Square Watermelon

Square Watermelon

A round watermelon can take up a lot of room in a refrigerator and the usually round fruit often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves?

Smart Japanese Farmers have forced their watermelons to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.

Zentsuji farmer came up with the innovative idea for a space-saving square watermelon some twenty years earlier. Since then, the square fruit has been sold in various selected outlets across Japan, but they are prohibitively expensive to buy and their potential market is therefore quite limited. Today the cuboid watermelons are hand-picked and shipped all over Japan. But the fruit, on sale in a selection of department stores and upmarket supermarkets, appeals mainly to the wealthy and fashion-conscious of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two major cities.

Each melon sells for 10,000 yen, equivalent to about $83. It is almost double, or even triple, that of a normal watermelon.

Is cucumber a fruit or vegetable?

To know whether cucumber is a fruit or vegetable, you need to know what is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable. If it has the seeds, then technically, it is a fruit. The cucumbers are the matured ovaries of a flower and therefore contain seeds. This, of course, makes cucumbers a fruit. It also makes tomatoes, squash, green beans and melons all fruits as well.

Dark chocolate could prevent heart problem

According to researchers based in Melbourne, eating about 100g of dark chocolate daily could help prevent heart problems in high risk people. Dark chocolate is rich in components called polyphenols, especially flavonoids, which can have anti-inflammatory and blood pressure lowering effects.

Melbourne researchers surveyed data on 2000 people at risk of developing heart disease and estimated the benefits to their health of eating 100g of dark chocolate a day after a decade.

Using a best-case scenario of 100 per cent compliance, the researchers showed that daily dark chocolate consumption could avert about 85 fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, per 10,000 people treated over 10 years.

It also showed that spending $40 per person a year on prevention strategies using dark chocolate would be cost-effective.

(Source)

Gold - plated dosa

The humble dosa – a pancake made from rice batter and lentils – may be very popular in southern India, but the country’s newly prosperous middle classes can now relish a gold-plated version of this dish.

Dosa come in many varieties, for example plain or with a potato masala filling. And they are not very expensive, costing between 50 and 100 Rupees (94-$1.90, 60p-£1.20).

But the Raj Bhog restaurant, in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru (Bangalore), now offers dosa covered in a coating of pure gold.

The luxury comes at a price. Each gold dosa costs the princely sum of 1011 Indian Rupees (£12.25; $19).

Diners are promised that they can tuck into one milligram of gold, spread out over 12 cm by 12 cm of pure gold foil. The gold is added to each dosa in the final wrap – very much like adding a thin sheet of cheese or butter while applying the finishing touches to the dish.

For the restaurant it is probably just an innovative way of marketing itself, an attempt to stand out in Malleswaram, an upmarket area of India’s IT capital Bengaluru.

(Source)

Is a pizza a vegetable?

Is a pizza a vegetable? In the federal school lunch program in US, the answer is yes. And Congress doesn't want that to change.

Pizza -- specifically, tomato paste used in the sauce -- is considered a vegetable under rules for school lunch programs that get federal dollars. Now, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to slice how much each portion of tomato paste counts toward a serving of vegetables.

The USDA doesn't object to tomato paste counting toward some of the daily vegetable requirement for kids, but says schools rely far too heavily on the pizza -- a popular if nutritionally suspect offering in school cafeterias.

The food industry complains the USDA proposal devalues its products. Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods Inc., a company that provides pizzas to schools, said it opposes the USDA plan because it would "understate the amount of tomato products ... actually consumed."

Read more.

Eating chocolate linked to reduced heart disease risk

Researchers have found that higher levels of chocolate consumption have been associated with a 37% reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, 31% reduction in diabetes and a 29% reduction for stroke.

Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the UK analyzed the results of seven studies involving more than 114,000 participants. The studies looked at consumption of dark and milk chocolate and included chocolate bars, chocolate drinks and chocolate snacks.

Previous research has shown that cocoa and cacao products appear to have a positive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on heart health. The Cambridge analysis found a significant association between increased consumption of these products and reduced risk for any cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.

Read more.

Japan scientist synthesizes meat from human feces

It's being called the "poop burger". Japanese scientists have found a way to create artificial meat from sewage containing human feces.

Somehow this feels like a Vonnegut plotline: population boom equals food shortage. Solution? Synthesize food from human waste matter. Absurd yes, but Japanese scientists have actually discovered a way to create edible steaks from human feces.

Mitsuyuki Ikeda, a researcher from the Okayama Laboratory, has developed steaks based on proteins from human excrement. Tokyo Sewage approached the scientist because of an overabundance of sewage mud. They asked him to explore the possible uses of the sewage and Ikeda found that the mud contained a great deal of protein because of all the bacteria.

The researchers then extracted those proteins, combined them with a reaction enhancer and put it in an exploder which created the artificial steak. The “meat” is 63% proteins, 25% carbohydrates, 3% lipids and 9% minerals. The researchers color the poop meat red with food coloring and enhance the flavor with soy protein. Initial tests have people saying it even tastes like beef.

Inhabitat notes that “the meatpacking industry causes 18 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, mostly due to the release of methane from animals.” Livestock also consume huge amounts of resources and space in efforts to feed ourselves as well as the controversy over cruelty to animals. Ikeda’s recycled poop burger would reduce waste and emissions, not to mention obliterating Dante’s circle for gluttons.

The scientists hope to price it the same as actual meat, but at the moment the excrement steaks are ten to twenty times the price they should be thanks to the cost of research. Professor Ikeda understands the psychological barriers that need to be surmounted knowing that your food is made from human feces. They hope that once the research is complete, people will be able to overlook that ugly detail in favor of perks like environmental responsibility, cost and the fact that the meat will have fewer calories.

(Source)

Cats and dairy products

Despite the prevalent thought that cats love milk, most are not able to digest it well. Just like people, cats can be lactose intolerant.  Lactose intolerance is a condition that occurs when the body is unable to digest a sugar, known as lactose, which is naturally found in milk and dairy products. Cats often develop symptoms of lactose intolerance when they eat dairy products. To digest lactose, a milk sugar, the feline digestive systems must contain the enzyme lactase.

While kittens are able digest milk, this is due to the undeveloped digestive system of the young kitten. Some cats can handle the occasional bowl of milk with no problems, while other cats may have severe reactions to dairy products. The cause of this disparity is most likely due to slight genetic differences between cats.

When adult cats eat milk or cheese, many of them will develop lactose intolerance symptoms such as gas, bloat, upset stomach, abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting and loose bowel movements. The most common symptom of lactose intolerance in cats is diarrhoea.

American man has existed on a daily diet of Big Macs

American man has existed on a daily diet of Big Macs since 1972 - and his cholesterol is fine.

Don Gorske, 57, ate his 25,000th McDonald's Big Mac on Tuesday, May 17 - the 39th anniversary of the first time he tasted the iconic burger.

He's even timed it down to mark the exact moment he first bit into a McDonald's patty at 3pm on May 17, 1972.

Incredibly, his cholesterol is just fine. Perhaps less incredibly, his taste buds don't work.

The Wisconsin man who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and has kept every receipt for every Big Mac he's ever purchased.

Complete news.

Most Expensive Fruitcake

A unique of its kind, is the diamond-studded Christmas fruitcake. The delicious cake was exclusively adorned with 223 small diamonds encrusted on it that needs to be removed while eating the cake. Skilfully created by a Tokyo-based chef, the bejewelled cake was high-priced at $1.65 million.  This expensive treat was put on display in an exhibit called “Diamonds: Nature's Miracle” along with other diamond-related designs back in 2005.

Dmitri Mendeleev and Vodka

It was in the 14th century that vodka was first described as "Russia's national drink".

Some 500 years later, in 1894, after centuries of unregulated production, Dmitri Mendeleev, Professor of Chemistry at St. Petersburg University and creator of the Periodic Table of Elements, established the absolute standard for vodka distillation.

Mendeleev's perfect balance of 40% alcohol by volume gave Russian vodka a precise formula for what had been, until then, a process closer to alchemy than chemistry.

Today, Russian Standard vodkas take Mendeleev's 19th century ideas and distillation to 21st century levels of quality by combining the finest hand-selected wheat from the black soil of the Russian steppes with the pure, soft waters of Lake Ladoga to create a classic Russian spirit with an exceptionally pure, smooth taste.

(Source)

Different colours of pumpkins

Pumpkins are orange.......... everybody knows that. But did you know the king of jack-o-lanterns comes in many colours besides orange? Pumpkin varieties have expanded to include shades of red, pink, green, yellow, white, blue and even tan to please the palates of those looking for something unique or fun. So, pumpkin lovers have lots of variety to choose from. What’s your favourite pumpkin color?

Most pumpkins are orange because of the high amounts of lutein, alpha- and beta- carotene. But don't assume the absence of orange in the skin means the absence of one or more of these substances - almost all pumpkins have some variation of orange flesh which is rich in Vitamin A and lots of other vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy antioxidants.

Pumpkins mate in a way that can result in interesting colours and shapes. A lot of plants have male and female varieties, but the pumpkin and other squashes feature both sexes on the same vine.

Cross-pollination is very likely between the different varieties of plants, resulting in hybrid pumpkins. For example, the Jarrahdale blue pumpkin is a cross between the Blue Hubbard squash and the huge red Cinderella pumpkin.

Learn more about pumpkins.

Caffeine Craving Linked to Genetics

According to a study whether or not you're caffeine junkie is in part determined by your genes.

The study identified two genes associated with the amount of caffeine people consume. Both of the genes are known to be involved in the breakdown of caffeine in the liver.

The findings suggest one of the main reasons why some people drink more caffeine than others is that the heavy drinkers are better able to tolerate it. While both the liver and the brain influence caffeine consumption. However, it turns out that your liver, more than your brain, determines daily caffeine intake. If your liver breaks it down very rapidly, then likely you drink more.

Studies on twins have suggested that the amount of caffeine a person drinks is, in part, hereditary. But researchers didn't know what genes determine this caffeine preference.

The study scanned the genes of more than 47,000 individuals. Participants answered questions about how much coffee, tea, soda and chocolate they consumed.

The researchers identified two genes, CYP1A2 and AHR that are associated with caffeine intake. Everybody has these genes, but some people have variations that are more active than others. People with the most active versions of these genes drank about 40 milligrams more of caffeine than did people with the least active version. That's equivalent to an 8-ounce can of Diet Coke.

More about the study.

Genetically modified cattle produce human breast milk

Scientists have created genetically modified cattle that produce "human" milk in a bid to make cows' milk more nutritious.

Human genes have been successfully implanted into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk, the London Sunday Telegraph reports.

Human milk contains high quantities of key nutrients that can help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections.

The scientists behind the research believe milk from herds of genetically modified cows could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies, which is often criticised as being an inferior substitute.

The research has the backing of a major biotechnology company.

Find out more about this research.

The History of Ice Cream

Ice cream's origins are known to reach back as far as the second century B.C., although no specific date of origin nor inventor has been undisputedly credited with its discovery. We know that Alexander the Great enjoyed snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar. Biblical references also show that King Solomon was fond of iced drinks during harvesting. During the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius Caesar (A.D. 54-86) frequently sent runners into the mountains for snow, which was then flavored with fruits and juices.

Over a thousand years later, Marco Polo returned to Italy from the Far East with a recipe that closely resembled what is now called sherbet. Historians estimate that this recipe evolved into ice cream sometime in the 16th century. England seems to have discovered ice cream at the same time, or perhaps even earlier than the Italians. "Cream Ice," as it was called, appeared regularly at the table of Charles I during the 17th century. France was introduced to similar frozen desserts in 1553 by the Italian Catherine de Medici when she became the wife of Henry II of France. It wasn't until 1660 that ice cream was made available to the general public. The Sicilian Procopio introduced a recipe blending milk, cream, butter and eggs at Café Procope, the first café in Paris.

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The World's Largest Gummy Bear

The World's Largest Gummy Bear is the lion of the candy world. There is no candy more magnificent or more powerful. This five-pound beast is the equivalent of 1,400 regular sized gummy bears and packs a whopping 12,600 calories.

 

 

They are available in 6 flavours: blue raspberry, red cherry, green apple, orange, pineapple and astro (a combination of red cherry, lemon, and green apple). The gummy bears are available online.

Lady Gaga Threatens Breast Milk Ice Cream Makers With Lawsuit

Lady Gaga is threatening to sue The Icecreamists, a Central London ice cream parlor that used part of her name to sell their human breast milk-derived frozen treat.

The Icecreamists have gained some publicity since premiering the specialty ice cream, 'Baby Gaga' nearly two weeks ago but now face a lawsuit.

Gaga's attorneys at the law firm of Mishcon de Reya sent the owners a legal letter asking them to stop using the name 'Gaga' in their ice cream, calling their concoction "deliberately provocative and, to many people, nausea-inducing.

More on the story.

Breast Milk Ice Cream Supplies Seized

Remember 'Baby Gaga' Breast Milk Ice Cream?

A restaurant which put breast milk ice cream on sale have had their supplies seized by council officials amid fears it is unsafe and Viruses, including hepatitis, can be passed on through breast milk.

The Baby Gaga ice cream will now undergo tests to see if it is safe for adult consumption.

The Icecreamists, in Covent Garden, London, said the milk had been screened in line with blood donor requirements. It was pasteurized and churned together with vanilla pods and lemon zest.

(Source)

Breast Milk Ice Cream

A restaurant in London's Covent Garden is serving a new range of ice cream, made with breast milk.

The dessert, called Baby Gaga, is churned with donations from London mother Victoria Hiley, and served with a rusk and an optional shot of Calpol or Bonjela. Mrs Hiley, said if adults realised how tasty breast milk was more new mothers would be encouraged to breastfeed.

Each serving of Baby Gaga at Icecreamists costs £14.

Mrs Hiley's donation was expressed on site and pasteurised before being churned with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest.

Icecreamists founder Matt O'Connor placed an advert appealing for breast milk donations and believes his new recipe will be a success. Hiley is paid 15 pounds for every 10 ounces of breast milk she donates, and 14 other woman have offered their own dairy varieties to the cause.

The makers say the ice cream is pure, organic and totally natural.

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Egg Facts

• The edible part of a chicken's egg is approximately 74 per cent water, 12 per cent protein, and 11 per cent fat.

• In Macedonia, an egg can mean the difference between life and death. According to local lore, if you share a birthday or even a birth month with a dying relative, your days are likewise numbered. The only way to cheat fate is to share the yolk of an egg with this relative while standing on opposite sides of a stream. Similarly, a dying man might save himself if he finds someone to share a sugared egg with him on the threshold of a house.

• In Mergentheim, Germany, if someone falls gravely ill, that person ties a white thread around an egg and places it into a fire. If the shell turns black in the flame, death is not far off.

Check out the list to find out more interesting facts about this popular food product that might surprise you.