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Eating garlic could help protect your memory, new study shows

Eating garlic could help protect your memory, new study shows

You might miss out on some smooches, but a new study suggests that consuming garlic may help protect your memory. Scientists at the University of Louisville found that eating garlic may reduce age-related problems with memory. As it turns out, allyl sulfide, the same sulfide compound that gives us “garlic breath” also improves our gut health, which is one factor in cognitive function. If people eat more garlic, the study’s authors believe people could see a reduced risk in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. For the study, researchers gave oral allyl sulfide to 24-month-old mice (basically 56 to 69 years of age in human years). They then compared these mice with 4- and 24-month-old mice not receiving the allyl sulfide supplement. The older mice that received the garlic showed better long and short term memories, as well as a healthier gut bacteria, than the mice that didn’t receive…

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Americans spent $40 billion while drunk shopping

Americans spent $40 billion while shopping drunk

Your bar tab might be high, but that might not be the the highest bill you receive for your evening. A new report found that Americans picked up the credit card and spent close to $40 billion on drunk purchases last year — that’s right, BILLIONS! According to Finder.com, 26 percent of people made one or more booze-fueled buying decisions in 2018, which equals out to be a whopping 53.4 million people drunk shopping. More than half of the 2,100 individuals polled claim some of those late-night orders were purely hunger-fueled, but 10 percent admitted to buying cars, and 14 percent admitted to buying vacations. The number of people drunk shopping has actually decreased in recent years, but how much they’re spending is way up. Collectively, Americans dropped $39.4 billion on drunk purchases in the past 12 months — up from $30.43 in 2018. Finder reports that on average, we spent…

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6 Benefits of eating spicy foods

6 Benefits of eating spicy foods

Eating spicy foods can be a point of pride for some people. Friends compete to see who can eat the hottest wings without crying. Restaurants tout their Ghost Pepper salsas, and TV show crews travel thousands of miles to film their hosts taking on spicy food challenges at fairs and festivals. But aside from a badge of honor — and maybe the thrill of it — there are several benefits to eating spicy foods. Of course, if you already have reflux or gastro issues, eating spicy foods may make you feel worse. But, if you don’t have these issues and your stomach is strong, you may experience some of these health benefits of spicy foods: 1. A boost in metabolism. Studies have shown that people who eat spicy foods burned more calories and had less of an appetite after eating red pepper. Spicy foods, like hot peppers, contain the capsaicin,…

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Restaurants with handwritten menus are seen as healthier, study says

Restaurants with handwritten menus are seen as healthier, study says

From the dim lighting to the trendy tunes, there are countless factors beyond the food that influence what you think about a restaurant. Now, a new study claims that even the font chosen for a menu can influence your perception. The study, led by Stephanie Liu, an Assistant Professor of Consumer Sciences at The Ohio State University, suggests that restaurants with handwritten menus (as opposed to machine-written/professionally printed) are seen as having better tasting food. Research found that the imperfect handwritten font generated more favorable attitudes toward the menu overall. Furthermore, the food was perceived as being healthier. The findings are explained in the abstract of the paper, published in the Journal of Business Research: “The results show that handwritten typeface creates a competitive advantage by conveying a sense of human touch, which subsequently induces the perception that love is symbolically imbued in the restaurant’s offerings.” The researchers then determined that…

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Weight gain could reduce your sense of taste, study shows

Weight gain could reduce your sense of taste, study shows

Chew on this. A recent study shows that packing on some extra pounds can seriously mess with your sense of taste. Yes, regularly eat too much and your taste buds become less effective. Researchers at Cornell University set out to find out why this is the case. They fed mice high-fat diets, which led to weight gain, then examined their tongues. When compared to a control group of mice which was fed a normal diet, the obese mice had 25% less taste buds present. Their taste buds were quicker to mature and die off, and were resupplied at a slower rate. The scientists think that weight gain can cause inflammation that can interrupt the regeneration of taste buds, meaning fewer are present at any given time. Results were published in the journal PLOS Biology. So how does this translate in humans? Of course, individuals naturally have differences when it comes…

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Beer and wine result in same hangover intensity, study shows

Beer and wine result in same hangover intensity, study shows

If you think you can outsmart alcohol, think again. While some people swear “beer before wine and you’ll feel fine,” a new study shows that you’re going to wake up not feeling so great no matter what tricks you try. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tested various theories about drinking beer and wine. Does wine give worse hangovers or does beer? And does the order in which you drink them matter? For the study, researchers from Witten/Herdecke University in Germany and the University of Cambridge tested 90 students, ages 19 to 40 by splitting them in to three groups. The BBC reports that one group drank 2.5 pints of beer followed by four glasses of white wine. The second group drank four glasses of white wine followed by 2.5 pints of beer. The third group, the control group, was given only given beer or wine enough…

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Consumer Reports finds alarming levels of heavy metals in kids’ fruit juice

Consumer Reports finds alarming levels of heavy metals in kids' fruit juice

A new study will be hard to swallow for some well-meaning parents. A recent study by Consumer Reports found concerning levels of potentially dangerous metals in many kids’ fruit juices. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead were found in beloved brands including Whole Food’s 365 Everyday Value, Juicy Juice, Honest Kids, Minute Maid, Welch’s, and more. Also see: Learn to make your own juice at home. The watchdog group tested 45 fruit juices sold nationwide, including grape, apple, pear, and fruit blends. More than half of the juices tests for those three heavy metals. Overall, heavy metals in fruit juices have gone down since a similar CR test in 2011, but  Consumer Report’s Chief Scientific Officer James Dickerson, Ph.D. warns we shouldn’t be comfortable with that alone. “People should still be concerned that test heavy metals are still being found in juice products… and take action so they can ensure that they…

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This is the best way to wash pesticides off your fruit and vegetables, study shows

This is the best way to wash pesticides off your fruit and vegetables, study says

If you splash your fruits and veggies with a little water and consider them clean, you might want to step your game up. It turns out there is only one way that will get rid of the dangerous pesticides coating them. According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, removal of pesticide residues from fresh produce is important to reduce the risk of exposure. Pesticides have been linked to a number of health problems in humans including everything from headaches to respiratory problems to cancer. So what’s the best way to rid your produce of these unwanted chemical residues? Scientists for the study applied three different washing methods to a bunch of Gala apples — Clorox bleach, baking soda, and plain tap water. They tracked the pesticide levels throughout the study and found that apples soaked in a baking soda and water solution for…

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This state drinks the most wine in the US

This state drinks the most wine in the US

With its ample sunshine, gorgeous beaches, and general laid back state of mind, California has acquired a bit of a party reputation over the decades. So it probably comes as no surprise that residents of the Golden State drink the most wine in the country. The National Institutes of Health’s examination of national drinking trends found that Californians drink more wine by volume than any other state. Of course, California is also home to world renown wine producing region, Napa Valley, and more wineries than any other state — by a long shot. In fact, 86 percent of the wineries in the country are located in California. California also boasts the largest population, with 39 million thirsty residents, so they have a leg up. Runners up include Florida, New York, Texas, and Illinois. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Wyoming drinks the least wine, followed by West Virginia, North…

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Ditch the bacon and booze to reduce your risk of cancer, study says

You already know that frequent bacon, greasy cheeseburgers and booze are the fast track to packing on the pounds, but unfortunately, that’s not the only risk. If you live by the diet plan of “everything in moderation,” you may want to reconsider. A new study shows that consuming these items, even occasionally, can increase your risk of cancer. According to new findings from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), ditching booze and bacon entirely could reduce your risk of cancer up to 40 percent. The WCRF research surveyed 51 million people and focused more on making specific dietary recommendations than ever before, according to the Evening Standard. Researchers now urge people to limit consumption of soft drinks, processed foods — like bacon — and reduce drinking, while eating red meat only in moderation. Researchers also recommended staying away from sugar and ditching fast food entirely. As more countries adopt “Western”…

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