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15 Fascinating Food Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth.

Historically, people secured food through two methods: hunting and gathering, and agriculture. Today, most of the food energy required by the ever increasing population of the World is supplied by the food industry.

#1 Coconut Water

The Fact: "Coconut water can be used (in emergencies) as a substitute for blood plasma."

It is said that coconut water is identical to human plasma and can be injected directly into the human bloodstream. The story has its origin from World War II where British and Japanese patients were given coconut water intravenously because saline solution was in short supply. Doctors today say that they wouldn’t be inclined to set up a coconut water IV for dehydrated patients. It could possibly cause elevated calcium and potassium, which could be dangerous.

Visit : www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-coconut-water

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_water

See more : www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits-of-coconut

#2 Cow's Milk

The Fact: "More people are allergic to cow's milk than any other food."

Some studies suggest that milk consumption may increase the risk of suffering from certain health problems. Cow milk allergy (CMA) is an immunologically mediated adverse reaction to one or more cow's milk proteins. Rarely is it severe enough to cause death.

Milk contains casein, a substance that breaks down in the human stomach to produce casomorphin, an opioid peptide. In the early 1990s it was hypothesized that casomorphin can cause or aggravate autism spectrum disorders, and casein-free diets are widely promoted.

called laetrile.

Visit : www.waoy.org/9.html

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_allergy

See more : http://bit.ly/1qwkFf9

#3 Seed of Peach

The Fact: "The seed inside a peach contains an almond-like nut which holds a potent anti-cancer medicine called laetrile."

The kernels of all these species contain high concentrations of a chemical known as laetrile, amygdalin or vitamin B-17. Research has suggested that laetrile induces programmed cell death in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. This appears to occur because the chemical is actually composed of four separate molecules: two of glucose, one of benzaldyhide and one of cyanide. The latter two chemicals are toxic, but are bound up in a non-bioavailable form.

Visit : http://www.scienceagogo.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=30322

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach

See More : http://goo.gl/Uo7Eqo

#4 Organic Grapes

The Fact: "Red grapes are famous for resveratrol, but they only produce it in response to a FUNGAL infection during their growth. So organic grapes have more resveratrol because they’re not sprayed with anti-fungals."

Unlike other antioxidants such as anthocyanins, which give blueberries their color and are an integral part of the fruit, however, plants produce resveratrol only in response to fungal or bacterial attack. That’s right—resveratrol is a natural antibiotic and fungicide. This means that the more natural fungi and bacteria a plant is exposed to, the

more resveratrol it will produce.

Visit : http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1920/2

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape

See more : http://goo.gl/r01yog

#5 Coca Cola

The Fact: "A 20 oz. bottle of Coca Cola has more sugar than a large Cinnabon."

Despite the name, the primary modern flavoring ingredients in a cola drink are sugar, citrus oils (from oranges, limes, or lemon fruit peel), cinnamon, vanilla, and an acidic flavorant. Manufacturers of cola drinks add trace ingredients to create distinctively different tastes for each brand. Trace flavorings may include nutmeg and a wide variety of ingredients, but the base flavorings that most people identify with a cola taste remain vanilla and cinnamon. Acidity is often provided by phosphoric acid, sometimes accompanied by citric or other isolated acids. Coca-Cola's recipe and several others are maintained as corporate trade secrets.

Visit : http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/brands/category/coca-cola.html

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola

See More : www.bbc.com/news/health-25132851

#6 Strawberries, Blackberries

The Fact: "Neither Strawberries nor blackberries are actually berries."

The fruit (which is not a botanical berry, but an aggregate accessory fruit) is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry

Images : http://goo.gl/purVy4

Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/strawberries/

See More : http://goo.gl/m3xlKw

#7 Peanuts

The Fact: "Dynamite is made with 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.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut

See more : www.peanut-institute.org/peanut-facts/

#8 Carrots

The Fact: "Carrots used to be purple before the 17th Century"

The modern day orange carrot wasn't cultivated until Dutch growers in the late 16th century took mutant strains of the purple carrot, including yellow and white carrots, and gradually developed them into the sweet, plump, orange variety we have today. It was purple in the 10th century in such locations as the Middle East, India and Europe. It appears to have been introduced to Europe via Spain by the Moors in the 8th century. The 12th-century Arab Andalusian agriculturist, Ibn al-'Awwam, describes both red and yellow carrots; Simeon Seth also mentions both colours in the 11th century.

Visit : www.care2.com/greenliving/10-benefits-of-carrots.html

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot

See more : http://goo.gl/W8unHK

#9 Soup

The Fact: "The first soup was made of hippopotamus"

The earliest archeological evidence for the consumption of soup dates back to 6000 BC, and it was hippopotamus soup!

Visit : http://goo.gl/tziQW3

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soup

See more : http://goo.gl/lXnxxp

#10 Popcorn

The Fact : Microwave popcorn gives off a toxic, lung-damaging gas when cooked.

This chemical, called diacetyl, is so toxic that it commonly destroys the lungs of workers in microwave popcorn factories, afflicting them with the crippling and irreversible disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans. Bronchiolitis obliterans is so rare outside of this context that it has become more commonly known as “popcorn lung,” after the primary cause of the disease.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn

Visit : http://goo.gl/f9U1qU

Sources :

http://www.naturalnews.com/024460_popcorn_disease_diacetyl.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/023771_popcorn_diacetyl_lung.html

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-to-make-popcorn/19273632

#11 Cherries

The Fact: "Cherries ease inflammation and gout; and they may even help prevent arthritis."

Did you know that cherries can lower levels of inflammation in the body drastically enough to dramatically alleviate arthritis symptoms and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes? It doesn’t even take a super-powerful extract to feel the effect; powdered cherries alone have produced dramatic results. In at least one study, powdered cherry consumption actually led to a change in the functioning of inflammation-regulating genes in mice.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry

Sources :

http://www.naturalnews.com/026091_cherries_gout.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/026047_cherries_tart_inflammation.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/025210_melatonin_cherries_natural.html

#12 Refried Beans

The Fact: Refried beans are 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.
Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refried_beans
Visit : http://moneysavingmom.com/.../how-to-make-homemade-refried-beans.html
See more : http://goo.gl/pv3WzJ

#13 Honey

The Fact: "Honey is made from nectar and bee vomit"

Honey produced from flowers of oleanders, rhododendrons, mountain laurels, sheep laurel, and azaleas may cause honey intoxication. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death. Honey intoxication is more likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey and honey from farmers who may have a small number of hives. Commercial processing, with pooling of honey from numerous sources, is thought to dilute any toxins.
Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey
See more : www.benefits-of-honey.com/health-benefits-of-honey.html

Visit : www.honey.com/

#14 McDonald’s

The Fact: "McDonald’s sells 75 hamburgers every second of every day."

The McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries across 35,000 outlets. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948 they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth.

A McDonald's restaurant is operated by either a franchisee, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. McDonald's Corporation revenues come from the rent, royalties, and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants. In 2012, McDonald's Corporation had annual revenues of $27.5 billion, and profits of $5.5 billion.

McDonald's primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. In response to changing consumer tastes, the company has expanded its menu to include salads, fish, wraps, smoothies, fruit, and seasoned fries.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's

#15 Gooseberry

The Fact: "Marketers didn’t like the name Chinese gooseberry, so they renamed the fruit “kiwi” after a bird that it resembles."

The gooseberry (/ˈɡuːsbɛri/ or /ˈɡuːzbɛri/ (American) or /ˈɡʊzbəri/ (British)),[1] with scientific names Ribes uva-crispa (and syn. Ribes grossularia), is a species of Ribes (which also includes the currants). It is native to Europe, northwestern Africa, west, south and southeast Asia. Gooseberry bushes produce an edible fruit and are grown on both a commercial and domestic basis.

Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gooseberry

See more : www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/gooseberry.html