I think everyone should know how to cook there own food. Even for the seasoned cook coming up with interesting recipes can be challenging. That is usually where cookbooks come into play. They can teach you some new techniques and some recipes to go along with them. Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking is one such cookbook. If you have ever been interested in molecular gastronomy this book may be for you. That is if you feel like spending $625 on a cookbook. Not to mention the cooking equipment costs to make those recipes costs thousands of dollars. I'll stick with the Joy of Cooking and Nourishing Traditions as my go to cookbooks for making simple, healthy, and tasty meals.
If a food doesn't rot it basically means that even insects, fungi, and bacteria aren't willing to eat the food. One of the few exceptions to that is honey if it is properly stored. That isn't the case with a McDonald's hamburger and fries. Artist Sally Davies came up with the idea to photograph a McDonald's hamburger and fries over a 137 day period. Guess what, it looked the same from day 1 to day 137. Hopefully that makes you think twice about buying your next fast food burger.
American cardiologist Dr. Darrel Francis suggests, in a new research paper, that individuals be given statins at fast food restaurants to deal with the negative health impact of the fatty, processed food. This logic demonstrates why the United States has such horrendous healthcare with ever increasing expenses. I have a better idea, just don't eat the fast food. Go to the grocery store, buy some ground beef and potatoes, and make your own meal if you really want a burger and fries. I guarantee it will be much better for you even though you are still eating the "same" meal.
I am going to defer to E.F. Schumacher in response to the above video. “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.” What's wrong with riding a bike OR going for a run? Why do we need to do both? Just because it is new and "complex" doesn't make it better.
Continuing the theme from the Doomed to Smell? post, Good has an article describing The Five Worst Environmental Pollutants in Your Beauty Products. They also posted an article about What's in Your Shampoo? In the next few months to years there will be an increase in the awareness of the chemicals in personal care products. People will realize that the body absorbs whatever is put on the skin. When shampoo, lotion, sunscreen, and other similar products contain toxins like aluminum the body absorbs it and you pay the price. In the case of aluminum there is an increasing correlation with Alzheimer's. While there will always be contradictory information, I always err on the side of caution and avoid things that could be potentially harmful.
Good, a "great" magazine/ website which I read frequently, posted an article discussing the fact that the FDA is finally addressing antibiotic use in agriculture but still not addressing BPA. Both of these issues are important and I share the same opinion as this author, that both are major health concerns. However, I am not one to sit around and wait for a governmental agency to pass laws that address my health. I am proactive and take responsibility for my own health. There is no one that should be more concerned about your health and well-being than yourself. Don't wait for the government to tell you that antibiotics in meat are bad. Actively search for the best possible sources of beef, like Tallgrass beef. Instead of hoping the FDA will pass BPA laws, use glass containers. Someday, hopefully soon, governments and the mass populace will acknowledge some of these ideas, but until then be responsible for yourself and your loved ones by doing what you know is best.
Being the smelly kid in school was always something to be avoided. Even worse would be to get the same label at the office. Wearing deodorant or antiperspirant has become an automatic step when getting ready in the morning. However, it may be worth putting a little more thought into your selection of deodorants. The website/ magazine Good has a good article that lists some of the common ingredients found in deodorants and antiperspirants with some of the known side-affects. Choosing a different deodorant doesn't force you to go hang with the hippies and smell like patchouli. There are plenty of options available, like those from Tom's of Maine, that smell just as good as Old Spice or your preferred deodorant.
A recent study published in the journal Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care found that "Balanced daily distribution of protein with increased intake at breakfast and lunch protects metabolically active tissues including skeletal muscle during weight loss." Protecting "metabolically active tissues" like muscle during weight loss will improve the likelihood of maintaining those results. Even though General Mills and the other cereal manufacturers try to convince consumers that there is plenty of protein in their cereals it is an a poor way of getting proper protein and other nutrients. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or any other variation actual whole-grains provide much better nourishment. When was the last time someone you know cooked whole rye berries and served it with roasted pumpkin seeds and broccoli. That would be a good vegetarian breakfast, not Fruity Pebbles.
For those that eat meat, the meat and nut breakfast as advocated by Charles Poliquin is a great way of getting protein in the morning. Throw in a few servings of veggies and you are all set.
Very few people ever acknowledge what is actual in the packaged food they eat, and unfortunately it can be because they don't care. This mentality can be very harmful to your overall health. Who knows what FD&C Yellow 5 is and what it does? Do you know what foods it is in? According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
YELLOW 5 Gelatin dessert, candy, pet food, baked goods.
The second-most-widely used coloring causes allergy-like hypersensitivity reactions, primarily in aspirin-sensitive persons, and triggers hyperactivity in some children. It may be contaminated with such cancer-causing substances as benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl (or chemicals that the body converts to those substances).
Yellow 5 is on the CSPI's list of additives to avoid. Maybe you should think about that before you open up your next package of Twinkies or any other packaged food. Check out the other 36 ingredients in a Twinkie as part of Dwight Eschliman's Twinkie project for his new book.
One of the greatest human fears is the fear of the unknown. Common fears can simply be variations of the unknown. People are afraid of the dark because something could be hiding waiting to get them. Others are afraid of the water because they don't know what is underneath them or even how to swim. You can be crippled by your fears and avoid doing great things or you can overcome them and lead an inspired life. Guillaume Nery may never have been afraid of water or the dark, but this video is still quite impressive. Try holding your breath for four minutes while "skydiving" into a dark abyss and then "rock climbing" out of it, I know I couldn't do it. At least not yet.
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is one such cookbook. If you have ever been interested in 
and 
as my go to cookbooks for making simple, healthy, and tasty meals.
