Let Them Eat Flax!: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food and Life

62 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life SCI013000 The bestselling popular science author of A Grain of Salt serves up “interesting factoids about the way that science has helped shape our everyday lives” (Joe Culotti, PhD, professor of molecular and medical genetics, University of Toronto). In Let Them Eat Flax, award-winning author Dr. Joe Schwarcz continues his crusade against purveyors of poppycock as he investigates the surprising and sometimes sinister science of everyday food and life. What difference does an atom make? It could mean life or death! Get the lowdown on oxygenated water, the healing powers of prayer, and the health benefits of chocolate. Could there be a link between McGill University and Jack the Ripper? Find out how cinnamon helps to counter high cholesterol, and learn just how sweet sugar alternatives can be. In the tradition of Schwarcz’s five previous bestsellers, Let Them Eat Flax fries scientific baloney with humor, wit, and information. From food poisoning to the secret of the Stradivarius violin, fertilizers to spontaneous human combustion, Schwarcz investigates explosive subjects and delivers the unbiased, scientific facts readers need to make informed decisions in their everyday lives. “Dr. Schwarcz . . . has a knack for translating science into a language that anyone can understand and actually enjoy.” —Toronto Sun “Joe Schwarcz’s magic is in convincing us that there is verve and value in real chemistry.” —Roald Hoffman, Nobel Laureate “Dr. Joe blends intelligence, scientific expertise, critical thinking, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism in a prescription for good reading.” —Leon Jaroff, former senior editor, Time magazine, and founder of Discover magazine Do you know if your waiter sings in the bathroom? Or if the lady who whipped up the icing on your cake wore false fingernails? When was the last time you microwaved your dishcloth? Is your orange juice pasteurized? In Let Them Eat Flax!, award-winning author Dr. Joe Schwarcz explains why these are more important questions than whether you eat fresh or farmed salmon, whether genetically modified foods should be labeled, or whether fruits and vegetables harbor traces of pesticides. In Let Them Eat Flax!, Dr. Joe Schwarcz continues his crusade against purveyors of poppycock as he investigates the surprising and sometimes sinister science of everyday food and life. What difference does an atom make? It could mean life or death! Get the lowdown on oxygenated water, the healing powers of prayer, and the health benefits of chocolate. Could there be a link between McGill University and Jack the Ripper? Find out how cinnamon helps to counter high cholesterol, and learn just how sweet sugar alternatives can be. In the tradition of Dr. Joe's five previous best-sellers, Let Them Eat Flax! fries scientific baloney with humour, wit, and information. From food poisoning to the secret of the Stradivarius violin, fertilizers to spontaneous human combustion, Dr. Joe investigates explosive subjects and delivers the unbiased, scientific facts readers need to make informed decisions in their everyday lives Award-winning author Joe Schwarcz continues his crusade against purveyors of poppycock as he investigates the surprising and sometimes sinister science of everyday food and life Do you know if your waiter sings in the bathroom? Or if the lady who whipped up the icing on your cake wore false fingernails? When was the last time you microwaved your dishcloth? Is your orange juice pasteurized? The bestselling popular science author of A Grain of Salt serves up "interesting factoids about the way that science has helped shape our everyday lives" (Joe Culotti, PhD, professor of molecular and medical genetics, University of Toronto). What difference does an atom make? It could mean life or death! Get the lowdown on oxygenated water, the healing powers of prayer, and the health benefits of chocolate. Could there be a link between McGill University and Jack the Ripper? Find out how cinnamon helps to counter high cholesterol, and learn just how sweet sugar alternatives can be. In the tradition of Schwarcz's five previous bestsellers, Let Them Eat Flax fries scientific baloney with humor, wit, and information. From food poisoning to the secret of the Stradivarius violin, fertilizers to spontaneous human combustion, Schwarcz investigates explosive subjects and delivers the unbiased, scientific facts readers need to make informed decisions in their everyday lives. By asking questions such as Is your orange juice pasteurized? or Did the lady who whipped up the icing on your cake wear false fingernails? this book sorts hokum from genuine science when it comes to food safety. Investigating everything from the health benefits of chocolate and oxygenated water to the causes of food poisoning and the healing power of prayer, short commentaries use wit and humor to debunk folklore and misconceptions. Indicating which food studies can be trusted, this guide provides the knowledge needed to buy, store, and cook food without risking life and limb. Explanations of everyday science are offered in a study that covers everything from vitamin supplements to acupuncture to the chemistry behind the Stradivarius violin.