Food Sport International

"...American lawmakers in 1966, writing in?the Uniform Time Act, decided that the right time of day for this shift was “2 o’clock antemeridian,” better known as 2 a.m. What is it? To farmers, daylight saving time is a disruptive schedule foisted on them by the federal government; a?popular myth even blamed them?for its existence. To some parents, it’s a nuisance that?can throw bedtime into chaos. To small business owners, it’s great. When it’s lighter out after work, people “are more likely to go out and do something, whether it’s in the neighborhood, a local park or some other experience,” said Jeff Lenard, a spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, an industry group. “And that behavior shift also drives sales, whether at a favorite restaurant or the local convenience store.” OK, if it wasn’t farmers, whose idea was this? The idea is to move an hour of sunlight from the early morning to the evening, so that people can make more use of daylight. Benjamin Franklin is often credited as the first to suggest it, in the 18th century, after he realized he was wasting his Parisian mornings by staying in bed. He proposed that the French fire cannons at sunrise to wake people up and reduce candle consumption at night. Over the next 100 years, the Industrial Revolution laid the groundwork for his idea to enter government policy. For much of the 1800s, time was set according to the sun and the people running the clocks in every town and city, creating scores of conflicting, locally established “sun times.” It could be noon in New York, 12:05 in Philadelphia and 12:15 in Boston. This caused problems for railway companies trying to deliver passengers and freight on time, as nobody agreed whose time it was. In the 1840s, British railroads? adopted standard times ?to reduce confusion. American counterparts soon followed in an effort to fend off federal intervention. In North America, a coalition of businessmen and scientists?decided on time zones, and in 1883, U.S. and Canadian railroads adopted four (Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific) to streamline service. The shift was not universally well received. Evangelical Christians were among the strongest opponents, arguing that “time came from God and railroads were not to mess with it,” said Carlene Stephens, a curator at the National Museum of American History. ... In the United States, the federal government took oversight of time zones in 1918. And in March of that year, the country lost its first hour of sleep..." The New York Times By?Alan Yuhas

By the end of the 20th century, it seemed like cow’s #milk was over, along with scrunchies and network television. Soy and nut milks had moved from health-food shelves to the supermarket to Starbucks, and oat milk was waiting in the wings to take over the nation’s lattes. But in 2024, U.S. consumption of whole milk rose by 3.2 percent — only the second increase since the 1970s — while consumption of plant milk fell 5.9 percent, according to data from Circana, a market research firm. Sales of dairy milk overall were up 1.9 percent, and sales of raw milk spiked by 17.6 percent. “For dairy milk to be growing at all is surprising, much less by these numbers,” said John Crawford, Circana’s dairy expert. “This reverses trends that have been in place for decades.” Americans have long had a turbulent relationship with milk. It was a public-health menace of the 19th century, a patriotic staple of the mid-20th century, and a nutritional, ethical and environmental conundrum in the 21st. Yet another shift is underway. As the raw-milk?enthusiast?Robert F. Kennedy Jr. awaits confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary, milk is poised to have a very strange 2025. It is suddenly a political battleground, as the nascent?Make America Healthy Again?movement wields unpasteurized milk in the fight against big government, big food and big pharma. #Dairy aisles are already brimming with new options and ideologies: organic, humanely raised, ultrafiltered, caffeinated, protein-enhanced and many more. (Darigold, a dairy giant based in the Northwest, has so many variations that the basic product is now labeled “Classic Milk.”) And milk is culturally inescapable: ; the cosmetics mogul Hailey Baldwin Bieber?pour it?over her body in ads for Glazing Milk, her blockbuster moisturizer; and the popular influencer and dairy farmer?Hannah Neeleman?of Ballerina Farm feed raw milk to her eight children on TikTok. How did milk stage such an unlikely comeback? Many Americans’ ideas of healthy eating were shaped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1992?food pyramid, which remained unchanged until 2005. Concerns about #fat, #cholesterol and #sugar put milk near the top, at just two to three servings per day. ... Now milk is back in nutritional favor, as Americans’ priorities have shifted toward hydration, protein and healthy fats. A high-profile?2008 study?— partly funded by the dairy industry — showed that chocolate milk’s benefits for athletes were equivalent to or better than those of lab-concocted performance drinks like Gatorade. Follow-up studies have continued to show similar results, helping to rebrand milk as a natural nutrition powerhouse. Plant milks have lost ground because they’re expensive, but also because of their long ingredient lists, often including sweeteners, emulsifiers and stabilizers. That places many of them in the category of?#ultraprocessed foods, which health-conscious and science-skeptical Americans are learning to avoid. The New York Times

"By?Keith Schneider Keith Schneider stopped by Honor Family Market several times to interview the owners and observe the store. He is not related to the Schneiders in this article. Jan. 14, 2025 The town of Honor, in northern Michigan, doesn’t have too many places to?shop for food. The only grocery store in town is Honor Family Market, one of a shrinking number of independent grocers left in the United States. Because it’s the only market in town, it has an outsize role in this community of 330 residents. The 12,000-square-foot store, its shelves filled with local products like honey, baked goods and homemade bratwursts, is not only a place where people — in Honor and elsewhere in Benzie County — go to buy meat and produce. It’s also where they can go to get free — or at a reduced cost — food and supplies for community events like football games or the annual National Coho Salmon Festival in the summer. ... Those challenges have made it hard for the Schneiders to find a buyer. Since they put the grocery store, now listed for $1.1 million, up for sale in 2021, they have hired and fired three real estate brokers, and the lone potential buyer failed to show up at closing in 2023 because of a lack of funds. Their story is echoed by other small businesses that have felt the blow of powerful headwinds in and outside northern Michigan, including consolidation in the grocery sector, tight lending for low-margin businesses, the difficulty of selling small businesses in rural towns and competition from discount chains known for undercutting local grocers. ... From 1990 to 2015, the number of independent grocery stores in the United States dropped 39 percent, to 2,648, with an average of 30 store closings a year, according to?a?2021 report?by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That suggests there are roughly 300 fewer stores today than in 2015. Virtually all operate within tight margins in a hypercompetitive, $846 billion industry in which a?significant portion of all grocery sales?goes to just four companies: Walmart, Kroger, Costco Wholesale and Albertsons. The Schneiders know firsthand how consolidation affects prices. The number of wholesale food distributors that served their grocery in the 1990s has diminished from seven in the region to one in Grand Rapids, owned by Spartan Foods, which owns and operates two Family Fare chain stores in Benzie County and 79 other grocery stores in Michigan. Honor Market is captive to its pricing. “Walmart doesn’t want to sell to me; Meijer only does its own stores,” Mr. Schneider said, referring to the Midwest grocery chain. “SpartanNash is pretty much it.” The industry’s concentration, economists have said, was allowed to happen largely by decades of weak enforcement of antitrust laws, particularly the?Robinson-Patman Act of 1936, which forbids price discrimination that could wipe out competition in an industry. ..." The Wall Street Journal

"...The ōURA ring’s focus on living a balanced life—the ring will tell you when to rest, rather than chastising you for failing to exercise—comes directly from the #Finnish culture of its founders, says head of human resources Marjut Uusitalo. She joined the company in 2016, but has known the three co-founders of the company since they first gathered friends to brainstorm the then-novel idea of a health-tracking ring several years before. “In Finnish culture, we are really down to earth people, and nature is close to our hearts,” says Uusitalo. “We have harsh winters, and very clearly differentiated seasons, and so on. We wanted to show you how to balance your life and listen to your body and give yourself a rest.” Oura had an initial crowdfunding raise of less than $1 million on Kickstarter? in 2013, and in 2024 raised $200 million, at a $5.2 billion valuation. Through February of 2024, Oura had sold approximately 2.5 million rings, says chief executive Tom Hale. The company now has 700 employees worldwide, spread across Finland and the U.S. Oura’s customers are about 55% women, and the company focuses on women’s health, including menstrual cycle tracking for well-being, conception and contraception. The ring was also?used by the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the height of the Covid pandemic?to help predict when athletes might be coming down with the virus. Oura’s single biggest customer is the U.S. Department of Defense, which recently signed a?$96 million contract?to hand out its rings to service members as part of a “workforce well-being services” program. ..." The Wall Street Journal

As the #Eaton fire blazed, Philippa and Natasha Price raced to an abandoned stable in the foothills of #Altadena, Calif. Power lines fell around them, the sisters later recalled, while they sped into a restricted zone last Wednesday with a horse trailer.?... The self-proclaimed “lifelong horse girls” were there to rescue six horses that were trapped in an arena which had been chained and padlocked shut. #Firefighters nearby supplied bolt cutters to slice through the chains of the enclosure. One of the horses turned out to be burned and was taken to an equine hospital. It took five hours for the Prices, their father, and other helpers to evacuate the horses. Under the cover of night, they struggled to convince the stubborn, scared 1,000-pound creatures to load into the trailers. ... The areas affected by the Eaton and #Palisades fires are home to thousands of horses, from hardscrabble backyard steeds to elite equestrian breeds. As residents have been forced to evacuate, they’ve anguished about what to take and what to leave behind. Animals have been a particular challenge, especially those that can’t fit in the back seat of a car. A fervent grassroots rescue network has sprung up to help evacuate, rehouse and rehabilitate the equine population. Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control has at least 10 horse trailers and has evacuated approximately 230 horses during the ongoing fires. Marcia Mayeda, its director, is happy to see the volunteer response. “If they’re going into places where they’re allowed to go, I think it’s terrific,” she said. The best way to move horses or livestock in an emergency is to drive them out in a trailer. When that’s impossible, some owners open the gates and let their animals free, writing their phone numbers in Sharpie or spray paint on their bodies or hooves to find them later. Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control does not advise letting animals loose. Locking animals up can be lethal. ... Winds have kicked up again this week. Mayeda warned that if the Eaton fire blows east, it would go to the San Gabriel Valley, another area full of horses. Those horses would probably be evacuated to the Pomona Fairplex, she said.

"More people are taking on 26.2 mile runs thanks to squishy shoes, running groups and Gen Z athletes By?Rachel Bachman and?Nikki Waller -Graphics by?Alana Pipe #Running is built on booms. In the 1970s, the original explosion introduced people to something called jogging. In 1994, #Oprah Winfrey ran the Marine Corps Marathon, spurring millions of women to flood half-marathons and other races.? In 2024, the marathon boomed. The #Paris Marathon in April set an all-time record for biggest ever with 54,175 finishers. That mark was broken not once, but twice—first in September by #Berlin (54,280), then in November by New York (55,646). And hundreds of thousands more people entered lotteries to get into those races, a sign that demand for spots is outstripping supply. ... No longer the exclusive domain of super-slim Type-A’s, the 26.2-mile distance has drawn in runners of all sizes and speeds and, notably, younger ones. While the number of marathon finishers remains below the half-million who ran in 2019, new groups of people are taking on the distance. The share of finishers between ages 20 and 24 has grown from about 5% to 8% since 2021, according to leading industry tracker Running USA.? Gen Z’s embrace of long distances is a departure from #Millennials around the same age. Some?drifted away?from timed runs a decade ago, opting for boutique exercise classes or yoga.?... Gen Z women in particular appear to be embracing marathons. On Strava, a social network where runners and other athletes track workouts, 20% of marathon runners were Gen Z women in 2024, outpacing Gen Z men, who made up 15% of marathoners. ..." The Wall Street Journal

"Wholesale #coffee prices are trading near a 50-year high because of shortages related to extreme weather and increased global demand. When it comes to coffee, Thaleon Tremain has always tried to ignore what the market is telling him. As the chief executive and a co-founder of Pachamama Coffee in California, Mr. Tremain sells his specialty beans for more than what the global commodity price might dictate. He wants his customers to think of coffee as a luxury product and pay for it accordingly, so that farmers who grow his beans in countries like Peru, Nicaragua and Ethiopia can cover their costs. But now, Mr. Tremain is worried that coffee is getting more expensive for the wrong reasons. In recent years, repeated droughts and flooding have strained the global supply of coffee, frequently causing prices to soar, as climate change has done for other staples, like?cocoa,?olive oil?and?orange juice. At the same time, global demand for coffee has kept rising, with few signs that java drinkers are cutting back. This month, prices in one market broke a nearly 50-year high. Even though prices might fall, Mr. Tremain said the volatility threatened the sustainability of businesses like his — and the livelihoods of the farmers who grow his beans. Lattes will probably also eventually get more expensive. Despite being one of the world’s most consumed beverages, coffee can be grown only under very specific conditions, requiring?misty, humid and tropical climates,?with rich soil free of disease. Aside from a small batch grown in Hawaii, the United States produces little coffee domestically. It is the world’s largest importer of the beans. The scarcity of sources leaves global coffee prices susceptible to the effects of extreme weather. ..." The Wall Street Journal

"The Foods That Fight Inflammation By?Jillian Pretzel Chronic #inflammation can be a silent killer, but your #diet can play a role in tamping it down. Experts sometimes describe inflammation as a necessary evil. On one hand, this essential immune system response helps you stay safe and heal from illnesses, though it isn’t always pleasant: often causing symptoms like redness, swelling and soreness. But when inflammation levels in your body remain high for months or years at a time — even in the absence of a threat — it can create health risks of its own. Untreated, chronic inflammation can?increase the risk?of serious?health issues?like?cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and metabolic conditions like #Type 2 #diabetes. The condition, which?some surveys estimate?affects about a third of U.S. adults, is hard to diagnose. This is in part because chronic inflammation symptoms can vary widely and there isn’t a test that can reliably diagnose it. Diets high in?highly processed?and?sugary foods?are connected to chronic inflammation, while consuming certain healthy foods — fresh fruits, vegetables, fiber and certain fats — have been shown to help tamp it down. Here are the foods with demonstrated anti-inflammatory benefits. Vegetables, Especially Leafy Greens Dr. Sean Spencer, a gastroenterologist and physician-scientist at Stanford University, said that the fiber in vegetables is essential for feeding and maintaining the gut microbiome, which signals the immune system to keep inflammation down. The #antioxidants in vegetables can help reduce inflammation too. Tami Best, a dietitian in Rochester, New York, recommended leafy green vegetables like?spinach,?kale,?collard greens,?broccoli,?Swiss chard?and?arugula, which are high in antioxidants. And vegetables rich in?apigenin?— a type of plant compound called a?flavonoid?that has anti-inflammatory properties — are also helpful, Ms. Best said. These include celery, carrots and parsley. Fruits, Especially Berries Fruits are another fiber- and antioxidant-rich anti-inflammatory food group, Ms. Best said. She noted that?tart cherries?and berries, particularly?blueberries, are rich in inflammation-fighting flavonoids. She also advised eating citrus fruits because they’re rich in vitamin C,?an antioxidant?that protects cells against?oxidation, which can lead to inflammation. Legumes Dr. Nate Wood, a physician and director of culinary medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, said that beans, lentils, edamame, tofu, tempeh and other legume-based foods can be powerful?inflammation fighters?because they are high in fiber and antioxidants. Turmeric and Other Spices Spices can be?another inflammation fighter, though most people don’t typically consume large volumes of them. ..." The New York Times

"For all of human history, the natural sugars in fruits, vegetables and other plants have served us well. They have provided essential fuel for our body’s most important processes. But now that sugars have been processed into more potent forms and added to so many foods and drinks — sodas, candies, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, breads — most of us are getting more sugar than our bodies were meant to handle. Over time, excess consumption of these added sugars can increase the risk of health problems. Here’s how that may play out in various parts of your body. The Mouth The potential issues from added sugars start in your mouth. Here, certain bacteria break sugars down and produce acids, which can eventually erode your tooth enamel. Your saliva is able to neutralize these acids, but if you keep consuming sugary foods and drinks throughout the day, it won’t be able to keep up. Acid levels will remain high,?increasing your risk for cavities. A diet high in sugary drinks like soda and juice can also change your mouth’s microbiome — increasing the number of acid-producing bacteria and decreasing the beneficial ones. That may make you even more susceptible to cavities. The Gut Most sweet foods contain several types of sugars. In the small intestine, they are broken down into simple sugars — mainly glucose and fructose. Your body can easily absorb glucose from your intestine, but some people have trouble absorbing fructose, which is found in high amounts in many fruit juices, sweeteners like agave syrup, and drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, like sodas. If fructose lingers in your gut, bacteria can ferment it, which may cause gas, bloating and abdominal pain. Young children tend to have more difficulty absorbing fructose than adults, but it can contribute to irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in people of all ages. ..." The New York Times

Cheers Y'all! ?? "By?Megan Krigbaum #Happy hour is back. These bars and restaurants are really leaning into and also reinventing it. Forget the paltry offerings of yesteryear. This is top-quality drinking and dining, and a tremendous value, too. For many the phrase?happy hour?conjures nothing more than watery beer and basic drinks downed at a discount. And while there are plenty of bars that adhere to that old construct, happy hour is no longer an afterthought for many restaurants and bars around the country. As the industry struggles to return to pre-pandemic numbers, these spots are really delivering on the happy part, with short menus that center on well-made cocktails—still $10 or less—deep discounts on great wine, abundant snacks, pasta flights, half-price sushi handrolls and a windfall of other bites and beverages as delicious as anything on the regular menu and, often, even more fun. Yes, you’ll still find plenty of shot-and-beer combos and $1 oysters and crispy fried things, but the options have leveled up, and the post-work comedown has never been better.? Happy hour at Dante in #Austin, Texas, includes a selection of four $10 margaritas, including the Sombra and the Saladito (pictured here). Or, choose a cocktail from the regular menu, like the Blue Tang Clan... " The Wall Street Journal