The Daily Valet. - 11/17/21, Wednesday

✔️ Let's Talk About Meat Sweats

November 17, 2021

Wednesday, November 17th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

‘Tiger King’ is back? Anyone else having flashbacks to the early days of the pandemic?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

The Meat Sweats Are Real

Turns out, protein is the hardest macronutrient to digest

We’re heading into a season surrounded by good, indulgent food. First comes Thanksgiving, followed by a season of cookie-swaps and holiday feasts, and finished with the Super Bowl. Seriously, this is a gluttonous time.

Anyone who plans on packing away as much poultry as humanly possible next week should just be prepared for a case of the meat sweats. You know what I’m talking about.

Have you ever gobbled up a big ol’ burger or a great steak, only to find yourself a little groggy and sweating after the meal? Slightly embarrassing and uncomfortable, this variation on the food coma is known as the meat sweats.

While there isn’t a clear scientific explanation as to why meat sweats happen, they are real. One theory is that has to do with something called the thermic effect of food, which a doctor explained to Insider as anytime your body digests something you eat, it burns calories, which can raise your body temperature. Therefore, “the theory is that if a person was to eat very large quantities of meat in one sitting it would require a lot more energy to break it down, therefore creating more heat and possibly leading to sweating.”

And it just so happens that protein is the hardest macronutrient to digest. In fact, a 2004 scientific review found that high-protein diets increased body temperature more than diets lower in protein.

Food & Wine spoke with some culinary experts to get their professional opinion on how to handle the sweats. “You just need to pass out and sweat it out,” said one charcuterie expert. “It’s a meat hangover.” But another suggested going outside. “Just a little bit of walking pre- and post-binge eating can jumpstart the metabolism to help aid in digestion.” Remember that alcohol increases the thermogenic effect of the meal, so the more you drink, the more likely you’ll suffer the sweats.

↦ Holiday Survival: Need to get guests to leave? Here’s how to kick people out after Thanksgiving dinner ... politely.

Will Cancel Culture Be Canceled?

Majority of Americans now say that cancel culture has gone too far

An overwhelming majority of Americans said cancel culture has probably gone too far, a new Hill-HarrisX poll finds.

The Hill reports that over 71% of registered voters said cancel culture can unfairly punish people for past actions and statements. This view was more common among conservatives, with 79% of registered Republicans and 65% of Democrats agreeing.

The poll used the Merriam-Webster definition to define cancel culture: Cancel culture is “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.”

Of course, though the word “cancel” elicits ideas of some permanent punishment, Porter Novelli found that the most popular reason to cancel a brand (with the support of nearly 40% of Americans), was for “a company to change its ways.” Other reasons included persuading businesses to fire individuals responsible for an offensive statement and influencing corporations to sever ties with a celebrity or spokesperson who caused offense. But those don't always work, as we've seen recently.

↦ Dig Deeper: The Daily Beast explores how, despite several high profile offenses, Mel Gibson proves that cancel culture is mostly bullish!t.

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Retail Is Surging

American shoppers boosted spending last month, taking on higher prices

Americans might be nervous about the economy or worried about supply chain issues, but none of that is keeping them from spending. U.S. retail sales rose nearly 2% in October from the previous month, a sign that higher inflation isn't stopping Americans from shopping ahead of the holiday season.

According to Reuters, a lot of people have started their holiday shopping early to avoid empty shelves, while most major retailers have been able to work around supply chain issues to keep store shelves stocked.

The strength of consumer spending reflects the resilience of the U.S. economy after a year and a half of disruptions, and the success of the government's economic response in insulating many families from the damage. Economists say American consumers may be in better shape to handle inflation than anticipated—with about $2 trillion in excess savings and many workers taking on new jobs.

Interestingly, sales at restaurants and bars were flat from September to October. According to the Wall Street Journal, economists speculated that either high inflation was forcing consumers to cut back on eating out or that spending had permanently shifted in favor of goods.

People Are Eating Produce Stickers

Who are these fruity rebels?

Have you ever bitten into a piece of fruit and realized that you've eaten half of the little sticker that comes from the store? I have not. As soon as the fruit comes in the house, I remove the stickers and wash each piece. Call me old fashioned, but then it's easier to pick up an apple and snack on it without wondering if it's been washed or who at the store touched it.

But apparently chomping on those little stickers is fairly common. And now someone is asking the question of the New York Times Well section: Is there any harm in eating the sticker on a piece of fruit? Good news, if you're less details-oriented than me and have just ingested a sticker, you can relax, you'll be just fine.

The stickers are made of plastic or paper, plus the ink and adhesive. But surprisingly, a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration told the Times, “Because produce stickers have contact with food, they're subject to premarket approval by the FDA, to ensure that any substances that may migrate to food from the use of the sticker is safe.”

Of course, I can't stop thinking about an idea I read about years ago, about a company that was attempting to make a sticker that dissolves into a soap under running water. Once dissolved, the Fruitwash allegedly removes wax, pesticides, and dirt from fruit and vegetables. That seems brilliant, right?

↦ FYI: PLU stickers (which stands for “Price Look Up”) are vital because around half of the fresh produce in grocery stores doesn't come in any packaging.

In Other News

↦ Times Square Will Welcome Back Vaccinated Revelers This New Year's Eve

↦ Universal’s New Contracts Will Make It More Difficult for Artists to Rerecord Their Work

↦ McDonald’s Is Returning the Egg McMuffin to Its Original Price

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

‘Tiger King 2’

This well-reviewed e-scooter

A stylish DIY garage

Partner

Adventurous Gifts for Any Guy

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Avocado glass vase, $48 by Ilex Studio

Motif cardigan, $185 by Schott

Flint and Tinder Ranger Expedition Shirt Jacket

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↦ Want more gifts? Browse Huckberry’s entire gift guide

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