Tag Archives: Food facts

Why Iodine is Added to Table Salt

##EMBED## Iodine and an anti-caking agent, typically calcium silicate, are typically added to table salt.  The former is added to help prevent thyroid disease, such as enlargement of the goiter, and the latter so that the salt won’t get lumpy in humid areas.  This anti-caking agent won’t dissolve in water though, so salt containing an anti-caking agent makes a poor […]

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Peanuts Are Not Nuts

Myth: Peanuts are nuts. Peanuts are a food with an identity crisis. While most people think of peanuts as nuts, they are actually legumes. What is a legume? It is a type of plant with seeds that grow inside pods such as peas or beans. Unlike nuts, which are grown on trees, peanuts grow underground. Peanut seeds flower above ground […]

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Graham Crackers Were Invented by a Presbyterian Minister Obsessed with His Health

##EMBED## Graham crackers were invented by Sylvester Graham in 1829.  Graham was farm-hand and a teacher who turned  Presbyterian minister due to poor health.   During his time as a minister, Graham developed a unique system for maintaining health.  He recommended hard mattresses for sleeping; keeping your bedroom windows open at all times for fresh air; cold showers; loose clothing; consuming […]

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Pasta Is Not Originally from Italy

Myth: Pasta originally comes from Italy. Worldwide, pasta has become synonymous with Italian cuisine. Italian immigrants themselves brought pasta everywhere they went. While it is true that the most famous varieties and recipes of cooking pasta really do come from Italy, surprisingly, the actual origin of pasta lies elsewhere! So how did pasta make its way to Italy? One of […]

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There is No Such Thing as a Negative Calorie Food

Myth: Your body uses more calories to digest certain types of foods, called “negative calorie” foods, than the actual calories contained in them. The concept of negative calorie food has recently been popularized by the media, around on Internet discussion boards, and from publications, such as “Foods that Cause You to Lose Weight: The Negative Calorie Effect“, by Neal D. […]

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Before the 20th Century, Apples Were Rarely Eaten

##EMBED## Apples weren’t typically eaten previous to the 20th century.  Before then, apples were generally used to make alcoholic drinks.  It wasn’t until around the early 1900s, thanks to groups like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, that people popularly stopped using apples for drink and decided they should eat them.  At this time, the WCTU was campaigning against the evils […]

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The World’s Largest Item On A Menu Is Camel Stuffed with Lamb which has Been Stuffed with Chickens which has Been Stuffed with Fish or Eggs

Today I found out that the largest item on a menu in the world is whole camel which is often stuffed with a lamb which has been stuffed with chickens which has been stuffed with fish or eggs;  the whole lot also tends to have rice and other fixings mixed in at each stuffing stage. As you might expect, cooking […]

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The First Cracker Was Made in 1792

##EMBED## Click Here to Learn Why Crackers Have Holes The first cracker was made in 1792 by John Pearson in Newburyport, Massachusetts.  Pearson was looking to make a type of biscuit that would last longer than traditional sailor’s biscuits without spoiling. He eventually mixed just flour and water, baked it, and called his invention “Pearson’s Pilot Bread”.  This later became […]

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What Causes Lactose Intolerance

##EMBED## Click Here to Learn Why Milk is White Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase, which resides in the small intestine.  Once a baby is born, their lactase levels slowly diminish unless milk is consumed on a regular basis.  When the lactose is passing through your small intestine, it will become attached to the lactase […]

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Why Crackers are Called Crackers

##EMBED## Click Here for Sources and to Learn Why Crackers Have Holes The name “cracker” comes from a fateful day in 1801 in Massachusetts when Josiah Bent accidentally burned a batch of what we now call crackers.  As the crackers burned, they made a crackling noise, which inspired the name.  Bent was also the one who pioneered the cracker as […]

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What Makes Sourdough Bread Sour

##EMBED## Click Here for Sources and to Learn What the Color of Bread Twist Ties Indicates Text Version The sour taste of sourdough bread comes from lactobacillus, which lives in symbiosis with yeast, feeding on byproducts of the yeast fermentation.  The sour taste itself comes from the lactic acid produced by the lactobacillus.  This also helps the bread last longer […]

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What Nougat Is Made Of

Today I found out what nougat is made of. There are three main types of nougat: white nougat; brown nougat; and German nougat.  White nougat is made primarily from whipping egg whites, sugar, nuts (usually almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts), and honey together.  Brown nougat is made in a very similar fashion as white nougat, except generally without the egg whites […]

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