origins
The origins of maize: the puzzle of pellagra
The spread of maize as a staple food from the fifteenth century resulted in a devastating nutrient-deficiency disease called pellagra. The causation of pellagra posed a medical puzzle for centuries ...
The Origins of Sugar from Beet
Sugar cane provided sugar since ancient times, so why did sugar beet come into the picture? The answer involves a combination of scientific discoveries and historical events spanning three ...
The Origins of Tomatoes
There must be thousands of dishes in which the tomato is the main, or a key ingredient. Due to its colour, taste and versatility, the tomato has come a long way from the ancient Aztec civilisations to ...
The Origins of Cocoa - The Food of the Gods
The wholesome nature of cocoa has been widely acclaimed in Europe since the sixteenth century. However, to understand where this image originated one has to go back to the folklore of the Indians of ...
Back to the Origins
We take many of our staple foods for granted, rarely giving a second thought to their origin and history. But where do they actually come from? The humble potato for example, would be designated a ...
The origins of our Daily Bread
Climate changes in the Fertile Crescent some 10,000 years ago lead to the spread of wild cereals, one of which was the predecessor of modern day wheat. Since those times, many genetic changes, brought ...
Foodborne illness: its origins and how to avoid it
Safety is a priority at every stage of the food chain from farm to fork, and the foods available to European consumers are usually perfectly safe to eat. However, they may occasionally become ...
Immune Cell Entry Into Pancreatic Islets Key To Understanding Type 1 Diabetes Origins
Researchers have discovered how destructive immune cells gain access to insulin-producing cells and help cause ...
Possible Origins Of Pancreatic Cancer Revealed
Cancer biologists have identified a subpopulation of cells that can give rise to pancreatic cancer. They also found that tumors can form in other, more mature pancreatic cell types, but only when they ...
Antioxidant impact of juice not due to vitamin C
Experts believe that heart disease and cancer have their origins in long-term damage to the body’s cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules created during ...
