⚠️You’re Eating Industrial Waste —Here’s Why

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Hi friend,

It’s Friday morning. You are reading VITAMIN C 🍋. 

If you’ve got a sharp eye, you might have noticed I skipped a newsletter.

It’s been a wild few weeks for me. Between digesting the political craziness that is happening and juggling life, work and a hospital adventure with my husband, things got... intense. Turns out, the universe really loves to keep me on my toes.

But enough about that. Let’s focus on the good stuff!

The year is in full swing, and I’m feeling extra grateful for this little corner of your inbox where we can nerd out about all things food and climate.

So, let’s dive into this week’s insights:

1. [Climate Heroes] 🌳Paris is Turning Traffic Circles into Forests

Paris is greening up! They've transformed a concrete roundabout into an urban forest with 470 trees, covering 4,000 square meters.

This change is expected to cool the area by 4°C (39.2°F). It's all part of a plan to plant 170,000 new trees across the city. Berlin, London, New York - who is next?

Check out this video for a closer look.

2. [Science] 🧬 What if a plate of beans could hack your DNA?

What if I told you your dinner could change how your DNA works? It sounds like science fiction, but it’s real. Researchers at Stanford found that fiber — yes, fiber! — creates compounds that travel through our body, tweaking genes to fight cancer.

But the reality sadly is: 90% of people don’t eat enough fiber!

With colon cancer rates rising among young people, a simple yet powerful way to protect yourself may be as easy as adding more beans, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts to your plate.

Read more about the study here.

3. [Fact] 🔥Data Doesn’t Lie—2024 Was the Hottest Year Ever. Now What?

Check out this NASA graph visualization - it tracks global temperature anomalies from 1964 to 2024, measured against the 1951-1980 average.

The shift isn’t just up - it’s spreading out. What does that mean? More heat, more extremes. And 2024? The hottest year ever recorded.

Some people still think this shift just "natural." Nah. Look at the data. It’s greenhouse gases. It’s us.

4. [Nerdy Food Stuff] 👀 Keeping Fruit Fresh with the Blink of an Eye

Keep your fruit fresh longer. Japan’s iR Fresh tech is a game-changer. A quick 0.1-second blast of infrared light seals moisture, boosts antioxidants, and stops mold in its tracks.

Spinach stays crisp. Oranges stay juicy. Less waste, fewer pesticides, happier people.

Read the full text here.

 5. [Must-Watch] 🍪 How Industrial Waste Became a Key Ingredient in our Diet

The story of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is one of innovation and controversy.

Originally developed to repurpose industrial byproducts and feed the hungry during war times, these foods now dominate global diets.

But at what cost?

This 6-minute video reveals how we turned waste from coal tar into sweeteners and what strategies companies use to bypass the FDA approval.

Stay awesome,
Lia

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