Weird Facts About Your Food that You'll Want to Know About
Introduction
Did you know that Guinness used THIS to clarify their beer? Did you know that bees are fed THIS? Did you know that THIS part of the beaver is used in your baked goods? If you’ve wondered, you’ll find these answers and more here…and be shocked. Thanks for the insight, Wes!
List of Weird Facts About Food
GUINNESS BREWERY USED FISH BLADDERS TO CLARIFY THEIR BEER
Like many other brewers, Guinness uses isinglass, a by-product of the fishing industry, to clarify the beer and make yeast settle faster. While most of the agent is filtered out during the brewing process, there are still traces of fish bladders in the finished product. – Reported by Fox News in 2015
Personal Trainer Wisdom: An interesting process that I don't believe is used too often for other beers. Although Guinness just discontinued this practice, it's a reminder that learning about your favorite products (especially if you're a vegetarian) is worth learning about.
2. CATTLE BONE CHAR IS USED TO PROCESS SUGAR
Bone char, used to process sugar, is made from the bones of cattle from Afghanistan, Argentina, India, and Pakistan. The bones are sold to traders in Scotland, Egypt, and Brazil, who then sell them back to the sugar industry in the U.S. The European Union and the USDA heavily regulate the use of bone char. Only countries deemed BSE-free can sell the bones of their cattle for this process. Bone char—often referred to as natural carbon—is widely used by the sugar industry as a decolorizing filter, which allows the sugar cane to achieve its desirable white color. – Reported by Peta
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Another process that may be harmless to your health but violates your ethical principles regarding animals. How critical is this need for a decoloring filter?
3. BEES ARE FED HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
Beekeepers feed their hives over the winter, when the bees are not working pollinating crops. Because of its cheaper expense, beekeepers, like processed food manufacturers, have moved away from supporting the bees and the baby bees (grubs) with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of honey. – Reported by Hopkins Medicine
Personal Trainer Wisdom: You are what you eat and are certainly affected by your prey’s diet. Think: Cellular and genetic levels.
4. EGGS ARE NOT DAIRY.
Eggs and dairy are lumped together on the prehistoric food pyramid….but eggs are not dairy.
Personal Trainer Wisdom: Due to decades of misinterpretation, generations are convinced that eggs, like butter, milk, and cheese, are considered dairy. Besides the noticeable physical differences, eggs don’t contain lactose or casein…defining characteristics of dairy. All dairy forms are essentially an animal's product (e.g., milk). While you can argue eggs are a product of animals, their structural makeup is essentially the beginning stages of life (e.g., chicks).
5. THE SECRETION FROM THE ANAL GLANDS OF BEAVERS ARE IN YOUR BAKED GOODS.
Castoreum, which is used as a vanilla flavoring in candies, baked goods, etc., is a secretion from the anal glands of beavers. – Reported by Wikipedia
Personal Trainer Wisdom: I have no wisdom here. Poor beavers.
Photo Credit:
Mental Floss .com–Is fish bladder essential for making beer?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MICHAEL MOODY, PERSONAL TRAINER
As an author, a personal trainer in Denver, and podcast host, Michael Moody has helped personal training clients achieve new fitness heights and incredible weight loss transformations since 2005. He also produces the wellness podcast "The Elements of Being" and has been featured on NBC, WGN Radio, and PBS.
Michael offers personal training to Denver residents who want to meet at the 2460 W 26th Ave studio….or in their homes throughout LoHi (80206), LoDo (80202), RiNo (80216), Washington Park (80209), Cherry Creek (80206, 80209, 80243, 80246, 80231), and Highlands (80202, 80211, 80212). Michael also offers experiences with a personal trainer in Jefferson Park (80211) and Sloan's Lake (80204, 80212).
If you’re looking for a personal trainer who can curate a sustainable (and adaptable) routine based on your needs and wants, Michael is the experienced practitioner you’ve been looking for. Try personal training for a month…your body will thank you!
