Coffee Doesn’t Cause Cancer, Says American Institute For Cancer Research

In September, we reported that a battle was raging in the California court system over whether or not coffee should come with a cancer-warning label. You may remember it from our imagining of what carcinogenic coffee might look like (see above). Well, those hippy dippy librul California courts went ahead and decided in favor of adding cancer-warning labels for coffee. We all think this is silly, because of course we do; coffee people don’t want those sorts of labels on their beloved nectar. But you know who else thinks this ruling is stupid? The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).

A quick refresher on this whole foofaraw: roasted coffee contains a chemical called acrylamide, which has been linked to cancer in rats. The level of acrylamide in roasted coffee—and a ton of other things we eat, mind you—is incredibly low, not nearly as high as the amount given to rats to cause cancer. And because of California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, “private citizens, advocacy groups and attorneys can sue on behalf of the state and collect a portion of civil penalties,” which is exactly what happened.

After a Los Angeles County Superior Judge ruled that “all coffee shops and sellers in the state of California must label their product and warn their consumers about potential cancer risk from drinking coffee,” the AICR issued a rather emphatic statement in support of coffee not requiring any cancer warnings. In the statement, the AICR enumerates the many reasons coffee should not be considered carcinogenic as it relates to acrylamide content. Reasons include the aforementioned trace amounts found in coffee not being high enough to be carcinogenic, empirical research measuring acrylamide levels in the blood of high coffee consumers that shows “no hint of increased cancer risk,” and allusions to other research that shows many of the hundreds of compounds in coffee actually decreasing the possibility of cancer.

In short, their argument can be summed up thusly:

On a “cancer worry” scale from 0 to 10, coffee should be solidly at 0 and smoking at 10; they should not have similar warning labels. Those who like drinking coffee should have no concerns at all, except perhaps, if they add too much sugar and cream or are very sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

So when it comes to doing something you are going to do anyway, who are you going to believe: a government official saying you shouldn’t or actual scientists who have done the leg work and say that you can? Yeah, me too.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.

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I Accidentally ate the Easter Bunny's Carrots

My first chore most mornings, after walking dogs and all, is picking up kitchen detritus deposited after I went to sleep the night before.

Yesterday there was a paper plate on the stove. It held a few kinda shriveled carrot sticks. I ate them and tossed the plate. It's a mom thing.

A couple of hours later Liz came to me and said, "Thank you so much, Mom, for taking care of the Easter Bunny's carrots for me! I forgot all about them."

Well, okay then. 

Just how low do you have to stoop to steal food from a magic rabbit?

I dunno, but I guess I can bend that far.

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In Montevideo, La Farmacia Café Serves A New Drug

Since caffeine is the most popular drug in the world, there’s nowhere better than to get a fix in a drugstore, right? La Farmacia Café is one such establishment, a drugstore-turned-cafe in Montevideo’s old city, Ciudad Vieja, which today is undergoing something of a specialty coffee renaissance.

La Farmacia maintains the structure and some of the furnishings used in the days when a pharmacy operated in its place—in part because renovations weren’t allowed in the historic building it calls home. The tiles on the walls, a new counter, and some of the decor are all that’s been touched up.

“We knew the place had a story to tell, as do many other historical buildings around the Old City that tell us about the habits and rituals of other times,” says Martin Chamyan, the head barista who runs La Farmacia in partnership with his siblings, Camila and Augustin. The Chamyans also own two other coffee shops in the city: La Madriguiera Café and El Club del Pan.

Chamyan explains that their aim was to bring back the old custom of drinking a cup of coffee standing by the counter, so they designed a massive counter where customers can interact with baristas, have their morning coffee, and head off to work. “On the other hand, we understood that the place deserved to be delightful, so we also set a place with proper tables and chairs,” he adds.

“The cool thing is that the old pharmacy worked pretty much the same way—it had two separate rooms, one for the preparation of the drugs, from that time when the doctor gave you a special recipe and the drug needed to be prepared in the laboratory of the place, and a front area where the formulas were sold,” Chamyan says.

The “drugs” served here today range from espresso drinks to hand-brewed coffees on the Chemex, V60, AeroPress, French press, syphon, ROK, and cold drip. “We have a special overhead mirror so customers may see us prepare their coffee from above,” Chamyan says.

La Farmacia works hand in hand with MVD Roasters, a local roastery that started the specialty coffee scene in Montevideo—and has become a supplier to many businesses in the city. “As partners, we decide on each blend and single origin’s roasting profile for our espresso machine and other domestic brewing methods,” Chamyan says.

Chamyan’s interest in coffee started six years ago, when he was living in Sydney, Australia. “I just couldn’t understand how these people took such a beverage as a normal thing, and got really interested in understanding the why behind the what. My first experience working as a barista happened after really nagging the people behind the counter of my favorite coffee shop to a point where they thought the best idea would be to teach me to work there,” he says.

“La Farmacia came about as a result of this sharing and experimenting with other people about this passion. The owner of the building where La Farmacia operates waited almost 10 years for people who shared his interest for history, culture and, of course, coffee to come along,” he adds.

After several visits to Chamyan’s first coffee shop, La Madriguiera,  the building’s owner asked the Chamyan family if they would consider opening another venue. “Fortunately enough, up to that time, we had been teaching and welcoming new people to the coffee world so within a few months we had a solid team to start this new adventure,” Chamyan says.

He adds that coffee culture may be seen as a luxury in his country. The takeaway cups and the buzz of the big cities are a dream for Uruguay’s slow-paced people. “Coffee culture is not something that just appears in big countries from nothing,” says Chayman. Rather, he says, it follows a shift in the demands of a population, as part of a path towards evolving lifestyles and cultures. “That’s why from my perspective the Third Wave movement came to generate a new culture and new way of living with coffee,” he says.

More than serving the taza perfecta, or the perfect cup, for his customers, Chamyan now plans to go higher—or lower, if we take it literally. “We have a secret basement full of potential, and we have been discussing several ideas ranging from a bakery, a ping-pong arena, and a brewery. It all looks as though we could make all of them happen, but for the moment we are investing in having our own pharmacy’s craft beer,” he says.

Chamyan and his siblings are also developing methods to accept means of payments via cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Attention Units (AU). “AU was tested in our first coffee shop and it allows you to earn money by watching advertisements, so if you would like an espresso you could possibly pay by watching two video ads,” he says. In the end, though, these are just shiny new ways to pay for the same old drugs.

La Farmacia Café is located at Calle Cerrito 550, 11000 Montevideo. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Rafael Tonon is a freelance journalist based in Brazil. Read more Rafael Tonon on Sprudge.

Photos courtesy of Francisco Supervielle.

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The Hills are Alive

A doe with last year's fawn. From what we saw she may still be letting her nurse
Look how fat she is!

These photos were all shot from the back porch door

And show the top of the heifer pasture hill, where everyone loves to party

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Area Cafe Changes Wi-Fi Password

Area cafe Color Bars Coffee has gone ahead and changed its wifi password, sources tell Sprudge. The previous password was “coffee”—but the o was a zero and the e’s threes, making for “c0ff33” with no spaces or capitals. Now, the password is “Colombia” and the C is capitalized and the I is a one and the o’s are zeroes, making it “C0l0mb1a”.

“We change the password about once every couple weeks,” cafe manager Matilda Mackenzie explains. “Sometimes it frustrates regulars, but then they come back up and ask.”

“I always explain the password the same way,” barista Scout Belcher says. “I say it’s Colombia, like the country? Where they grow coffee? So there’s actually an o instead of u, and then, you know, the o’s are actually zeroes and the I is a one. The C is capitalized because it’s a country.”

A regular, Jeremy Wiggins, dished to Sprudge that he has personally heard Belcher recite this monologue 20 times in the last hour. “It’s kind of surreal,” Wiggins tells us. “Somehow their voice carries over the entire cafe, even when it’s full.”

Color Bars Coffee owners Stretch and Becky Sampson declined to comment.

This story is developing…

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He is Risen

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March Favourites: Natural Beauty and Wellness Products for Your Return to Spring

Some of my favourite posts to write are those that bring up the natural beauty and wellness products I’ve been loving over the course of the past month – my monthly faves posts. It’s been a while since I had the time to write one of these, but thanks to a long Easter break in Norway, I found the time to cozy up with some wool blankets and my laptop and curate for you March’s Monthly Faves. It’s a combination of my usual green beauty explorations and some other wellness and spirit soothing finds. I hope you enjoy, beautiful. 

Eye Treatment Fave: Maya Chia The Eye Achiever

I’m loving this concentrated corrective serum from a beloved brand, Maya Chia. The eye serum has been created specifically for the delicate eye area and contains nutrient dense oils of sweet white lupin seeds (helps with firmness), chia seed oil (what Maya Chia is known for), as well as protective raspberry seed oil and black cumin seed oil. But the real magic is working from the sea plants- macros and micro-algae extracts from Undaria Pinnatifida (great for anti-aging by promoting the cell’s ability to fight free radicals), sea lavender (which is shown to increase tubules length which increases microcirculation) and Alaria Esculenta extract (promotes firmness and elasticity of the skin). 

Needless to say, this eye serum is above and beyond when it comes to super ingredients and potent potions. I’ve been using it for a month and love the steel rollerball which massages the oil cooly into the skin, also helping to take down any puffiness. 

Shop online at Maya Chia online directly, or from The Detox Market. 

If you order from The Detox Market between April 1st & 2nd 2018, use code FREESHIP for free shipping in US & Canada. 

Serum Fave: Kypris Beauty Elixir III Prismatic Array

Kypris is another beautiful brand that makes some potent and beautiful products. This month I have been indulging in their Beauty Elixir No 3, Prismatic Array, a moisturizing facial oil that is perfect for even the most sensitive skin types. Youth boosting CoQ10, and collagen helping Vitamin C, this beautifully formulated oil is also packed with a heavy dose of seed, such as skin elasticity benefactor, Prickly Pear Seed oil.

My skin has been loving absorbing this oil on the daily this month, it is so super nourishing and with no essential oils, it’s a super gentle oil for anyone who is sensitive to some of the more essential-oil infused serums (which I also love). It is rich and fatty, but is light enough for any skintype, yes even oily skin types. A few drops is all you need. 

Shop online in two different sizes (47 ml is pictured) from Citrine Natural Beauty Bar.

Oil Cleanser: Max&Me Purity & Grace

What I love about oil cleansers is how seriously gentle they are – taking away pollutants from the skin and makeup with ease but never by drying out the skin. Massaging oil cleansers into the skin also helps to activate the lymph and help drain the face from tensions and toxins its holding onto. Alexandrian laurel oil, Marula Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Sesame oil and Seabuckthorn oil is a serious power-house ingredients list. It has to be one of the most nourishing oil cleansers I’ve tried to date – and I’ve tried a lot of cleansers ;) 

I seriously love Max&Me products – their purity is so highly regarded and their ingredients are beautifully blended. Use code LPN150 to get an incredible gift with purchase on their site, when you spend 150 EUR or more. The gift includes: 5ml Mask&Wash, 5ml Beauty Balm and 10 ml Purity & Grace oil cleanser. 

Shop online from Max&Me’s site. 

Essential Oil of the Month: doTERRA Rosemary Oil 

I love essential oils for so many reasons: their healing properties, their scent, their taste (for some I take internally, but only certain oils). Rosemary is the oil I’ve been loving so very much this month, and have been using it in the mornings for dry brushing before my showers. I just drop 3 drops into my hand, rub the bristles of my dry brush in it and then go through the body working from the feet up. 

Rosemary is a great oil for diffusing, using topically and even taking internally (but before you take any essential oil internally make sure it is therapeutic grade, like doTERRA’s and ensure you are familiar with dosage). It is known for supporting healthy digestion, reducing nervous tension and fatigue, supporting healthy respiratory function, and maintaining concentration. Since it is a mild oil, most people do not need to dilute it before using, and you can use it “neat” or straight from the bottle.

Save 25% of your orders by signing up for a Whole Sale account here. You can create an account and ship to almost anywhere in the world. 

Face Mask: Matcha Obsessed Matcha Clay Mask

Matcha has been all the rage this past year, no doubt because of the powerful anti-oxidant benefits riding in that green powdered tea. Studies show that Matcha reduces inflammation and fights damaging free radicals, so instead of just drinking it, why not also let the skin soak up the nutrients directly? This matcha clay mask combines purifying organic clay, hydrating coconut milk, pure honey, echinacea and the antioxidants of organic matcha powdered tea. They clay removes impurities and tightens the pores, while toning the skin, while the matcha tea is great for beating off those free-radicals, and the echinacea is useful for reducing redness and inflammation in acne.  The removal of the mask will also help exfoliate dead skin cells. 

I left the mask on for 10 minutes and enjoyed the freshest feeling skin after removal. I loved also using the jade roller following the application with my facial oil to help plump up the collagen and stimulate the lymph. 

Save 20% off with code MatchaLPN on their website. 

Yoni Treatment: Fat & the Moon Yoni Duster

This was kind of a random find when I was in Maui earlier this month – a duster for the yoni with a base of natural arrowroot, white clay and oregon grape root powder, myrrh powder and goldenseal powder and tea tree essential oil. Sitting in a wet bathing suit for the better part of a week after not being in a tropical climate for the past few months, I was extremely grateful to find this on the shelves of a little shop in Paia, Maui. Lucky for you, I found them online later, and you can order online. 

I would argue this is a must have for preventing or naturally treating issues related to yeast or unwanted bacteria, this Yoni Duster is gentle and effectiveI. It is a great alternative to perfume and chemical laden products that can make bacterial situations worse, and is a perfect travel companion when you’re heading to those sunny destinations. 

Shop online from their website. 

Book of the Month: Women who Run with the Wolves

For the feminine soul, this book is a must read. I am still digging in, but thought I would share it with you since it is not going to be finished before month’s end. You spend the book digging into the Wild Woman archetype by delving deep into old folk tales and fairy tales to unlock the often unseen meanings. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a Jungian analyst and storyteller who has a great deal of linage of female storytellers in her family. Digging into everything from trusting our own wisdom and not turning away from the hard parts in love, this book is a must-read for every woman that is ready for the plunge. 

Find this gem on Amazon for shipping worldwide. 

Crystal of the “Moonth”: Tourmaline Rubellite  

This month I have been using this month, without really knowing why I was reaching for it. It was only until after I spent some time researching the stone that it all made sense. When leading a very busy life, Tourmaline Rubellite has been said to be a great stone for bringing energy into the physical body. It is known for properties that also help increase enthusiasm and love for life. It’s a stone that is working a lot on the physical plane, which is something I needed when I dipped into these past days of holiday – an energy reboot. 

I found mine at a crystal shop back home in Vancouver, but you can seek one out at most crystal shops wherever you are. 

Hope you enjoyed this natural beauty and wellness round up.

Have a beautiful return into Spring, beauties. 

X

K

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