Stomach versus Brain

Scholars have understood the different motives for eating as far back as Socrates, who counseled, "Thou shouldst eat to live, not live to eat."

Nowadays, scientists are using sophisticated brain-imaging technology to understand how the lure of delicious food can overwhelm the body's built-in mechanism to regulate hunger and fullness, what's called "hedonic" versus "homeostatic" eating.

This week, it's stomach versus brain. May the best organ win.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "When every logical course of action is exhausted, the only logical course that remains is inaction." - Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Star Trek: Voyager, "Twisted"

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Stomach vs Brain

Coffee's trained tasters know their beans and brews

We've looked how the smell of freshly brewed coffee can help relieve stress, why coffee is a bitter brew, how diesel can be made from from coffee grounds, and how coffee was one of the six drinks that changed history.

The world of coffee has as much complexity and diversity as the world of wine. Many different steps and processes go into creating the perfect coffee bean and the perfect cup of coffee.

This week, a look at coffee's trained tasters, their beans and brews.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "There are creatures in the universe who would consider you the ultimate achievement, android. No feelings, no emotions – no pain. And yet, you covet those qualities of humanity. Believe me, you're missing nothing. But if it means anything to you...you're a better human than I." - Q to Commander Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Deja Q"

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Coffee's Trained Tasters Know Their Beans and Brews

5 Things That Will Make You Happier

In the last few years, psychologists and researchers have been digging up hard data on a question previously left to philosophers: What makes us happy? Researchers have studied people all over the world to find out how things like money, attitude, culture, memory, health, altruism, and our day-to-day habits affect our well-being.

The emerging field of positive psychology is bursting with new findings that suggest your actions can have a significant effect on your happiness and satisfaction with life.

This week, a look at five things that will make you happier.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "...the things love can drive a man to – the ecstasies, the miseries, the broken rules, the desperate chances, the glorious failures and the glorious victories." - Doctor Leonard McCoy, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Requiem for Methuselah"

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5 Things That Will Make You Happier

A Lesson in Food Product Dating

How many of us have cleaned a cupboard, refrigerator or freezer and tried to remember when we bought a food buried in the back? On closer inspection of the food's product dating information, you may have had even more questions.

Understanding how food-product dating works might not be a subject you've lost any sleep over. But it has probably been a source of confusion that's resulted in some perfectly good food being thrown in the garbage or poured down the drain.

This week, a lesson in food product dating.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "One can begin to reshape the landscape with a single flower, Captain." - Spock to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Unification, Part II"

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A Lesson in Food Product Dating

Why A Calorie Isn't Just A Calorie

The calorie is a unit of energy, first defined by Professor Nicolas Clément in 1824 as a unit of heat. In most fields its use is archaic, having been replaced by the SI unit of energy, the joule. However, in many countries it remains in common use as a unit of food energy.

Some countries use the food calorie, which is equal to 1 kilocalorie (kcal), or 1,000 calories. In the context of nutrition, and especially food labeling, the calories are large calories approximately equal to 4.1868 kilojoules (kJ). The kilojoule is the unit officially recommended by the World Health Organization and other international organizations.

No matter how you count them, they are important. This week, a look at calories.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Judging by the pollution content of the atmosphere, I believe we have arrived at the latter half of the 20th century." - Captian Spock, when the HMS Bounty arrives in 1986, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

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Calories

Don't Forget To Eat Your Greens

Greens can be eaten a number of ways, including raw, steamed, stir fried, or even baked. Doesn't matter how you eat them, just make sure you do.

This week, how eating your greens can save your life.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." - Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Commander Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Peak Performance"

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Don't Forget to Eat Your Greens

Eye Glasses

I've worn glasses to correct my far vision since I was 12, and recently finally gave in on bifocals to also correct my near vision. Very few people have perfect eyesight. More than half of us need glasses to correct a vision problem some of the time, if not all of the time. At least I'm in good company.

This week, a look at a brief history of corrective lenses.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Change is the essential process of all existence." - Commander Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"

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Glasses