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A study from Tufts University found that daily consumption of pistachios can enhance eye health by increasing macular pigment optical density (MPOD), which helps protect against blue light and age-related eye damage. This benefit is attributed to pistachios’ unique content of lutein, a plant pigment essential for eye health and potentially useful in preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Daily pistachios boost eye health by raising lutein, protecting against age-related damage, and supporting brain function. A recent study by researchers at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy suggests that eating pistachios daily may greatly benefit eye health. This...

Researchers have discovered the mechanism linking the overconsumption of red meat with colorectal cancer, as well as identifying a means of interfering with the mechanism as a new treatment strategy for this kind of cancer. Meat is a significant source of protein and fat, as well as essential vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, and vitamins A and B. However, as is the case with many things, eating too much of it is bad for you. Despite the strong evidence associating red meat with some cancers, the underlying mechanism is less clear. Now, researchers from the National Cancer Center Singapore...

An early prototype of an atmospheric water harvesting device from H. Jeremy Cho’s lab. Credit: Jeff Scheid/UNLV ======================================================================== Researchers at UNLV have developed a groundbreaking technology that efficiently extracts large amounts of water from the air, even in extremely low-humidity conditions. Inspired by natural processes observed in tree frogs and air plants, this technology utilizes a hydrogel membrane and can be powered by solar energy, offering a sustainable water source for arid regions. Transforming Air Into Water Turning the air around us into drinking water has long seemed like a marvel, closer to science fiction than reality—especially when it comes...

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Warmer temperatures are impacting the food supply and its safety, experts warned amid an outbreak of E. coli that has struck McDonald's Quarter Pounders. Experts said pathogens—the bacteria that can make us sick—are changing with the weather. "It's an adjustment due to climate change," said Pratik Banerjee, who teaches food safety at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "and some of these adjustments are not good." Banerjee is currently studying the impact of climate on the food supply. According to those with whom CBS News Chicago connected for this story, the McDonald's outbreak is a reminder that...

Patients improved their insulin responses after being taken off medications and adjusting lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes patients who went on a low-carbohydrate diet saw their insulin production double, potentially eliminating their need for medication, according to a new study published Tuesday in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells become less effective. Insulin is needed to regulate blood sugar levels, and when there is not enough being produced, blood sugar levels rise, causing various diseases linked to Type 2 diabetes. No conventional drug for Type 2 diabetes has been shown to...

VIDEO AT LINK...................... Oct. 25 (UPI) -- An Alabama couple may have broken a Guinness World Record by growing an okra plant that reached a height of 16 feet, 10 inches. Mobile residents Terry and Candace Stevens said this was their first year planting okra in their garden, and they were shocked to see one of their plants reach for the sky. "Actually, this is our first year planting," Terry Stevens told WALA-TV. "I think we started in March, and we started in seeds from my shed, and we transferred them out here, and they've just been growing ever since."...

A McDonald’s supplier recalled yellow onions produced in a Colorado plant in response to a deadly E. coli outbreak at the fast food chain Taylor Farms, which supplies onions to McDonald’s franchises that are the subject of a multi-state investigation by health authorities, said it was pulling products “out of an abundance of caution” and that it did not find traces of E. coli as of Wednesday. The Food and Drug Administration has pointed to Taylor Farms onions as “a likely source of contamination” and has launched an investigation into the supplier, CNBC reported Thursday. The Post has sought comment...

NATIONAL NUT DAY National Nut Day is observed annually on October 22nd. This day is NOT about the neighbor that lives down the street or the co-worker who sings with their headphones on. It is a food holiday celebrating a healthy and nutritious snack. #NationalNutDay Nuts are a highly prized food and energy source and are a primary source of nutrients for both humans and wildlife. Many of them are used in cooking, eaten raw, sprouted, or roasted as a snack food, and pressed for oil that is used in cookery and cosmetics. The fats found in nuts, for the...

Words to the wise. I pulled out two brand new sealed boxes of canning jar lids today. Both had black mold on them. Both the same brand. A brand with the same name as a round object used in sports.

NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY Each year on October 21st, National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day ushers in the flavors of fall. Cheesecake is one of America's favorite desserts and by adding pumpkin, we celebrate the essential flavoring of the season. #PumpkinCheesecakeDay This sweet dessert mixes fresh soft cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar to create a base. The crust is made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Pumpkin may be added to cheesecake recipes in various ways. For example, it may be swirled throughout, mixed thoroughly with all ingredients, or layered. Bakers prepare cheesecakes both...

After sipping pumpkin spiced lattes in August and putting up Halloween decorations in late September, Samantha Kowalczyk already looks forward to drinking eggnog-flavored coffee and filling her Wilmington, Delaware, home with cinnamon and sugar cookie scented candles and other holiday aromas. The 30-year-old thinks seasonal flavors and scents should be available year-round. And apparently others feel the same way. In response to growing customer demand, stores of all stripes, from Bath and Body Works and online holiday decor retailer Balsam Hill to Whole Foods Market and doughnut maker Krispy Kreme, are bringing out their festive collections weeks before the Nov....

NATIONAL REAL SUGAR DAY | October 14 October 14 is National Real Sugar Day and we celebrate the people who harvest sugar crops and learn about it's origins. We also learn how to balance a healthy diet, while enjoying enjoy food made with real sugar. #NationalRealSugarDay Today, we dedicate the entire day to celebrating the gold standard of sweetness on National Real Sugar Day. In a March 2021 survey, 1,500 U.S. consumers were asked to name any ingredients that makes food or beverages more enjoyable to eat or drink. Of course, sugar came in as the number one ingredient. Not...

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Researchers propose using “wood vaults” to store carbon by burying wood to prevent decomposition, potentially sequestering up to 10 gigatons of CO2 annually. Further study is needed to assess the method’s environmental impacts and scalability. Inspired by the discovery of an ancient buried log, researchers have developed a new method to capture and store atmospheric carbon for centuries. The technique involves sealing woody biomass in “wood vaults,” offering a potentially cost-effective way to combat climate change. Achieving net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is crucial for combating climate change, yet reducing fossil fuel emissions alone is insufficient to meet the Paris...

'Octopuses are among the most intelligent, complex life on Earth. Farming them is not only inhumane but poses significant environmental risks.'It's officially illegal to farm octopus in the state of California. On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bipartisan bill (which had zero opponents) that criminalizes the farming of octopuses for human consumption, based on the ideas that the aquatic animals are "highly intelligent," have "long-term memory," and have "have a well-developed nervous system." And, as the Los Angeles Times importantly noted, the bill also bans business owners and operators from "knowingly participating" in the sale of an octopus that...

Background: The aftermath of a tanker-truck crash that killed five people in Springfield, Ill. Inset: Footage of a car believed to have been connected to the crash (WCIA/YouTube). A teen driver from Ohio has apparently admitted to setting off a chain of events that ended in a fatal tanker crash and a toxic chemical spill in central Illinois. Five people were killed when a semitruck carrying anhydrous ammonia in Teutopolis, in central Illinois, on Sept. 29, 2023. The tanker jackknifed when it veered to the right in an apparent attempt to avoid a collision when another vehicle tried to pass...

A food processing company has recalled nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products manufactured at an Oklahoma plant due to listeria concerns. “BrucePac, a Durant, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. “The ready-to-eat meat and poultry items were produced from June 19, 2024, to October 8, 2024. These products were shipped to other establishments and distributors nationwide then distributed to restaurants and institutions,” the FSIS stated. According to the New York...

Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A crash on a California highway caused an hours-long "traffic yam" when one of the vehicles lost its load of sweet potatoes into the roadway. The California Highway Patrol's Merced post said on social media that traffic on southbound Highway 99 in Livingston was brought to a standstill when a crash involving a truck caused the vehicle to drop hundreds of sweet potatoes onto the roadway. Travelers were advised to find alternate routes while officials worked to clear the tubers from the highway. Traffic resumed after a clean-up operation that lasted for several hours.

NATIONAL MOLDY CHEESE DAY National Moldy Cheese Day is a unique holiday that is observed each year on October 9 that celebrates delicious cheeses. #MoldyCheeseDay A cheesemonger is a person who specializes in cheeses, butter, and other dairy products. They may take umbrage at the ordinary person's offense of moldy cheese. Well, depending on the type of mold, of course. Some cheese molds, red or brown-tinged molds, for example, are offensive. Toss those bacteria-contaminated moldy cheeses in the garbage quickly and move along to the grey, blue, or green colored moldy cheeses in the fridge instead. Like a sommelier pairs...

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...