons, more people are trying to figure out how to lose weight. One common belief is that Is it 80% of weight loss is diet. But is it true that 80% of weight loss is diet? Scientists have been researching if it is true that 80% of weight loss is diet and we now know the answer. Is weight loss mostly about diet? Gaining weight seems so easy but weight loss is very difficult. What is the secret to losing weight? Is weight loss mostly about diet or is there another major factor that could explain how to lose weight? To understand the answer, it’s important to understand how the body gains and loses weight. The Mayo Clinic explains how weight gain and loss works very concisely. “Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight. Because 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat, it’s estimated that you need to burn about 3,500 calories to lose 1 pound.” So, in order to lose weight, the human body needs to consistently consume less calories than it uses, or operate at a caloric deficit. Unfortunately, although exercise is extremely important to good health and proper muscle tone, it does not burn very many calories! As a result, weight loss is mostly about diet since that is the easiest way to operate at a caloric deficit. How much does diet play a part in weight loss? Diet plays the biggest role in weight loss. With the exception of the most elite athletes or those who perform hard physical labor for hours every day, it is extremely difficult to burn off very many calories through exercise. Humans evolved in an environment in which finding and preparing food was extremely difficult and labor intensive. That has all changed since the industrial revolution 200 years ago. Now it is easier and more convenient than ever to find highly caloric foods while remaining very sedentary. But the human body is still operating the way it evolved over thousands of years. As a result, it is difficult to burn many calories while leading a modern lifestyle. Even many gyms will have banners reminding patrons that “it’s impossible to outrun your fork.” So diet plays a huge role in weight loss. The best way to lose weight is through a diet that operates at a caloric deficit.

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Is it True That Fruit Stickers are Edible?

Makayla — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 23:59:24 +0000

A few years ago an article began to circulate claiming that fruit stickers are edible. As with any rumors running wild on the internet, it later evolved. The evolution of this rumor went all the way to encouragement to eat the stickers on fruit because the FDA says they are safe to eat. Does “safe to eat” actually mean that fruit stickers are edible? In the article it was recommended to continue to remove the fruit stickers but that if you ate a few of them it wouldn’t kill you. Although it’s true that swallowing a fruit sticker won’t kill someone immediately, that doesn’t necessarily mean that fruit stickers are edible. Many things can be eaten but that doesn’t make them edible. This seems to be the case with fruit stickers as well. Although, there is evidence that eating a fruit sticker has caused death, it isn’t because they are toxic or dangerous. The FDA does regulate the types of stickers and adhesive that can be used on produce but that doesn’t mean that all the fruit stickers are edible. Are fruit stickers edible? Many things can be consumed in small amounts and not cause serious harm. Fruit stickers are one of those things. They can be eaten, but they aren’t exactly edible and neither is the adhesive used to stick them on. Fruit stickers and the adhesive only has to be proven as not deadly or extremely harmful to be put on an edible item. The FDA considers fruit stickers an “indirect food additive” and they must follow the guidelines for a “food contact substance.” However, the FDA regulations about this (like most things) are quite vague. This means that different companies can produce and sell the fruit stickers. Each sticker could be made from different papers and stuck on with a variety of different adhesives. None of which are actually edible. Are any fruit stickers edible? Not really. While most of them can be eaten without causing serious harm, fruit stickers are not edible and should not be eaten. They should be removed and thrown away even though that just contributes to the excessive trash problem we have. Some people have acknowledged not only that fruit stickers are not edible and dangerous but also that they are not needed. One company based in Georgia is looking for FDA approval for a new way for grocery stores to label produce. If they succeed, fruit stickers as we know them could become obsolete. Since fruit stickers aren’t edible, this company was certain they could find a way to label produce that could be eaten and didn’t put people at risk. They developed a machine that would etch labels into the skin of the fruit. It’s unknown how impacted the fruit itself would be, however, it must be better than fruit stickers that are not edible. If labels are etched into the skin of fruits and vegetables, fruit stickers could phase out. However, FDA approval for anything takes many years and when it’s something like fruit stickers it takes a back burner to potential life saving medications and treatments.

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Is it True That Milk Causes Acne?

Makayla — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 19:29:03 +0000

More and more people today are suffering from acne. Once a skin ailment that plagued mainly adolescents, many adults now report having acne well into middle age and beyond. With so many people seeking treatment for their acne, many are also looking to the root causes behind their unsightly blemishes in an effort to prevent breakouts. One common belief is that milk causes acne. Is it true that milk causes acne? A variety of research by dermatologists, beauty editors and nutritionists have gone into determining if it’s true that milk causes acne. Unfortunately, the findings are unclear and contradictory. While some studies indicate milk causes acne, other studies find there is a correlation between acne and ingredients commonly found in dairy products in which case the milk itself is not the cause of acne. Other studies indicate no relationship between milk and acne at all. Why do people think milk causes acne? If it’s not fully known if milk causes acne, why do people think milk causes acne? One reason is because milk may cause acne, in which case the belief is right. However, even if milk does not cause acne, there is good reason for people to think milk causes acne. The Western diet, and American in particular, is notable for its use of dairy products which many other global cuisines do not. Drinking a glass of milk instead of wine or water is a particularly American dietary habit. Is it a coincidence that the United States and other western countries cite higher instances of acne? Many adults are also finding that they are lactose intolerant and so should avoid dairy. As a result, dairy is now often maligned as a generally unhealthy food. Since beauty magazines are quick to jump on such bandwagons, many popular outlets like Vogue extoll a dairy-free diet as a cure for acne. Does milk cause acne? The National Center for Biotechnology Information analyzed scientific literature related to research into the link between drinking milk and acne. The group found that “any dairy, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, was associated with an increased [rate] for acne in individuals aged 7–30 years.” But does this mean milk alone is responsible for acne? The milk itself may not necessarily be the true root cause. One reason dairy products could cause acne is not the milk itself but the “hormones that cows make when they are pregnant, which wind up in their milk. People who have higher levels of those hormones in their blood tend to have more acne,” according to WebMd. If that were the case, an organic diet focused on avoiding dairy containing growth hormones could alleviate acne but still include milk. But it’s possible that “proteins [intrinsic to cow milk].. release a hormone similar to insulin, called IGF-1. This hormone is known to trigger breakouts. Sometimes the hormones in milk can also interact with our own hormones, confusing our body’s endocrine system and signaling breakouts” according to Healthline. Yet another possibility is that the sugar and grease used in many dairy-rich foods like ice cream or cheese are the true culprit behind acne.

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Is it True That Margarine is Almost Plastic?

Makayla — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 17:35:18 +0000

Ever heard that Margarine is almost plastic? Many people have heard these rumors. Coming originally from one of those chain letter emails passed around, the awful “facts” about margarine were spread as fast as a viral Facebook post. One those warned people that margarine is almost plastic. Margarine itself has been thru the fire since it’s invention in the mid-1800s. It’s been claimed that it’s bad for you, that it was once originally a feed for livestock, and even that margarine has NO nutritional value at all. None of the rumors about margarine are true, not even the one about it being worse for a cardiovascular system than butter. Some of these rumors may be easily believed, but none was more widely believed than the assertions that claimed to be backed by scientific evidence. Among those were claims that the contents of margarine raised cholesterol. That one turned out to be true and quickly rectified by companies that needed the sales. Another rumor accepted without question is the one about margarine being almost plastic. While it caught on quickly, it doesn’t seem that margarine is almost plastic. Of course it is easy to understand why people would believe it, the claim sounded very scientific. Where the idea that margarine is almost plastic got started When they see a way to spin facts that will instill fear in others, many groups jump at the chance. That’s what happened when the rumor about margarine being almost plastic got started. Many rumors are started this way. The misinterpretation of data and information gets passed around to people who don’t fact check it and suddenly everyone believes margarine is almost plastic. The misinterpretation here is pretty easy to see for anyone who understands chemistry. Since the original rumor passed around was that margarine is one molecule away from plastic, it was both TECHNICALLY true and entirely misleading. Of course the general public doesn’t know enough about chemistry to understand that doesn’t mean anything. But that doesn’t stop rumors from spreading. Is margarine almost plastic? The answer is more than just a yes or a no. Chemically speaking, yes, margarine is almost plastic because it has all of the same molecules as plastic, except for one. But that isn’t how organic compounds work. Like literally everything, margarine is formed by molecules. Since everything is made of molecules, the molecular structure of certain things may look similar. However, that doesn’t mean the end outcome is the same. How these molecules bond together and when also impacts what kind of product is made at the end. Even though they have similar molecules, margarine and plastic are far from similar. The difference of that one molecule is very important not just for cases like margarine and plastic but also for things like ethanol and methanol – one is safe to consume and other could be fatal. Basic knowledge of molecular compounds and bonds disproves the claim that margarine is almost plastic. Where have you heard myths about margarine? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

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