FOOD FACTS (& MYTHS)
BANANA OIL: CONTAINS NO BANANA
MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE: KOPI LUWAK (HARVESTED FROM POO!)LARGEST FOOD ITEM ON A MENU: ROAST CAMEL
BANANA OILWhich part of the banana is used to make "banana oil"?
"COOL BEANS"Ever wonder where the expression "cool beans" came from?
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KOPI LUWAK: WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE
AFRICAN CIVET
The world most expensive coffee - Kopi Luwak - comes from Civet poo!
The Civet is a nocturnal, cat-like mammal with an otter-like muzzle native to tropical Asia & Africa. It eats only the best ripe berries. The Kopi Luwak beans are harvested when the civet excretes the partially-digested beans. The coffee which is sold mainly in Japan & the United States, sells for $120-$600 USD per pound.
Kopi Luwak is now becoming available elsewhere.
It may be interesting to note that the most well-known species of civet is the African Civet (Civetticitis civetta) which musk was harvested for use in perfumes. Though synthetic substitutes are now being used due to concerns of animal cruelty from animal rights groups.
The Civet is a nocturnal, cat-like mammal with an otter-like muzzle native to tropical Asia & Africa. It eats only the best ripe berries. The Kopi Luwak beans are harvested when the civet excretes the partially-digested beans. The coffee which is sold mainly in Japan & the United States, sells for $120-$600 USD per pound.
Kopi Luwak is now becoming available elsewhere.
It may be interesting to note that the most well-known species of civet is the African Civet (Civetticitis civetta) which musk was harvested for use in perfumes. Though synthetic substitutes are now being used due to concerns of animal cruelty from animal rights groups.
A TURD A DAY...
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BRAZIL NUT EFFECT
Have you ever noticed that when you have a bowl of nuts, the bigger ones make their way to the top? This event actually has a scientific name: the Brazil Nut Effect. The term refers to the phenomenon in which the largest particles end up on the surface when a granular material containing a mixture of objects of different sizes is shaken.
BUGS & RODENT HAIR: FDA APPROVED
The FDA allows an average of 30 or more insect fragments, and one or more rodent hairs, per 100 grams of peanut butter. I will certainly think twice before buying my next jar!
CARROTS: DON'T IMPROVE VISION
It is possible that this tale came about due to allied propaganda during the second world war when rumors were spread that the British airmen had excellent night vision due to eating carrots. The myth was spread to stop the Germans from discovering that the British were using Radar. While carrots contain vitamin A which is good for healthy eyes, eating lots of them will do nothing to improve your vision.
CHOCOLATE: DOESN'T CAUSE ACNE
There is actually not an iota of evidence to support this tale – no food type (not just chocolate) can cause acne or bad skin. Needless to say, eating too much chocolate or sugary food is unhealthy for the body, but it will not cause skin problems. Acne is actually caused by changes in the lower layers of the skin surrounding hair follicles.
COCONUT WATER: BLOOD PLASMA SUBSTITUTE
The reason for this is that coconut water (the water found in coconuts – not to be confused with coconut milk, which comes from the flesh of the coconut) is sterile and has an ideal pH level. Coconut water is liquid endosperm – it surrounds the embryo and provides nutrition.
"COOL BEANS"
Ever wonder where exactly the expression “cool beans” came from?
According to Wiktionary:
The phrase ‘cool beans’ dates back to the early 1700's when French fur trappers roamed the American Midwest. After a successful outing they would say, "course bien" (pronounced 'cur'), meaning good run. When English-speaking pioneers started moving westward, they heard the trappers use course bien in a positive way after a hard day’s work, but mistook it as the phrase "cool beans."
It resurfaced in America during the late 1960s. Hits of acid and ludes were dubbed "cool beans" for their bean-like shape. They were also referred to as "wacky beans" or just "beans." On top of that, there is the homophone connection between the food "chili beans" and "chilly beans", literally meaning "cold beans".
According to Wiktionary:
The phrase ‘cool beans’ dates back to the early 1700's when French fur trappers roamed the American Midwest. After a successful outing they would say, "course bien" (pronounced 'cur'), meaning good run. When English-speaking pioneers started moving westward, they heard the trappers use course bien in a positive way after a hard day’s work, but mistook it as the phrase "cool beans."
It resurfaced in America during the late 1960s. Hits of acid and ludes were dubbed "cool beans" for their bean-like shape. They were also referred to as "wacky beans" or just "beans." On top of that, there is the homophone connection between the food "chili beans" and "chilly beans", literally meaning "cold beans".
DYNAMITE: MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS
Peanut oil can be processed to produce glycerol, which can be used to make nitroglycerin, one of the constituents of dynamite. Note however, there are other processes that can be used to make dynamite without using peanuts at all.
EATING BEFORE SWIM: DOESN'T CAUSE CRAMPS
There is an old wives’ tale that says that if you eat within an hour of swimming you will get cramp. The Red Cross says that eating directly prior to swimming does not increase risk of cramp at all. They do, however, recommend at least waiting for digestion to begin if you have eaten a particularly fatty meal. They also recommend that you not eat gum or food while you are swimming.
EATING HUMANS
During the 1995 and 1997 famines in North Korea, the starving peasants dug up and ate human bodies.
FEED A FEVER; STARVE A COLD
In fact, both colds and fevers cause dehydration – so liquids are essential when suffering from either. In addition, missing out on food when you are sick is never a good idea as food provides the body with the sustenance it needs to get healthy. So, you should feed a fever and feed a cold. This, of course, does not mean to overeat – it means to eat healthy balanced meals.
HIPPO SOUP: OLD FAVOURITE
The earliest archeological evidence for the consumption of soup dates back to 6000 BC, and it was hippopotamus soup!
MARTIN LUTHER: EATS SHIT
Martin Luther, the religious reformer, reputedly ate one spoonful of his own feces every day, stating that he “couldn’t understand the generosity of a God who freely gave such important and useful remedies.”
MOUTH FULL OF ACID
Over 700 species of bacteria thrive in the average human mouth. Additionally, human saliva keeps the mouth’s acid balance right – if it didn’t, the mouth would be so acidic it would eat its own teeth.
POPSICLE: PATENTED SECRET
In 1905, 11-year old San Franciscan Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda & water (which contained a stir stick) on his porch. During the night, the temperature dropped to record low & Frank woke the following morning to find a fruit flavored ice treat frozen on the stick. He named his creation the "Epsicle" and kept it a secret until he patented it 18 years later renaming it the "Popsicle".
REFRIED BEANS: ONLY FRIED ONCE
The reason for this misconception is a translation error. The originals are frijoles refritos which actually means “well fried beans” – not re-fried.
ROAST CAMEL: LARGEST FOOD ITEM ON A MENU
The camel is stuffed with a sheep’s carcass, which is stuffed with chickens, which are stuffed with fish, which are stuffed with eggs. This feast is sometimes featured in Bedouin weddings.
WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE: DISSOLVED FISH
Worcestershire sauce, the popular English sauce, is made from dissolved anchovies. The anchovies are soaked in vinegar until they have completely melted. The sauce contains the bones and all.