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Discover the surprising truth about 10 toilet paper brands that could pose hidden risks to your health and plumbing. While many choose based on cost or comfort, our investigation reveals the harmful additives used in their production. Don't let your everyday choices lead to serious consequences. Join us in uncovering the secrets these brands don’t want you to know!
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00:00You see these blades? They have notched corners to make your cutting experience smoother.
00:05Ooh!
00:06The front edge notch helps with separating blades during manufacturing,
00:10while the trailing edge notch helps the blade glide easily.
00:14And a fun fact! That notch on the front also helps you spot unused sections of the blade,
00:20just a little visual indicator to make your life easier.
00:23When it comes to silver versus black blades, they're both made from the same stuff.
00:27But black blades are sharper and are better suited for cutting through tough materials,
00:33while silver blades strike a balance between cutting power and durability.
00:37If you want that extra cutting oomph, go for black.
00:41Oh, almost forgot. The only thing those blades aren't meant to cut is food.
00:46It has a rust-proofing oil coating, which is not safe for humans.
00:51Check this one out! It's totally giving me childhood vibes.
00:55Now, I remember my grandma having tomato-shaped pin cushions just like this.
01:00And sometimes they would look more like a salad, with a little pepper thrown in there.
01:05Well, believe it or not, this salad actually has a purpose.
01:08The tomato keeps your pins in place, while the pepper keeps them sharp.
01:13Those peppers are filled with sand, which helps keep your pins nice and sharp.
01:18And it's not just sand.
01:19Crushed walnuts can also be used to keep your pins in tip-top shape.
01:25Now, look at this multiple pocket tool and this little hook on it.
01:29It's a bit of a mystery, but it's actually pretty handy.
01:32I counted at least four different applications.
01:35One, you can use it to carry all sorts of awkward stuff, like camping gear or heavy parcels.
01:41Two, need to twist some wire or play around with knots?
01:45Once, the parcel hook has got you covered.
01:48Three, this hook can save the day with those stubborn zippers, like the ones on your luggage.
01:53Four, it's great for pretending to be a budget version of Captain Hook.
01:58If you know more applications, let me know in the comments.
02:02Apple users, with this feature, you'll never get laundry surprises again.
02:07Now, I bet you've had this situation at least once in your life.
02:11You wash your stuff, and when you take it out of the washing machine, the size seems to only fit
02:16your cat.
02:17Your iPhone camera can actually translate those funky laundry symbols for you.
02:22There are two requirements, though.
02:24You must have iOS 17, and your phone must be in English.
02:28Take a photo of the care label, go to the Photos app, and see the details of the image.
02:33Everything will be automatically decoded and explained to you.
02:38Now, many toasters come with nifty, removable crumb trays at the bottom.
02:43It's super important to give these trays a good clean every now and then to keep your toaster running smoothly
02:48and avoid any potential fire hazards.
02:51Just pop them out, shake out the crumbs, and you're good to go.
02:55Where you shake them out is up to you.
02:58Those little compartments on your gas pump aren't just for show.
03:01They're actually there to hold your cap while you're filling up.
03:04This nifty feature keeps things tidy and prevents any spills or drips on the handle.
03:10So, say goodbye to messy refueling experiences and hello to a cleaner pump.
03:15Plus, it makes the whole process way more convenient and efficient.
03:20Now, I'll bet your oven gets so greasy and dirty sometimes that you can even hear it oink.
03:26Just kidding.
03:27I know you're a tidy person.
03:29Anyway, if you're looking for a way to bring your kitchen cleaning to a whole new level, here's a tip
03:35for you.
03:35Most oven doors have handy latches that let you pop the door off for easy cleaning, saving your pore back
03:43from the strain.
03:44When you're draining noodles or potatoes, there's no need to bother transferring everything to a colander in the sink.
03:51Just throw the colander right into the pot, hold it down, and pour the liquid out.
03:56It makes life so much easier, especially when you want to save that starchy water for recipes.
04:02It's a must for authentic pasta, by the way.
04:06So, let's say you've snagged this gem at a thrift store a while back for just under a dollar.
04:12It's seen better days, serving as an ashtray, but you decide it's time to give it a new lease on
04:18life.
04:18Here's the lowdown on how to make it shine again.
04:22Mix up a solution of boiling water, baking soda, and table salt in a bowl lined with aluminum foil.
04:29Let the piece soak for about 15 minutes and repeat this process three times.
04:34In between soaks, gently scrub any rough spots with a microfiber cloth.
04:39After the final soak, dry the piece off and rub on some toothpaste, baking soda, and peroxide.
04:46Buff out any remaining tarnish with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
04:50Rinse it off, and now your piece is practically gleaming like a mirror.
04:57These aluminum foil boxes have nifty little tabs on the sides that make it super easy to grab a sheet
05:03without any hassle.
05:04It's like a fancy little bonus that makes the product a breeze and ensures you'll have a smooth sailing experience
05:11every time.
05:13Manual can openers often come with a handy built-in feature, also known as a bottle opener.
05:19It's like getting two tools in one.
05:21But did you know that this bottle opener actually has another useful function?
05:26It can help you loosen those stubborn, hard-to-open jars.
05:30Simply lift the lid slightly at a couple of points with the bottle opener, and then watch it as it
05:36effortlessly twists right off.
05:38Yeah.
05:41Okay, I just found that, apparently, you're supposed to save the first and last slices of a loaf of sliced
05:47bread for last.
05:48It's like a bread hack or something.
05:50Apparently, those end pieces help keep the rest of the bread fresher for longer, and you shouldn't eat them until
05:56you've devoured the rest of the loaf.
05:58So, next time you're making a sandwich, save those heel slices for the very end.
06:03Even bread-eating needs a good strategy.
06:06Now, look at those blue levers on the top rack of your dishwasher.
06:09I was curious about them, too.
06:11And it turns out they are actually water bottle sprayers.
06:15They help to ensure that your bottles get a thorough cleaning and rinse during the wash cycle.
06:21Many vegetable peelers have those little scoops on top for taking out the eyes from potatoes.
06:27And here's a cool tip.
06:29You can actually use vegetable peelers in both directions to peel faster.
06:33But most people just stick to one direction.
06:37When using yellow mustard, make sure to push the lid of the bottle all the way open until you hear
06:43a satisfying click.
06:44This way, the lid will stay securely in place and won't get in the way when you're dispensing the mustard
06:50onto your food.
06:51It's a simple step that can make your condiment experience hassle-free and enjoyable.
06:56So there!
06:59You know that little hole at the end of your pot or pan?
07:02Well, it's not just for show.
07:04You can actually use it as a handy holder for your forks and spoons.
07:08Next time you're cooking up a storm in the kitchen, just pop your utensils in that convenient little hole and
07:14keep them close at hand.
07:17Okay, just a heads up to remember to switch the direction of your ceiling fan for the changing weather.
07:23And to give it a good clean, too.
07:25I've seen that a lot of folks found it helpful before to reverse the fan's direction by flipping a switch
07:31for different seasons.
07:33So this is just a friendly reminder to go ahead and do it again, pushing hot air down and pulling
07:39cold air up.
07:52Now, doctors, you recommend risking your life at least twice a day.
08:10I mean, brushing your teeth at least twice a day.
08:13But you see, the seemingly harmless toothpaste that peacefully chills on every American counter poses a life-threatening danger because
08:22of one not-so-harmless ingredient, sodium fluoride.
08:26Now, don't get me wrong, not every toothpaste out there contains it, but most of them still do.
08:31But don't rush to the bathroom to trash your tube.
08:34If you swallow a tiny pea-sized glob, it isn't fatal.
08:38I'm talking about larger quantities.
08:40A toothpaste tube has only 0.15% fluoride.
08:45To send you running to the hills, you must consume around 8 tubes one by one.
08:49So, technically, toothpaste is totally safe.
08:53Let's go and look for more dangers at your place, shall we?
08:57Personally, I don't have this one.
08:59But if you happen to have a CFL light bulb, you gotta be extremely cautious with it.
09:03The thing is, many of those bulbs are made with mercury.
09:06If such a bulb breaks, you gotta start by turning off your ventilation system.
09:11Otherwise, the contamination will only get worse.
09:14Make sure everyone has left the room, then open a window to allow for fresh air circulation.
09:19Finally, clean the area where the bulb shattered.
09:22Be careful to address both wet and dry surfaces and contact specialists.
09:27Mercury vapors are definitely the biggest concern when it comes to this element.
09:31Take, for instance, a case of 2008, where a 55-year-old guy in Oklahoma tried to extract gold from
09:38old electronics using liquid mercury.
09:40Unfortunately, he inhaled too much vapor and sadly passed away just 10 days later.
09:46The contamination was so severe that they had to completely gut his house.
09:52Now, you definitely don't want your favorite clothes to get ruined by moths.
09:56So, you might grab some mothballs to exterminate them.
09:59But watch out!
10:01Those mothballs can exterminate you, too.
10:04They usually contain chemicals like naphthalene or a paradichlorobenzene.
10:09When these get into the air, they turn into gas.
10:12That strong smell you associate with mothballs kicks in.
10:15Those fumes can actually irritate your eyes and lungs and may even cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
10:21Plus, there are concerns about these chemicals being the cause of major conditions that even modern medicine can cure.
10:28Naphthalene is especially risky because it can break down your red blood cells, leading to a condition called hemolytic anemia.
10:36So, try to swap those balls for good old lavender.
10:39Moths aren't big fans of it.
10:42Now, it's super important to keep an eye on the plant you bring into your home, because some can be
10:46surprisingly harmful.
10:48Take Diefenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, for example.
10:53Rumor has it that its sap can cause your tongue to swell up so much that it can block your
10:58airway.
10:58But can it really?
11:00Yes and no.
11:01It's true that this plant contains poisonous, tiny needle-like crystals called rapides.
11:06But they require someone to actually chew on a leaf first before any fuss happens.
11:12Otherwise, you might just feel a brief burning sensation or observe some skin redness.
11:17In rare cases, you might see some swelling in the area that touched the plant.
11:21Generally, just a little nibble leads to mild discomfort.
11:25So, please, don't snack on your potted plants.
11:27This warning is more for the safety of your pets, especially cats.
11:32Now, if Diefenbachia stays in contact with the mouth for too long,
11:36it can cause some serious pain that might linger for days or even weeks.
11:40In those cases, a trip to the hospital might be necessary,
11:44especially if the throat gets affected, as that could impact breathing.
11:48But don't believe the hype that Diefenbachia is a lethal poison.
11:51That's just an urban legend.
11:53The bottom line? One must be really dumb to get poisoned by a dumb cane.
11:59Now, using a power washer can be more dangerous than you might think.
12:04The intense pressure can lead to serious injuries,
12:06and the high-speed spray can kick up debris that might cause even more harm.
12:11If you do get injured, infections can set in quickly.
12:14And without timely medical care, things can get really serious.
12:18Think severe complications, potential limb loss, or even worse.
12:21But honestly, it's not that scary.
12:24Just don't overdo it with pressure.
12:28Here's a friendly tip.
12:29Don't skip out on your weekly house cleaning,
12:31especially when it comes to the bathroom.
12:34The longer you put off cleaning it, the more risky it becomes.
12:38Bathrooms are notorious hotspots for bacteria,
12:40which makes regular cleaning essential.
12:42You definitely don't want those unwelcome guests like norovirus, E. coli, salmonella,
12:49or even Staphylococcus aureus hanging around, along with those molds and mildews.
12:54Just put things into perspective.
12:56An average toilet seat can host over 200,000 colony-forming bacteria.
13:01And here's another thing to keep in mind.
13:03If you're not careful while cleaning, you can accidentally create a dangerous situation.
13:08Mixing bleach and ammonia can release a toxic gas called fluoramine.
13:13Those fumes can lead to some pretty nasty symptoms,
13:16from shortness of breath to fluid in your lungs.
13:19Guess what?
13:20If it happens, you will probably kick the bucket.
13:23And I'm not talking about the one you use for cleaning the floors in the bathroom.
13:29On a sweltering summer day, having air conditioning is definitely a blessing.
13:33But don't let that trick you into thinking there aren't risks involved.
13:37If your AC is on the older side, it can lead to various issues.
13:41For example, the ductwork and filters can trap harmful mold, bacteria, and allergens.
13:47If those aren't addressed, folks in your home might end up dealing with coughing, wheezing, or a stuffy nose.
13:53Plus, an aging AC unit can pose a fire risk.
13:57Older components tend to generate more heat as they try to keep up.
14:01And if they're not replaced, you could end up with a potential fire hazard.
14:05Faulty wiring is another concern, as many wires are tucked away in hard-to-reach spots, making them tough to
14:11inspect.
14:12So, if you have an older AC, it's a smart move to have it cleaned properly
14:17and ensure that its parts and wiring are up-to-date to avoid any fire risks.
14:24Snuggling under a cozy electric blanket when the weather turns chilly sounds like a dream.
14:29But if electric blankets get too hot, they might lead to burns.
14:33This risk is particularly significant with older models that don't have an automatic shut-off feature.
14:39So, the best way to use such a blanket is to warm up your bed and then turn it off
14:44before you crawl in.
14:45There's also the concern of heat stroke linked to the use of an electric blanket.
14:49Once, two people were discovered unresponsive in their beds beneath electric blankets.
14:55The first person's body temperature reached an alarming 106.2 degrees Fahrenheit,
15:00while the second person's temperature was 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
15:05So, while these blankets offer comfort, it's crucial to use them wisely.
15:11Just a quick heads-up about windshield washer fluid.
15:14It contains methanol, which can really pack a punch.
15:17If ingested, it can cause everything from dizziness and headaches to severe poisoning.
15:23Make sure to store it safely and keep it in the original container.
15:26Never transfer it to unmarked bottles.
15:29It can easily be confused with water and other harmless liquids, and that's a big no-no.
15:34Methanol is super toxic.
15:36For a grown-up, 2 to 8 ounces can do the trick.
15:39You know what I mean.
15:41The windshield washer fluid you dump into your car usually has about 30 to 50% methanol in it.
15:46But the concentrated versions?
15:48They can pack a serious punch with 90 to 100% methanol.
15:53Just remember, these products need to be diluted with water before you use them.
15:58The last everyday thing on our list does seem to be a great buddy of ours,
16:02especially if located in the bathroom.
16:04But although air fresheners can give your home a pleasant scent,
16:08many of them release volatile organic compounds that can build up over time
16:13and may post serious health risks, including neurological issues and incurable conditions.
16:19I suggest, if you were to ask me, you play it safe and think about opting for natural alternatives
16:25or enhancing your home's ventilation instead.
16:27Got that?
16:29Good.
16:31Fun fact!
16:32Olympic synchronized swimmers, now renamed artistic swimmers, don't usually wear swim caps.
16:38When they compete, they put Nox gelatin in their hair.
16:41The result resembles unflavored jello.
16:44Athletes mix the gelatin with water and it turns into a gooey mixture.
16:48After that, they comb and brush the substance into their hair,
16:52pull it into a bun, and put a headpiece over it.
16:54When it all dries, it becomes really hard, and swimmers' hair doesn't fall out when they swim.
17:00They often add glitter and other decorations to make their hairstyles even more exciting.
17:05The blanket octopus is called this way because of the females of this species.
17:10They're supersized and rarely seen.
17:13They have a long, fleshy cape which encloses their tentacles.
17:16Female octopuses are large, up to 6.5 feet in length.
17:20Thanks to this cape, they look even larger, and much more intimidating to potential predators.
17:25But the coolest thing about these creatures is that the male blanket octopus grows to be a mere 1 inch
17:31in length,
17:32which is smaller than a walnut.
17:33This makes the blanket octopus a species with the largest gender-sized difference in the entire animal kingdom.
17:41Red Bull has published a video showing the so-called world's fastest camera drone following a racing car around Silverstone's
17:49Grand Prix circuit.
17:50The Dutch Drone Gods are a company that custom-built the manually piloted drone
17:55designed specifically for keeping up with cars moving at speeds of over 186 miles per hour.
18:01It took more than a year for Red Bull and the Dutch Drone Gods to create a drone
18:06that could accelerate twice as fast as a Formula One car, reaching this breakneck speed in just 4 seconds.
18:12The drone's top speed is almost 220 miles per hour.
18:17Recently, scientists have concluded that water might not be wet.
18:22You see, wetness is usually defined as a liquid's ability to maintain contact with a solid surface.
18:28It means that the water itself isn't wet, but it can make other objects wet.
18:33Okay.
18:34Wow!
18:35The Maldives' 1,000 rufia banknote has captured the attention of people from all over the world
18:41and received a lot of praise for its stunning design.
18:44The note features the striped pattern of a skin of a majestic whale shark and a green sea turtle
18:50against a vibrant blue backdrop.
18:52It's already been called the prettiest currency in the world.
18:58Now, wearing a tie might be more dangerous than you think.
19:01It can reduce blood flow to the brain by 7.5%, making you dizzy and nauseous and causing headaches.
19:08Ties can also increase the pressure in your eyes if it's too tight.
19:13Plus, they're great at transporting germs.
19:15Gotta think again whether following that dress code is so necessary.
19:21A young girl from Washington broke a Guinness World Record by putting on 45 sweaters at a local library.
19:27Sophia Hayden pulled on each sweater individually all the way down to her waist before moving on to the next
19:33one.
19:34It was done to comply with Guinness World Record rules.
19:37She also had to make sure that none of those sweaters was ripped, since damaged items didn't count.
19:43As a result, she broke the record for the most sweaters worn at once.
19:47The previous record was 40 sweaters, and it was set by a French 11-year-old boy in 2022.
19:53Later, Sophia's mother admitted that it had been tricky to gather enough sweaters for that attempt.
19:58The sweaters were then donated to charity.
20:01Now, it was Louis XIV of France who is believed to have brought salt and pepper together, forming the basis
20:08for modern cooking.
20:09At that time, only rich people could afford to add pepper to their meals.
20:13And the king liked his food to be lightly seasoned with just salt and pepper.
20:22Our son produces a sound, but sadly, we can't hear it.
20:26It's emitted in the form of pressure waves, and their wavelength is measured in hundreds of miles.
20:32It means they're far beyond the range of human hearing.
20:37Now, while we're on the topic of space, let's discuss the fact that our solar system has a wall surrounding
20:43it.
20:44Well, kind of.
20:45It's called the heliopods, and it's the region of space where solar wind isn't hot enough to push back the
20:51wind of particles coming from distant stars.
20:53That's why this region is often considered the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space.
21:01Another space fact for you.
21:03Comets smell like rotten eggs.
21:05I know.
21:05Ew.
21:06Other smells that might surround them are those of burning matches and even almonds.
21:11That's because of the traces of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide found in the makeup of some
21:19comets.
21:19In 2016, promotional postcards were even made, carrying the pungent scent of a comet.
21:26Now, in any career field, the average worker is productive for around 60% of their working time each day.
21:33But if we talk about office workers, this percentage drops drastically.
21:38One study determined that the average office worker is productive for a mere 2 hours and 23 minutes per day.
21:44The thing is, employees are interrupted in general every 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
21:50And it takes people a whopping 23 minutes to get refocused after an interruption.
21:55It means that employees get 3 minutes of work done for every 26 minutes they spend at their workplace.
22:01Unbelievable.
22:02No wonder that statistically, people working remotely are much more productive.
22:09Scottish soccer team Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club is known for using cameras with AI ball tracking to live stream
22:17their matches on YouTube.
22:18Well, once, in a 2020 match against Our United, to be precise, when a camera repeatedly tracked an official's bald
22:26head, mistaking it for the soccer ball.
22:29Uh-oh, what a blunder.
22:32Now, speaking of sports, football teams wearing red kits reportedly play better.
22:38Accordingly, the color of your attire affects not only how you're perceived by others, but also how you feel.
22:44A review of football matches in the past 55 years has shown that teams wearing red consistently play better in
22:52home matches than teams dressed in any other color.
22:56One more awesome story connected to sports.
22:59In order to draw some of the most wanted criminals out of hiding, the U.S. Marshals Service once came
23:05up with an offer crooks couldn't resist.
23:08They invited them to the Super Bowl.
23:10In December 1985, more than 100 people came to the Washington Convention Center after receiving a letter informing them that
23:18they had won tickets to the largest sporting event in the country.
23:21According to the invites, they had been selected randomly from a clearinghouse list of D.C. residents and were supposed
23:29to receive two tickets to the Redskins vs. Bengals game that day.
23:33But to get in, they had to come to a pre-game party to collect their tickets.
23:37And guess what?
23:38The plan worked like a charm.
23:40Over 100 criminals were arrested, which made Operation Flagship one of the most successful in U.S. police history.
23:49Now moving on.
23:51Your brain is eating itself non-stop.
23:53Wait, don't panic yet.
23:54It's a totally normal process known as phagocytosis.
23:59During this process, cells envelop and consume smaller cells or molecules to remove them from the system.
24:05Luckily, phagocytosis isn't harmful.
24:08It actually helps preserve your gray matter, keeping it in top shape.
24:11Boy, I could use more of that.
24:13Giraffes are 30 times more likely to get hit by lightning than people.
24:19Between 1996 and 2010, there were just five documented lightning strikes on giraffes that ended tragically.
24:26But if we consider the fact that the population of the species was just 140,000 at that time,
24:32it makes for around 0.003 lightning casualties per 1,000 giraffes each year.
24:38This is 30 times more than the number of tragic accidents involving lightning strikes that happen to people.
24:46Animals experience time differently from us humans.
24:49To smaller animals, the world around them moves more slowly.
24:53For instance, salamanders and lizards experience time not as fast as, let's say, dogs and cats.
24:59All because of the perception of time, which depends on how quickly the brain can process incoming information.
25:07And finally, snails do have teeth.
25:10Between 1,000 and 12,000 to be precise.
25:13These teeth aren't like ours, though.
25:15So there's no need to picture snails with silly, toothy grins.
25:19Snails' minuscule teeth are all over their file-like tongues.
25:23So there.
25:25Imagine you just woke up in a world where all the chocolate you can eat is pink.
25:31That beautiful, glowy, ruby chocolate instantly creates sparkles in your eyes.
25:36And before you know it, your mouth is watering.
25:40You grab the pink chocolate between your hands and finally take a bite out of this piece of art.
25:45Hmm.
25:46It tastes good, but it doesn't really taste like chocolate.
25:51There's a widespread debate on whether pink chocolate is the fourth type of chocolate or not.
25:56We have dark, white, milk chocolate, and now, ruby?
26:01Not exactly.
26:02But don't worry.
26:03We'll understand why.
26:05Ruby chocolate appeared on the market in 2017 through a Swiss-Belgian company called Berry Calibut.
26:12How they make chocolate pink is a manufacturing secret, but they did open up a little about the process.
26:19You might not know this, but it takes a while before you can get from a cocoa bean to a
26:23chocolate bar.
26:24After harvesting the cocoa pods, one has to dry and ferment the cocoa beans.
26:30This process of fermentation is usually what gives the chocolate its rich and complex flavor.
26:36Then, you have to roast the beans, which is when they'll acquire the dark chocolate color we're used to.
26:41After grinding the beans into cacao nibs, the last part of the process involves melting the nibs into a type
26:48of chocolate sauce that will be mixed with sugar, butter, milk, or whatever you wish to mix it with.
26:54Some beans are naturally purplish, and they change into a darker color during the fermentation process.
27:00But, to make ruby chocolate, manufacturers have to halt the fermentation somewhere in the middle.
27:06That's how they preserve some of their original purpleness, which added with a few other secret ingredients can become pink.
27:14If this video is stimulating your taste buds, you can go outside to the nearest convenience store and look for
27:21a ruby Kit Kat.
27:22You'll probably notice that pink chocolate has a similar texture to white chocolate, but it has a slightly sour and
27:29fruity taste.
27:30That's probably due to the fermentation process we just talked about.
27:35In case you can't find a pink Kit Kat outside, there's another recipe that gets close enough to the original
27:41ruby chocolate taste.
27:43According to chocolate expert Angus Kennedy, you can chew on a piece of white chocolate.
27:48Add some raspberries and a little piece of milk chocolate.
27:51That's more or less what a ruby chocolate bar will taste like.
27:55Oh, fun fact, there's also a wide debate on whether white chocolate is actually chocolate or not.
28:01Scientists argue that we can't call it white chocolate because it doesn't have any cocoa beans in it.
28:06White chocolate is simple cocoa butter mixed with sugar and has some vanilla to add to the flavor.
28:12Other studies say that what is legally required to call something chocolate is a simple percentage of cocoa fat.
28:18And if that is indeed the rule, well, then white chocolate could be called chocolate, no problem.
28:25Anyways, why did pink chocolate get so popular?
28:28The thing is that we don't eat only with our mouths.
28:32Eating involves all of our senses.
28:34The size, shape, color, and surface texture all play an important part in how appealing a food might be to
28:41us.
28:41The smell will also determine a lot of our eating desires.
28:45Crazy as it might seem, the smell of something can already activate your taste buds.
28:50But primarily, we eat with our eyes.
28:54I mean, look at this beautiful pink chocolate ganache.
28:58And this ruby chocolate mousse.
29:00It's aesthetically pleasing and looks like you're about to eat one of the colors of the rainbow.
29:05Yum!
29:07Eating with our eyes has been a reality for us humans since the beginning of time.
29:12Let's take our primate ancestors as an example.
29:14Science speculates that primates might have developed a trichromatic vision to spot the nutritious and colorful fruits among the dark
29:22green canopy.
29:23I'm betting that even looking at all these delicious images of food is making you crave the things we're talking
29:29about.
29:30But our brains aren't all that smart when it comes to eating, and we're easily tricked.
29:35For example, if you drink a pink liquid that tastes like a banana, it will take a while for your
29:41brain to process it correctly, as your normal expectation is for the drink to taste like strawberry.
29:48Another study shows how our brain perceives roughness as a quality of healthy eating, even when that's not exactly the
29:54case.
29:55If I gave you a piece of rough brownies and soft ones and asked you to eat the ones with
30:01fewer calories, you'd probably choose the rougher ones.
30:05This study from the Journal of Consumer Research shows that foods with rough textures feel heartier and healthier, even if
30:13they have the same nutritional value as softer versions.
30:16That's why we eat granola bars and trail mixes thinking we are eating super healthy when they are very high
30:22in calories.
30:24Even today, we are masters at eating with our eyes.
30:27Social media stimulates the first thing you do once you order food is to take a picture of it.
30:32The prettier the plating and the food itself, the more likes a person is likely to get, and the more
30:38a restaurant owner can sell dinner platters.
30:41On the bright side, it seems like cuisines all over the world are getting more and more inventive.
30:47Have you ever heard of a rainbow bagel?
30:49The internet was obsessed with this bagel a few years ago, and rightly so.
30:54The dough of this pastry looks more like Play-Doh than something edible.
30:58But it's a spectacle for the eye and extremely popular amongst young children and adults alike.
31:04It's like eating sunshine, one of its admirers says.
31:08The brighter the colors, the better in this case.
31:12And what about edible everyday items like a hairbrush?
31:16I swear this is a cake inside.
31:18As much as it might feel weird to eat a hairbrush cake, it's also very cool.
31:23This new social media trend is pretty surprising and filled with odd edible items, such as edible Polaroid cameras, edible
31:31hand soaps, edible water bottles, edible handbags.
31:35Really, the list goes on.
31:37Acai bowls are also pretty popular today in the social media world.
31:41That luscious shade of bright purple topped with perfect rows of granola, pumpkin seeds, and oats makes my mouth water
31:48just by looking at it.
31:49But cuisine is getting a little bit exaggerated to grasp the attention of consumers around the world.
31:56I'm thinking here about Burger King's Quintuple Burger.
31:59It's 5 Whopper patties, 5 slices of cheese, and 5 rows of bacon.
32:05You get the picture.
32:07It's over 2,000 calories in just one burger, which is more or less the nutritional amount an average person
32:14needs to consume per day.
32:16It's certainly shocking when you look at it.
32:18Imagine eating it!
32:21Still, our need for food to be aesthetically pleasing has its downsides.
32:25In supermarkets, we tend to choose those fruits and vegetables that we consider perfect.
32:30But this means that a lot of the ugly food gets thrown in the trash because nobody wants to buy
32:35them.
32:36Sure, we eat with our eyes.
32:37But it's important to be aware that just because a fruit came twisted or weird-looking, that doesn't mean it
32:43won't meet our nutrition needs.
32:46A Singaporean project called Ugly Food is trying to make a difference.
32:50People can buy blemished food in their online grocery stores.
32:53According to the company, consumers are invited to increase their acceptability threshold.
32:59Another project that's changing the meaning of the quote,
33:02we eat with our eyes, are restaurants that offer blindfolded dinners.
33:06Since 1999, restaurant owners have offered their clients the experience of eating without using their sight.
33:13Naturally, this experience heightens the other senses, like taste and smell.
33:19A 2002 study also shows that those that eat blindfolded can eat up to 22% less than those that
33:26see what they're eating.
33:28According to this study, blindfolded people would get satisfied much sooner than those that weren't.
33:33This would literally mean that our eyes are bigger than our stomach.
33:38Meaning that if the food looks appealing to our eyes, we could be driven to take much more than we
33:43normally manage to eat.
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