Could Cockroach Milk Be The Next Biggest Superfood?

When you think of superfood crazes, perhaps an exotic berry or nutrient-dense seaweed might come to mind. I’ll bet cockroach milk is the last and most horrifying example you could imagine. Research is showing, however, that milk from lactating cockroaches—yes, there is a species of the creepy crawler that lactates—offers a high protein content and turns into energy in the body almost immediately.

The Pacific beetle cockroach does not lay eggs like other species, but instead births live offspring in what are called brood sacs. The mothers provide food for their young via a milky substance containing crystals packed with protein, sugar and fat, much like mammalian mothers do for their babies with breast milk. Scientists claim this “cockroach milk” is the most nutrient- and calorically-dense substance on Earth. 

When compared at the same weight, cockroach milk contains three times as much energy as buffalo milk, one of the animal kingdom’s most highly protein-packed milks. The crystals in the cockroach fluid metabolize amazingly quickly, piquing the interest of athletes who require a fast replenishment of protein to repair and build strong muscles after a workout.

Right now, no one is sure if mama roach’s milk is toxic to humans. Even if it passes that test, Subramanian Ramaswamy, a biochemist at India’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore and co-author of the study, told The Washington Post, “I don’t think anyone is going to like it if you tell them, ‘We extracted crystals from a cockroach and that is going to be food.’” However, given that cricket flour protein bars are already a thing, maybe there would be more adventurous folks out there than he thinks.

Luckily—or, for some, creepily—the researchers suspect the milk could be artificially made using bioengineered yeast, removing cockroaches from the equation altogether. This might satisfy both ethical vegans and almond milk haters, as both types of those milks tend to drain natural resources, not to mention dairy milk industries cause intense suffering to mother and offspring.

In the future, protein bars, powders and drinks could be filled with artificial cockroach milk. Workouts could be fueled by the stuff and (synthetic) cockroach-built muscles could take the stage at bodybuilding competitions. Television commercials and even professional athlete sponsorships could feature insect lactation fluid as a viable workout supplement. What an incredible time to be alive.

5 Health Benefits of Probiotics

To put it simply: Bacteria follow the food you eat. The easiest way to manipulate your gut flora is by enriching your diet with a variety of probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are the actual bacteria that live in your gut. Prebiotics are the substances that the bacteria eat. Food sources are the best way to get both of these, since the diversity of the bacteria in supplements is not as smart as nature; your second choice could be a high-quality, specific-flora supplement. 

Once you've established a healthy colony, you have to care for it. Just as you wouldn't plant a garden and not feed or water it, you can't just pour some kefir on top of a bad diet and expect those beneficial microorganisms to grow and flourish. You need to feed them. Fiber from a balanced diet is one way to nourish your gut microbiome.

Every day scientists are discovering more benefits of having teeming, diverse gut colonies. Some probiotic health and performance benefits we know for certain include:

1. Improved Energy

Probiotics and a healthy gut flora facilitate good and healthy digestion, allowing you to optimally absorb all the vitamins and minerals you need to perform and recover.

2. Increased Immunity

Research shows that probiotics is one of the most surprising ways to improve immunity and can help fight bad bacteria and fend off and reduce the duration of upper respiratory infections (such as the common cold) and gastrointestinal woes such as diarrhea. One particularly interesting study found that highly trained distance runners (who are prone to falling ill from overtaxed immune systems) had less than half the number of sick days when they pumped up their diet with probiotics.

3. Heat Tolerance

Though more research is needed, it appears that having a healthy level of probiotics also improvesexercise performance in the heat. In one study, runners were tasked to run to exhaustion in a series of tests pre- and postprobiotic supplementation (specifically 45 billion CFU of lactobacillus,bifidobacterium and streptococcus strains). After supplementation, the runners improved their performance by a whopping 14 percent in hot conditions. It is likely that the gut lining is protected from damage, which allows digestion and the cooling system to function optimally.

4. Lower Inflammation

Research shows that probiotics can lower levels of inflammation in the body. This helps prevent numerous diseases and illnesses, including chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, as well as inflammation-based conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and irritable bowel syndrome.

5. Improved Well-Being

Probiotics have been linked to general health benefits of all kinds, including lower cholesterol; lower blood pressure; healthier blood sugar, body weight and body composition; and even better oral health. Healthy probiotic levels may also improve mood and some research finds that they may even help treat depression.

The Dark Side of Strawberries

Spring is here—time to start looking forward to strawberries. These treasured sweet berries are one of nature's most potent packages of health-defending antioxidants. But are your strawberries also laced with invisible chemicals that could cause cancer? In U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) testing, a single sample of strawberries tested contained 13 different pesticides!

The good news is that in late 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency canceled the use of the go-to, cancer-causing strawberry pesticide methyl iodide in the U.S. That was a big win for human health groups because the toxic fumigant endangered farmworkers and families living hear strawberry fields.

But keeping that chemical off of the U.S. market doesn't mean strawberries are completely in the clear. Growers of nonorganic strawberries in California—where nearly 90 percent of the nation's strawberries are produced—continue to pump hazardous substances into fields, including volatile chemicals that readily drift into nearby families' yards. "With names like methyl bromide, chloropicrin, and Telone (1,3-D), these fumigants are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental problems in children," says soil science expert Margaret Reeves, PhD, senior scientist with Pesticide Action Network. "We have waited far too long for action; California and federal officials need to create a clear roadmap to phase the use of these chemicals out of all agricultural production by 2020."

California's strawberry industry is investing in research for less-toxic alternatives, but the California Department of Pesticide Regulation said that a big shift won't occur unless there are new kinds of crop insurance or grants to mitigate the risk of switching to a newer way of growing strawberries.

Opportunities to convert to greener strawberry cultivation include tools like crop rotation, steam treatment, anaerobic soil disinfections, solarization, and the building of healthier soil in which to sustainably grow strawberry crops over the long term.

In the coming months, California officials will evaluate whether or not to keep several strawberry fumigants on the market or add additional health protections on their use. "It should be clear that current laws and regulations aren't doing enough; over 5.5 million pounds of chloropicrin are applied in California alone, often near schools and homes, including over 650 people in the state that have reported poisonings from the chemical in the last decade," Reeves notes. "The Department of Pesticide Regulation and California Environmental Protection agency will need to take leadership on the issue, which will likely have ripple effects across the entire country."

While fumigants are more of a local issue—those chemicals don't stick around on strawberries—the other pesticides are turning up on nonorganic strawberries in alarming numbers.

For instance, a Pesticide Action Network Analysis of pesticide residues using USDA data found 54 different pesticide residues were detected among strawberry samples. The testing turned up nine known or probable carcinogens, 24 suspected hormone disruptors, 11 neurotoxins, 12 developmental or reproductive toxins, and 19 honeybee toxins. Traces of fungicides captan and pyraclostrobin turned up on more than half of strawberry samples tested.

Peculiarities Of Queues In Thailand (3 pics)

Angels Flight: The World’s Shortest Railway

Angels Flight is a historic narrow gauge funicular railway located in the Bunker Hill district of downtown Los Angeles, California. Dubbed the “shortest railway in the world”, Angels Flight opened in 1901 in what was one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the city. Its two funicular cars named Sinai and Olivet ferried prominent citizens up and down the steep slope between Hill and Olive streets. Though the journey was short —only 315 feet— and lasted only one minute, it is believed that Angels Flight carried more passengers per mile than any other railway in the world. Over a hundred million passengers rode the cars in its first fifty years.

Angels Flight suffered its first setback in 1969 when the Bunker Hill area underwent major urbanization with old houses getting razed and replaced by high-rise commercial buildings. The funicular was dismantled and its cars were hauled off to storage for what everyone believed would be “a few” years before the railway reopens. But the two cars sat in a dark warehouse for the next twenty seven years. Finally, after a lot of local effort and bureaucratic hassles, Angels Flight was reopened in 1996, now half a block from the original site.

Angels Flight suffered its second setback in 2001, this time due to an accident resulting in the death of a passenger and injury to several others. Operation of the funicular was suspended on grounds of improper design, nonconformance to safety standards and poor maintenance. The funicular remained closed for the next nine years while it was repaired and the old drive and safety system was replaced. It went back into operation in 2010.

In 2013, there was another accident where one car derailed. Although there were no injuries, state regulators are now reluctant to allow Angels Flight to reopen until all safety issues are resolved, including the building of an evacuation walkway adjacent to the tracks should the cars stall halfway up. The board also wants the operators to submit a plan detailing how they will keep passengers safe.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s requirements have not been implemented yet, and as such, the future of Angels Flight is currently uncertain. Today, the orange-and-black cars of Angels Flight sits motionless halfway up the funicular’s ramp covered with trash and graffiti.

4 Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice

In order to perform at your prime, start pumping your body with juice. No we don’t mean steroids, or even your kale and spinach blend — we’re talking about pickle juice! You’ve probably never considered that the juice you generally discard (except those rare occasions when you get persuaded to take a ‘pickleback’ shot) could actually be beneficial to your health. However, this juice boasts many functions besides a chaser to your whiskey. Read the surprising ways this green juice can keep you from getting into a pickle with your health.

1. Pre-workout enhancer 

While pickle juice may not be the obvious choice for a go-to fitness beverage, many athletes swear by its performance-enhancing effects. According to the The National Institute of Health, ingesting high-sodium drinks like pickle juice can enhance thermoregulation and athletic performance. To avoid any possible stomach irritation, make sure you drink this a few hours before your workout, and balance it with plenty of water.

2. Post-workout recovery 

Trainers and athletes have long relied on this post-exercise pick-me-up. Since pickle juice is packed with sodium, potassium, and magnesium, it’s a better option for replenishing electrolytes than any sports drink on the shelves, reports The Huffington Post. Not only is it the ideal way to refuel after a tough workout, but it can alsoreduce muscle cramping. One study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that men who downed pickle juice were able to stop their muscle cramps 37% faster than drinking water, and 45% quicker than with no liquid at all. Some scientists believe the secret lies with the vinegar, which could potentially signal nerve reflexes that stop the cramping. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t hurt to add some extra green juice to your diet.

3. Heartburn relief

While this one may seem counter-intuitive considering vinegar can actually cause heartburn for some people, pickle juice can also be a great way to relieve acid reflux, according to the People’s Pharmacy. While this folk remedy isn’t backed by any major scientific research, vinegar has been shown to help reduce the negative effects of heartburn. So if you’re looking for an at-home fix, give dill juice a shot.

4. Hangover cure 

You know the feeling. Those morning when you wake up seriously regretting all of those extra drinks your buddies convinced you to chug. Head pounding, stomach churning, the works. The hangover feeling is generally caused by serious dehydration that results from over-doing the alcohol. To remedy the post-booze blues, your body needs a ton of liquids and a way to retain them. That’s where your new friend Mr. Dill steps in. Downing some pickle juice after a night of downing drinks will help your body replenish its reduced sodium levels. Combining this with water will help you get hydrated quicker and get on with your day sooner.

7 Secret Sodium Shockers

You already watch your fats and sugars, and now you set out to watch your sodium. So, you avoid things like broths and processed meats; you’re pretty proud of yourself. Hold the salt shaker! You may not be doing as well as you think.

There is sodium all around you, hidden in foods you may not think about. What are the biggest culprits how can you shop smart?

Pass the bread … to the other side of the table!


If you’re not on the whole ‘no carb’ kick, you may partake in a good old-fashioned sandwich or down dinner roll now and then. What you may not realize is that you may be swimming in salt. A single slice of white bread contains 10% of the daily recommended allowance of sodium and a cup of cereal contains a little more than 10%. Trust us, it really adds up. And, a study in the UK found that kids get more than a third (36%) of their daily salt intake from breads and cereals. Pretty shocking since the carbs don’t taste salty. Nutrition expert Erin Palinski, RD, CDE,LDN,CPT confirms the numbers and says, “Look for breads labeled as low sodium or reduced sodium when possible.

 To further reduce your sodium intake, watch out for sodium in what you add to bread. If you add cold cuts, choose low sodium varieties. If you use butter, select an unsalted option.’

Nutritionist Elisa Zied, MS, RDN, CDN says the key is to stick to guidelines of a single portion of bread and not more than ½ -1 cup of cereal. She adds, “Choose mostly whole grain bread and cereal options, and look for hot and cold whole grain cereals with more fiber and less sodium (shredded wheat and plain oats/oatmeal are some options that contain very little sodium). “

Don’t be fooled by the veggies

Vegetable juice is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants, but one serving can also contain more than 20% of your total daily intake in sodium. Zied is a fan of going to the original source here. “I recommend limiting the amount of fruit or veggie juice you drink and to instead emphasize whole fruits and veggies because they tend to pack in more fiber and fill you up better than juice.” If you go for juice, there are low sodium options available.

Watch out for the protein!
Raw chicken breasts are often injected with high sodium flavoring solutions. Look for varieties labeled ‘non-enhanced’.

 Listen up Veggie Burger Lovers!


Vegetarians or those cutting back on beef tend to turn to veggie burgers when everyone’s grilling up their traditional burger concoctions. But, you may not be skipping the salt. Palinski says, “Veggie burgers are processed and in the processing sodium in added for flavor as well as preservation.”

She isn’t saying to nix the veggie meat alternative, however. “Although vegetable burgers can be higher in sodium than a beef burger, the reduction in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol can be beneficial.” The key is to watch the sodium in any condiment and to use a low sodium bun.

 Don’t get nutty!


Dry roasted and salted nuts can contain up to 10% of the daily sodium recommendations per serving. Opt for raw or unsalted options instead.

 Read your labels

This is key. You may go for ‘reduced sodium” items, but do you even know how low that goes? “A food labeled as ‘reduced sodium’ just means it has 25% less sodiumthan the original product, which means it may still contain a large amount of sodium,” according to Palinski. She adds that whenever a food says ‘reduced’ or ‘no salt added’, you need to read the Fact Panel to see exactly how much sodium you are actually getting.

 Forget the “cool” diets


Frozen diet meals may be convenient, but “they tend to be sodium bombs, so look for small portions and for items that aren’t breaded or cheesy or saucy,”  says Zied. Remember, low calorie doesn’t always equal healthy.