Food & Drink

Marijuana: The Next Diabetes Drug?

"Toking up may help marijuana users to stay slim and lower their risk of developing diabetes, according to the latest study, which suggests that cannabis compounds may help in controlling blood sugar. The new research, which was published in the American Journal of Medicine, is not the first to find that the drug has a two-faced relationship to weight. Three prior studies have shown that marijuana users are less likely to be obese, have a lower risk for diabetes and have lower body-mass-index measurements. And these trends occurred despite the fact that they seemed to take in more calories." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana: The Next Diabetes Drug?

Orwell Reigns Over Raw Milk Trial

"The trial of Vernon Hershberger for the crime of selling healthy, unprocessed milk to informed and willing customers is a sadly damning commentary on the times in which we currently live. This humble yet learned Amish farmer faces the ruin of his farm, his family, and jail time in a trial that highlights the utter depravity of the so-called authorities who claim the right to rule over the rest of us. Over and over thugs raided the peaceful Hershberger's farm, destroying his property and terrorizing his ten children. His crime was selling a product that has been consumed from time immemorial and which thousands upon thousands of families increasingly swear by." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOrwell Reigns Over Raw Milk Trial

Scientists’ accidental find reveals Vitamin C kills tuberculosis bacteria

"Scientists said Tuesday they had managed to kill lab-grown tuberculosis (TB) bacteria with good old Vitamin C — an 'unexpected' discovery they hope will lead to better, cheaper drugs. A team from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York made the accidental find while researching how TB bacteria become resistant to the TB drug isoniazid. The researchers added isoniazid and a 'reducing agent' known as cysteine to the TB in a test tube, expecting the bacteria to develop drug resistance. Instead, the team 'ended up killing off the culture'. In the lab tests, the bacteria never developed resistance to Vitamin C — 'almost like the dream drug', Jacobs said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScientists’ accidental find reveals Vitamin C kills tuberculosis bacteria

Vitamins That Cost Pennies a Day Seen Delaying Dementia

"Drugmakers including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) have spent billions of dollars on ineffective therapies in a so-far fruitless effort to come up with a treatment for dementia and Alzheimer’s. Now, in the latest of a steady drumbeat of research that suggests diet, exercise and socializing remain patients’ best hope, a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that vitamins B6 and B12 combined with folic acid slowed atrophy of gray matter in brain areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVitamins That Cost Pennies a Day Seen Delaying Dementia

NASA taps 3-D printer firm for ‘Star Trek’-style food replicator

"U.S. space agency NASA has tapped 3-D printer firm Systems & Materials Research Corporation (SMRC) to create the first-ever 'Star Trek'-style food replicator using 3-D printing technology. According to Quartz, NASA gave the company a six month, $125,000 grant contract to focus on developing 3-D printers that use cartridges full of carbohydrates, protein powders and oils that can be combined in layers to produce food. Grocery stores could be gradually transformed to ultra-cheap cartridge retailers while non-nutrient edible products are phased out by market forces." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNASA taps 3-D printer firm for ‘Star Trek’-style food replicator

San Francisco bacon restaurant forced to close over smell

"The owner of Bacon Bacon, an eatery that specialized in all things porcine, was forced to shut down this week over complaints by neighbors that it smelled too, well, bacon-y. Neighbors claimed they offered to buy owner Jim Angelus a new air filter to help remedy the issue but were shut down. However, the complaints did lead to the discovery that the restaurant also lacked proper health permits. Bacon Bacon may be able to secure those permits, but a hearing can't be held until July. So, until then, the restaurant must close. Angelus dismissed reports of illegal activity on the restaurant's Facebook page and said he plans to keep operating the restaurant's food truck." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Francisco bacon restaurant forced to close over smell

Does This Make America Less Free Than Slovakia?

"Would your grandparents have ever said that Slovakia is freer than America? Most likely not, but today the story is a little different. Decent Americans have their lives ruined, their business closed, their property confiscated, and often wind up in jail simply because they want to produce clean milk for people who realize what a load of rubbish pasteurized 'milk' is. In Slovakia, a country that has been little more than two decades out of authoritarian rule, we see a very different picture and boy does that make me scratch my head, because the country I grew up considering the freest country in the world really doesn’t sound like it in this example." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoes This Make America Less Free Than Slovakia?

Monsanto wins patent lawsuit against farmer who bought grain from elevator

"A long-lasting court fight over patented soybeans is over, and agribusiness giant Monsanto has won. In a decision issued today, the US Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that Monsanto must be allowed to patent its seeds—and it must be able to punish farmers who try to dodge the patents. Monsanto sued, saying that even though the farmer didn't sign a contract, by reproducing its patented seeds he had committed patent infringement. Bowman lost in the lower courts and was ordered by pay $30,000, which has now grown to more than $80,000 with interest. Last year, the Supreme Court agreed to take the case; oral arguments were held in February." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMonsanto wins patent lawsuit against farmer who bought grain from elevator

European Commission to criminalize nearly all seeds and plants not registered with government

"A new law proposed by the European Commission would make it illegal to 'grow, reproduce or trade' any vegetable seeds that have not been 'tested, approved and accepted' by a new EU bureaucracy named the 'EU Plant Variety Agency.' It's called the Plant Reproductive Material Law, and it attempts to put the government in charge of virtually all plants and seeds. Home gardeners who grow their own plants from non-regulated seeds would be considered criminals under this law. Gardeners must also pay fees to the EU bureaucracy for the registration of their seeds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropean Commission to criminalize nearly all seeds and plants not registered with government

The Food-Truck Business Stinks

"In the ’80s, the city capped the number of carts and trucks at 3,000. Technically, a permit for a food cart or truck is not transferable, but vendors regularly pay permit holders something like $15,000 to $20,000 to lease their certificates for two years. I was reminded of corrupt countries that I’ve visited, like Iraq and Haiti, where illogical and arbitrarily enforced rules create the wrong set of incentives. Perhaps the biggest winner in our current system is an obscure type of business known as an authorized commissary. By city law, every food cart and truck must visit a licensed commissary each day, where a set of mandated cleaning services can be performed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Food-Truck Business Stinks