“In fact, McDonald’s cares so much about uniformity and efficiency that they add a silicon-based polymer to the fryer oil to reduce splatter,15 which cuts down on cleaning time; called dimethylpolysiloxane, the same chemical is also used in head lice treatments, condom lubricants,16 and breast implants.17 How neat is that?”
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
“Similarly, our sensitivity to bitter foods is largely associated with a gene called TAS2R38,40 and you can measure yours at home by picking up some paper test strips saturated with a chemical called 6-n-propylthiouracil41 (PROP), which are widely available online. About half the population finds these strips moderately bitter42 (“tasters”), while a quarter finds them unpalatably bitter (“supertasters”), and another quarter describes them as having no taste at all (“nontasters”). Supertasters also tend to have a higher density of taste buds,43 and although this might sound like a coveted foodie superpower, supertasters are likely to be pickier eaters44 and avoid things like coffee, wine, spirits, dark chocolate, and various fruits and vegetables (e.g., grapefruit, broccoli, kale) because they find them too bitter.”
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
“Death cares little for age or gender, and loss will touch us all at some point. But there's always hope that we may one day greet our loved ones again, whether through faith, magic, or simply our dreams.”
― Family Justice
― Family Justice
“The Heir and the Spare—there was no judgment about it, but also no ambiguity. I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of life’s journey and regularly reinforced thereafter.”
― Spare
― Spare
“As Christianity spread across Europe, the Church basically adopted these various pagan, Norse, Roman, and Celtic traditions as their own, choosing to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25,31 for example, because it was already associated with feasting, sacrament, and rebirth.”
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
― The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat
Lucy’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Lucy’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Lucy
Lists liked by Lucy




















































