Surprising—Sometimes Funny--Facts about Foods

From a variety of sources, we’ve culled seven surprising bits of information. Some are funny; most are useful. To find out more about each, click on the link if there is one.  If not, try googling either the publication and article title or the topic. 

The danger of dining on armadillo:  If armadillo meat is on your grocery list for today, cross it off.  There is a possibility that these animals can transmit leprosy. Of the 150 new cases of leprosy in the U.S. annually, about 1/3 result from direct contact with armadillos. According to the Johns Hopkins Medicine Health After 50 newsletter, cases of armadillo-to-human transmission have occurred in these states: Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, where the animals carry a strain of leprosy-causing bacterium.  Therefore, health officials have warned against touching, cooking, and consuming armadillo meat, no matter how delicious it may be.  (We don’t know anyone who could confirm just how irresistible this dish is.)

Fears of radioactive bananas: Bananas do emit small amounts of radiation, says Consumer Reports on Health, due to their high levels of potassium.  However, the fears are unfounded.  This is just one example of “background radiation,” which naturally exists in the environment.  The amount of radiation coming from a banana is so small that it’s “inconsequential.”  How small is it, you ask?  It’s about .00007 millisieverts, compared to 0.1 mSv from a chest X-ray and 10 mSv from a full-body scan. The article concludes that health benefits gained from eating bananas far outweigh any potential risk. 

Foods to eat to live longer:  The UCLA Division of Geriatrics newsletter Healthy Years asked dietitian Dana Ellis Hunnes to list her top ten “power foods” for longer life and better health.  Here they are  (listed alphabetically): almonds, apples, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, beans, beets, spinach, sweet potatoes, and wheat germ.  You probably already know why these foods are healthy since most experts list them as foods they recommend eating more of.  Unhappily for me, the list does not include roast beef or lemon meringue pie.

Foods that do and don’t freeze well: Many sources say that you can freeze any food, but, in some cases, if you try it, you’ll be sorry because the defrosted product will look and perhaps also taste abysmal. We all know not to freeze lettuce, but Consumer Reports on Health says that “sturdy greens,” such as spinach, kale, and collards are freezer-friendly. Here’s advice (some of it surprising) about what NOT to freeze from the same article:

-          foods that can separate and curdle: such as those made with cream sauce, mayonnaise, or yogurt

-          foods that lose quality in the freezer: cooked rice, fresh tomatoes, fried food, mushrooms, shelled eggs, and whole potatoes

 One final bit of freezing advice: fish, seafood, meat, and poultry tolerate freezing better raw than cooked. 

Artificially sweetened foods and your teeth: Men’s Health online reports on a new study in the British Dental Journal.  Here’s the surprising bad news: some sugarless gums and candies contain extra ingredients that eat away tooth enamel and contribute to cavities.  You’ve chosen sugarless to avoid obesity and visits to the dentist, right?  Well, think again. Although previous research has shown that artificial sweeteners neutralize acid and thereby prevent dental erosion, the new study reveals that some manufacturers add acidic flavors and preservatives back into some sugar-free foods and beverages, and these are harmful to the teeth.

 Here’s what the article says regarding gum: “Most American sugar-free gum is sweetened with the sugar alcohol sorbitol because it’s cheap. But studies show that xylitol is superior at fighting cavities. Chew a stick of gum with xylitol after every meal for maximum benefit.”  To read more on this topic, click here: http://news.menshealth.com/surprising-teeth-destroying-foods/2011/10/15/

Weirdly Flavored Vodkas: They’re pushing the limits on this novelty, says Time magazine .  Here are some of the latest flavors of vodka on the market: grilled cheese, whipped cream, peanut butter, and smoked salmon.  Flavored vodka accounts for about 15%  of the $4.8 billion vodka market in the U.S. Among the top sellers are citrus and vanilla.  If you want to find the funky newcomers, see the “Food” section of Time’s October 3, 20ll issue. 

Spices for your Health: You thought you were adding spices for flavor, but, according to Your Beauty (an online magazine), the following eight herbs have been proven to decrease inflammation or disease risk: cinnamon, capsaicin, cumin, turmeric, oregano, ginger, thyme, and rosemary.  (Maybe this explains why carrot-ginger soup seems to be turning up on every menu lately.)  So what do these spices do for health, and how can you find recipes for using them?  Just click here for the answers: http://www.youbeauty.com/nutrition/spices-for-health

Source(s):

Johns Hopkins Medicine: Health After 50  “HouseCalls: Advice from Johns Hopkins Experts” October 2011.

Consumer Reports on Health “On Your Mind: Radiation from bananas” October 2011.

UCLA Division of Geriatrics: Healthy Years, “10 Foods to Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life,” November 2011.

Consumer Reports on Health  “Food Sense: 5 tips for stocking your freezer”

November 20ll.

Menshealth.com “Surprising Teeth-Destroying Foods” 

http://news.menshealth.com/surprising-teeth-destroying-foods/2011/10/15/

Time “There’s A Fish in My Drink. Pushing the limits on flavored vodka” October 3, 2011

Youbeauty.com “Spice It Up For Health”

http://www.youbeauty.com/nutrition/spices-for-health