America Loves Her Creamiest Crop

Why do we like peanut butter and mayonnaise so much, anyway?

(NEWSER) - So you can't stomach the idea of drinking civet poop with your coffee ? Well, just imagine coming to America for the first time and encountering … mayonnaise. Houston Press writer Katharine Shilcutt took a survey of her foreign-born friends and came up with 15 examples of Western food and food customs foreigners find bizarre:

• Biscuits and gravy: Hala from Lebanon calls them "gross and strange."
• Peanut butter: Natacha from Chile calls it "weird."

Animal-free dieters find ways to bulk up competitively

(NEWSER) - A new trend is sprouting in the sport of bodybuilding: veganism. A burgeoning group of competitive weight-lifters are turning to an all animal-free diet, reports the New York Times . It's a challenge because the vegan diet can be dauntingly limited for bodybuilders, who need a sufficient amount of amino acids, found in meat, in order to bulk up. “Is it possible to be a good bodybuilder and be a vegan? Yes,” says the chief executive of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. “But is it ideal? No.” More»

Genetic engineering unlocks protein that could feed millions

(NEWSER) - Scientists have developed a novel genetic engineering technique that makes the protein-rich seeds of the cotton plant easily edible, Time reports. The entire plant, including the seeds, produces a toxic chemical called gossypol that protects it from insects and microbes. “People, pigs, chickens—none of us can stomach gossypol,” says a researcher. But remove the gossypol, and voila! Protein. More»

Could be used as food additive or supplement

(NEWSER) - Concentrated doses of the proteins found in garden peas can help fight high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease, a study finds. “In people with high blood pressure, our protein could potentially delay or prevent the onset of kidney damage,” the study’s author tells the Telegraph. For patients with kidney disease, the extract—called pea protein hydrolysate—could keep blood pressure under control, he added. More»

Hint: hummus, sushi, and falafel often carry the same risk

(NEWSER) - If you often suffer a reaction soon after eating burgers or hummus, it might be time to get checked out for one of the fastest-growing allergies in the US: sesame seeds. Experts link the spike in allergies to the increasing popularity of sesame-rich foods like falafel and tahini—but the Food and Drug Administration isn’t especially concerned, reports WebMD. More»