food science

Sugar speeds up aging process, study says

The fact that eating too much sugar is unhealthy isn't exactly breaking news. But CNN reports that it might be even worse than previously thought. If a recent study in the British Journal of Dermatology is correct, eating sugary foods can actually contribute to developing wrinkles.

When glucose enters the bloodstream, it latches onto proteins in the body. As it turns out, collagen and elastin, the proteins that help keep skin elastic, are two of the most susceptible proteins to this process, according to the study.

As if there weren't reason enough to cut back on sugar intake, … Read more

Device could bring relief for red-wine headaches

Red wine is a drink with a dark side. We praise it for its full body, long legs, and exquisite nose, but the bacchanalian beverage has long been accused of being particularly prone to giving people headaches. Some people have such a sensitivity to red wine that they can't drink it at all.

Now, the Associated Press has good news for all you wine lovers. Scientists have speculated that the chemical culprit in red wine might be biogenic amines, like histamines. And although that hasn't been proved for certain yet, a group of UC Berkeley researchers working on … Read more

The office candy dish: A beast that renders humans powerless

It might be time to stow away that candy dish--and, for that matter, the cookie jar, gumball dispenser and bowl of nuts--because we humans are powerless to resist such things, according to a recent CNN article featuring research taking place at the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab.

A book by Cornell researcher Brian Wansink says people will basically eat whatever food is in front of them. The book, called Mindless Eating, says that when it comes to overeating, convenience and visibility are bigger factors than how good food looks or how hungry a person is.

"We can say '… Read more

Americans rely on cooking shortcuts

American families cook at home surprisingly often, but they cut corners by using packaged foods, pre-made sauces and food "kits" (Think Hamburger Helper or Pasta Roni), according to a study released this week. Despite warnings of the United States becoming a country of families that rely on fast-food chains for sustenance, an archaeology study of 32 two-income, working families in Los Angeles showed 70 percent of weeknight dinners were home-cooked.

For the study, UCLA's Margaret Beck watched videotapes of families and recorded how much time they spent preparing the meals they ate at home. For a meal … Read more