Chemical lab at Iggesund, Sweden, used chocolate to analyze packaging materials. Packaging is supposed to preserve the quality and flavor of an edible product but the oxygen, heat, and light may actually change the odor and taste of foods. Sara Jonsson, a chemical analyst in the Laboratory for Sensory and Chemical, Iggesund, explained that chocolate is commonly used on tests and experiments. With a teamwork of 40 analysts in the panel, the experiment was to determine if the goods have been influenced by the packaging. Placing it together with a packaging material - chocolate can absorb volatile compound that could change its flavor. Compared to water and butter, chocolate is said to be more convenient due to its ability to absorb foreign odors.

Key brain cells which control our appetite discovered by scientists at University of Warwick. Tanycytes found for the first time to detect amino acids from food and tell the brain directly that we feel full. Foods high in two key amino acids such as chicken, mackerel, plums, apricots, avocadoes, lentils and almonds activate tanycytes and make us feel fuller quicker. Discovery could help to curb obesity crisis possibility of treatments to suppress appetite and control weight by activating tanycytes in brain. Dieting could be revolutionized, thanks to the ground-breaking discovery by the University of Warwick of the key brain cells which control our appetite

Getting enough sleep is necessary for maintaining one's health. However, the modern lifestyle does not seem to encourage one to be restful at night, with work related stress, caffeinated lifestyle and the ubiquitous gadgets demanding for one's attention. The following foods are proven to be effective against insomnia and could help one obtain much-needed naturally-induced sleep.

Fish and Bananas for vitamin B6 Fish and bananas contain vitamin B6 which is needed to produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. To further increase melatonin production and get that restful sleep one is longing for, experts suggest limiting artificial light exposure a few hours before bedtime according to Health Extremist.
Warm milk, Cheese and other Dairy One may have some reservations about that ancient advice regarding warm milk being helpful in inducing sleep. But the old belief is actually backed by science. Milk and dairy products contain tryptophan, an amino acid that induces sleep and also needed in the production of melatonin and serotonin.

About one third of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste, according to a study commissioned by the United Nations food agency. That amounts to more than one billion tonnes of waste around the world every year. The study recommends that developing countries should improve production and distribution, so as to stop losing so much food. It also says industrialized countries must stop throwing so much away.

There are major technologies coming in the next 10 years to make each part of farming more efficient, more productive and hopefully healthier and less expensive,” says Dan Steere. He heads up a company called Abundant Robotics in Menlo Park, Calif.

In other words, robots increasingly are going to play roles in growing and preparing our food. By time the time kids in middle school become adults, the entire food cycle may be robotic. Even now, robots help farmers. Some plant fruits, vegetables and grains in a more efficient way. Soon, they’ll help harvest that food more quickly. Some food warehouses already have self-driving trucks. Robots will even help get that food onto our plates. In fact, a robot named Sally is already doing just that. The goal is to make the way food is produced and prepared faster, easier and more efficient.