Table of Contents
People have different attitudes to food but we all need it to survive. Some of us eat it just for this purpose, whereas others like to make an occasion of it; going to the finest restaurants or the most unique, wanting to try something new. This could be wanting to try the latest food trend or a new twist on a classic dish. We truly are spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisines available at Dinnerly to us and even how it’s delivered to us. With recipes also easily available online, many of us are becoming more adventurous with our cooking repertoire and trying new things out in our own kitchens. However, food can be used for other things too. Surprised? Then read on to find out about seven food tricks that will blow your mind.
Anyone who’s cooked will have more than likely suffered a non-serious burn. This could be caused by touching the side of a pot that’s being used on a hob – it’s the type of burn that doesn’t require medical attention but stings nonetheless.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, then try using vanilla extract. This wonderfully versatile extract comes from vanilla beans and when you generously apply it to the area of the burn, it will take the pain away. How? It’s down to the alcohol content contained in it. As it evaporates, it takes the stinging sensation the burn causes away with it.
However, please note that this is not suitable for serious burns that are medical emergencies and cannot replace medical care. Therefore if it’s a medical emergency, don’t delay in calling for paramedics.
Skincare
You can use many natural products for your skin. For instance, avocado and oatmeal are a great combination for your skin. Avocado moisturizes your skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory, which reduces inflammation. Its natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties make it brilliant for fighting acne.
Oatmeal is great for exfoliating your skin and getting rid of any dead skin cells. Oats are also good for nourishing your skin. Using them together can be a win-win depending upon your skin’s needs. You can even add some vitamin E to your avocado and oatmeal face mask to create the ultimate silky skin whilst also cleansing your pores.
Art
Have you ever ordered a dish at a fancy restaurant and thought that its presentation made it too good to eat? You’re not alone if you have and the interesting thing is that food and art have had a long relationship, going back to time immemorial. Many of us as children will have created pictures from pasta and various grains. Various foods can be used to make vibrant colours that are used for decorative purposes, like beetroot, for instance.
There’s even that phrase, dare we say it ‘food porn’ which is used to visually represent exceptionally delicious food, usually in an extremely appealing way. This is then captured in images for a wider audience to see. This has led to other niche foodies doing the same, which has been great for people that have certain dietary requirements because they can see pictures of food they could try making themselves.
Industrial Applications
Yes, food is used in this industry. Guar gum is found in many dairy products, various condiments, and baked goods. It comes from guar beans and industrial guar gum powder is commonly used in oil well fracturing and stimulation as well as mud drilling. It’s also used as drilling aids in oil well, geological, and water drilling.
Xanthan gum is a popular food additive that’s created when sugar ferments, which is caused by a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan gum can be used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, and oil industries.
Weapons
Yes, you’ve read it right – weapons. Ever heard of pepper spray? As its name suggests, it’s made from pepper. Well, capsaicin is extracted from capsicums to be precise. People react immediately from the instantaneous burning it causes when sprayed, usually at the eyes of an attacker to render them useless.
Although the excruciating pain eventually subsides, it’s known to cause considerable distress before then.
Cleaning Teeth
Coconut oil is particularly good for cleaning your teeth. You can do this by oil pulling. This is an ancient Indian remedy that, according to some, can clean your teeth and reduce plaque build-up, amongst other things concerning your oral hygiene.
Oil pulling requires you to put approximately a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around, much like how you’d use a mouthwash, for around 15 – 20 minutes. It’s said to help reduce the harmful bacteria in your mouth. Research found that plaque build-up was reduced after seven days of using oil pulling.
Medicine
Now before you think we’re talking about replacing prescription medicines, think again. The kind of medicine we’re referring to is found naturally in foods and is supplemental to a healthy lifestyle. For instance, various fruits and vegetables can provide essential vitamins. Apples provide you with vitamin A, as do bananas and blackberries. They also contain many more, as do plenty of other fruits. These are vital for us to remain healthy. Vitamin A is good for our vision and immunity, as well as for a host of other health benefits.
Fish contains omega, which also has numerous health benefits for our brain and joints. Meat provides protein, as does tofu, eggs, and a range of other foods. We could go on, but our point is that food can be used to help us remain healthy and as such is the best source of medicine. The phrase “We are what we eat” has never been more true, with Hippocrates putting it best when he said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
Food is undoubtedly amazing. After all, it has plenty of uses and a whole lot more than what we’ve covered in this article. When you begin to look at all the tricks food can do, eating it all of a sudden appears boring. But the one thing that food manages to be, regardless of its uses, is beneficial to us. Therefore we should never waste it, but value it for all the things it can do for us, whether it’s for our health or protection.
Image Source: unsplash.com