Tag: food

Poisonous birds – Not venomous discovered so far

Poisonous birds - Pitohui dichrousPoisonous birds - Plectropterus gambensisPoisonous birds - Common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

Poisonous birds – Not venomous discovered so far

Poisonous birds – No venomous bird has been discovered so far. That is, one whose body would produce a poisonous substance. That would then be transmitted by pecking or wounding with a claw. There are several groups of poisonous birds, that is, poisoning us when we touch or eat them. Their organisms are also probably not producing toxins, but they are able to obtain them from poisonous insects or plants.

Most of them live in New Guinea. Where are several species of Pitohui. Also representatives of the families, store the strong neurotoxin (batrachotoxin) in the skin.

The Gambian Goose from the Anatidae family living in Africa. It accumulates in its tissues another poison, a kantaridine (it gets it from the eaten beetles). Plectropterus gambensis, however, are poisonous only after their consumption. So they gain little thanks to this weapon (except revenge from beyond the grave). On the other hand, other animals of this species benefit from this – a predator who once encountered goose meat will avoid it.

A similar phenomenon applies to the European Common Quail, whose meat is also poisonous, although only for part of the year. Probably quails get their toxin from being eaten plants, and poisoning them are known for a long time and referred to as a coturnism (from the Latin name of the quail Coturnix coturnix).

Kiwi Chinese gooseberry – Most often cultivated Actinidia deliciosa

Kiwi Chinese gooseberry - Actinidia deliciosaKiwi Chinese gooseberry - KiwifruitKiwi Chinese gooseberry - Kiwifruit (2)Kiwi Chinese gooseberry - Kiwifruit cross section

Kiwi Chinese gooseberry – Most often cultivated Actinidia deliciosa

Kiwi Chinese gooseberry – With over 50 species of kiwi, the most popular is Actindia deliciosa. In China, the fruits of woody Actinidia vines with a green jelly-like flesh in a rough skin have been eaten for a long time. With time, this Chinese gooseberry was cultivated in New Zealand. There, American soldiers stomped on it, stationed on the island during World War II. In the 1960s, farmers introduced these fruits to their export offer. But to increase their market attractiveness, they changed their name to kiwi. Today, New Zealand is one of the largest kiwi exporters in the world, and its symbol is the non-flying kiwi birds.

Three most common allergies – Causes of allergy development

Three most common allergies - Skin prick testing for allergies

Three most common allergies – Causes of allergy development

Three most common allergies – causes of allergy development – Regardless of what causes allergy,
it is always inadequate reaction of the body. Allergy is considered a disease of civilization.
Which affects approx. 20-30% of people, and this number is constantly growing.
Recent studies indicate that the risk of developing allergies carry the genes.

Food allergies: In the food allergy is caused primarily by protein. Allergens work even after heat treatment and after passing through the digestive tract. The spectrum of food allergies is very wide. Mostly allergic to eggs, fish, hazelnuts, milk, celery, fruit, vegetables, flour, peanuts, meat, potatoes and cocoa.

Pollen allergies: This is one of the most common types of allergies. Its occurrence is related to the flowering of plants, whose pollen is the patient’s allergen. Most often they are grass pollen, less common perennial, shrubs and trees. Sometimes the disease persists throughout the year, but during the flowering of the plant. Symptoms such as swelling of the mucous membranes, rhinitis, tearing, and breathing difficulties occur.

Animal allergies: The most common is allergy to cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, horses and exotic birds. Allergens in this case are skin or fur. However, allergens can also cause faeces, urine and saliva of animals.

Dinosaurs nest – Paleontological discovery

Dinosaurs nest - paleontological discovery in Mongolia - Protoceratops Andrewsi

Dinosaurs nest – Paleontological discovery in Mongolia

Dinosaurs nest – paleontological discovery in Mongolia – Paleontologists have discovered
in Mongolia population of 70 million years old dinosaur nest kind of Protoceratops Andrewsi.
It was in the 15 newly hatched young. This discovery proves that immature individuals
were in the nest after hatching and died not only as food for others.
But also because to external conditions.

Valuable properties omega-3

Valuable properties omega-3 - DHA, omega-3 molecule

Valuable properties omega-3

Valuable properties omega-3 – Omega-3 fatty acid must be constantly supplied to our body with food, because it can not synthesize them itself. Omega-3 has a lot of valuable properties, including reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular, diabetes or cancer. Among the many vegetable oils, omega-3 contains linseed oil which is fragile. Second place is rapeseed oil, which has 10 times more of these valuable fatty acids than olive oil.

Human body cholesterol origin

Human body cholesterol origin - Cholesterol chemical structure

Human body cholesterol origin

Human body cholesterol origin – Cholesterol is a steroid, or a compound belonging to the lipids. It is delivered into the body with food (exogenous source) – approx. 400-500 mg per day. However, the bulk of cholesterol is derived from endogenous sources. Its production deal mainly the liver (70%), colon (15%) and the skin (5%) – approx. 2-3 g per day.

Territorial behavior – Fighting for supremacy

Territorial behavior - Fighting for supremacy

Territorial behavior – Fighting for supremacy

Territorial behavior – The primary manifestation of aggressive behavior of animals is called. territorial behavior. Each species has its own territory, the living space. It provides them with the right resources present in the area. The most important of these is food (including water), the presence of the opposite sex partner and a suitable place to nest, burrow or other accommodation.

Dopamine secretion

Dopamine secretion

Dopamine secretion

Dopamine secretion – Averaged data indicate that good food induces an increase in dopamine release by 50%, sex – 100%, alcohol – 200%, nicotine – 225%, and cocaine – 400%. Experience shows, however, that for some of us a good dinner with dessert is worth more than a shot of vodka, and others from the cigarette prefer a glass of wine. So it is with learning – individuals react to new information with more or less joy.

How read symbol„E”

How read symbol„E"

How read symbol„E”

How read symbol„E” – Symbols of food additives, can be read in this way:

E 100 – E 199: dyes
E 200 – E 299: preservatives
E 300 – E 399: antioxidants
E 400 – E 499: emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners
E 500 – E 599: additives with different functions
E 600 – E 699: flavor enhancers, aroma
E 700 – E 799: antibiotics
E 900 – E 1299: food additives for different purposes
E 1400 – E 1500: modified starches

Monosodium glutamate – Enhances taste and smell

Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate – Enhances taste and smell

Monosodium glutamate – Developed a chemical equivalent of natural umami taste. It is the monosodium glutamate, also designated E621. Pure monosodium glutamate has no taste, and added to food enhances its taste and smell. For this reason, it is a component of bouillon cubes, Chinese soups, Vegeta, and other spices.