Researchers at John Innes Centre have shed light on how catnip — also known as catmint — produces the chemical that sends cats into a state of wanton abandon. The remarkable effect catnip has on cats is well known thanks to the scores on online videos showing pets enjoying its intoxicating highs. The substance that […]
About Captain Organic Planet
Human cells take in less protein from a plant-based ‘meat’ than from chicken
Many people have now embraced the plant-based meat movement. Plants high in protein, such as soybeans, are common ingredients, but it’s been unclear how much of the nutrient makes it into human cells. In ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers report that proteins in a model plant-based substitute were not as accessible to cells […]
Online pharmacy lab finds benzene in 78 sunscreen products
Valisure LLC, an online pharmacy company that also conducts independent testing of consumer products, has issued a petition to the FDA to enact stricter rules regarding the presence of benzene in sunscreen products. In an article published on their website, the company claims to have found evidence of benzene in 78 sunscreen and after-tanning care […]
Are highly processed foods bad for children?
A new study found that children ages 3 to 5 who consumed more ultraprocessed foods had poorer locomotor skills than children who consumed less of these foods. It also showed lower cardiovascular fitness in 12- to 15-year-olds who consumed more ultraprocessed foods. Although previous research has shown that consuming ultraprocessed foods is linked with a […]
Bowel cancer rising among young adults in Europe
The rate of bowel cancer — otherwise known as colorectal cancer or CRC — is rising among adults aged 20-49 in Europe, suggests research published online in the journal Gut today. Rates rose most steeply among the youngest age group (20-29 years), and the authors warn that if the trend continues, screening guidelines may need to be […]
High levels of hazardous chemicals found in Canadian nail salons
A recent University of Toronto study, in collaboration with Parkdale Queen West Community Heath Centre and the Healthy Nail Salons Network, shows that nail technicians in discount salons are exposed to several chemicals widely used as plasticizers and flame retardants. The study, to be published Feb. 14 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that […]
SAVING OUR SEEDS – The Practice And Philosophy
A seed saving guide unlike any other available! Seed activist Bevin Cohen takes a deep dive into the hows and whys of the modern seed saving movement. A great how-to guide, leading the reader step by step through the process of saving their seeds from 43 different crops; from adzuki beans to wheat and everything […]
Researchers unravel how stevia controls blood sugar levels
What makes stevia taste so extremely sweet? And how does the sweetener keep our blood sugar level under control? Researchers at KU Leuven (University of Leuven, Belgium) have discovered that stevia stimulates a protein that is essential for our perception of taste and is involved in the release of insulin after a meal. These results […]
U.S. FDA issues risk of heart inflammation after Novavax COVID vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has raised concerns about a possible risk of heart inflammation from Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, even as the company’s data showed it could reduce the chances of mild-to-severe disease. In Novavax’s nearly 30,000 patient trial, conducted between December 2020 and September 2021, there were four cases of a type […]
How Vitamin C Prevents Cancer — But Apples Are Better
Writing in the medical journal, The Lancet , scientists from Cornell University and Seoul National University offer a more precise explanation for vitamin C’s anti-cancer activity. And they suggest that a natural chemical from apples works even better than vitamin C. Their report appears in the Jan. 12, 2002, issue of The Lancet , (Vol. […]