In the last 80 years, we have lost 93% of the diversity in our food seeds, according to National Geographic. The industrialization of agriculture as well as our current trend toward genetically modified foods has steadily put emphasis on a seed’s ability to generate the highest yield per acre. “In 1903, we had almost 500 varieties of lettuce. By 1983, we had just 36. Radishes, peas, and beets have fared no better. In fact, the most steadfast of the crops has been the tomato, which, probably due to the popularity of strange and tasty heirloom varieties, only lost about 80% of its seed diversity.”

via Big Think

I have never been a culinary expert of any kind, except for an occasional dip into coffee snobbery, but this should make all of us stop.

 

New research reveals that losing sleep could be a significant contributor to obesity. In a study at the University of Munich, surveyed the sleep habits of more than 65,000 adults and found that “people whose weekend and weekday sleep schedules differed were three times more likely to be overweight than those who went to bed and awoke at the same time each day.” When people are low on sleep, they tend to eat less healthily and rely more on alcohol, caffeine and tobacco to keep them going. And those who eat while their body should be sleeping will be met with a slower metabolism, contributing to weight gain.

via Big Think