/oss/taxonomy/term/2731/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-did-you-know/red-licorice-beets-and-piss-prophets <p>It sure is a colorful life. I recall vividly a scary episode almost forty-five years ago when my wife came running to me brandishing our infant daughter's diaper in her hands. It looked pretty scary, filled with bright red stuff. There were a few moments of panic until we took a closer look and realized that earlier in the day the young lady had been introduced to the delights of red licorice! The red dye was making a triumphant exit.</p> Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:13:37 +0000 Joe Schwarcz Phd 9289 at /oss /oss/article/health-videos/right-chemistry-beetroot-juice-and-nitrate-advantage <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"></div> Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:36:16 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7730 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition/how-louis-pasteur-beat-beet-problem-and-changed-medicine-forever <p>Pasteur, who was then a young professor of chemistry at the University of Lille, was saddled with a problem faced by many researchers today. He needed funding and sought help from private manufacturers. They were often skeptical about the need for research but were generally won over by Pasteur's thrilling lectures and insight. "Where will you find a young man” Pasteur asked, “whose curiosity will not immediately be awakened when you put into his hands a potato, and when with that potato he may produce sugar, and with that sugar, alcohol?" </p> Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:03:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7630 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-you-asked/betacyanins-can-impart-bright-red-colour-urine-when-could-happen <p>After eating beets. The colour of beetroot is due to a family of compounds known collectively as betacyanins. Ingestion of beets can result in a bright red discolouration of the urine, and quite a scare for the urinator who may confuse it with blood! Blood in the urine is a frightening prospect and a possible sign of serious disease while the presence of betacyanins is benign and possibly even healthy.</p> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:45:41 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1916 at /oss