- The first law of thermodynamics states that heat is a form of energy, which can be transferred, but never created nor destroyed.
- The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of the universe always increases.
- The third law of thermodynamics implies that it is impossible to cool a system all the way to exactly absolute zero.
Sure, it may seem weird to start a post with a science lesson, but like most other things in life, it can also be applied to food…
1. Heat is a form of energy?! Hell yeah it is! – both temperature-wise AND spicy-wise (and I know Jess would back me up on this one). For starters, there’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee to give me a good kick in the pants in the AM. And as if that isn’t proof enough, gimme a few bites of spicy, tongue-searing Indian food and you’ll really see some beads of sweat forming.
As for the no creating/destroying portion of the law, well, trust me, it’s a darn good thing that heat energy can’t be destroyed because I rely on it on a daily basis to keep things moving (if you catch my drift).
2. The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum (aka shit will continue to hit the fan for the rest of time and there’s nothing you can do about it). Well, halleluiah, at least the Type-A in me can get a little bit of shut-eye tonight knowing I will NEVER ever get all my ducks in a row. No matter what I eat today, or tomorrow, or a year from now, I will still be trying to fight chaos in some form. And as odd as it sounds, there’s some relief in knowing that. I can be at peace with the unknown, since I know it will remain constantly unknown. You know? (well it made sense in my head).
3. No zero, no matter how idealized the system is reduced to. Word. The mental representation of “zero” is a figment of your imagination. It doesn’t exist. It can’t exist. It is “impossible by any procedure.” How much clearer can it be said! Rather than envisioning some ridiculous society-sponsored idea of perfection for myself (which almost certainly sets a person up for failure), I will embrace the things I love about my body and mind, today and now. I feel strong, healthy, and happy, and I know that the way I eat and exercise are the causes of that, so I will continue to do that which makes me feel good and fit.
Hope you enjoyed today’s science lesson with a nutrition spin. If only O chem phrased questions in food terms…I have a feeling there would be a lot more interest in certain majors…
Too much text already, so here’s an abbreviated description of my latest eats. Hummus. Alvarado Street bread. Mozz VeganRella. LightLife “turkey.”
Hummus. Chickpea/seaweed salad.
Thai seitan (lazy much?). Hummus. AmazingGrass green chocolate drink.
Peanut buttery bliss.
You may have noticed since I’ve been a work-a-holic lately stuck with a crappy shift schedule, there’s serious laziness, tuperware meals, and WF hot bar action in my meals.
My EITF salad’s require QUITE the assembly line…
But the end result is well worth the effort 🙂
That salad is a fiesta in a bowl no? Party like in Ibiza, we don’t need no Visa!!
Guava was good, but not one I’d buy again…there are just SO many other flavors I’d rather waste savor my $$ on. This slice of “cheesy” bread may have been a little heavy on the mozz, but I wouldn’t kick it out of bed.
My nut butter/dried fruit dessert plates came back with a vengeance this weekend! And the portable form (aka Larabars) were lunch time staples at work too.
I should also mention, the pre-packed munchies were supplemented with a locker-full of granola, oatmeal, and trail mix, which is now on the low side…3 days in a row drains me out!
More “egg” salad on a bed of spinach and broccoli slaw. Roughage is my friend. I also tried this chocolate flavored Green SuperFood bar, and, I’m sad to report, it wasn’t so great. As much as I LOVE their powdered drink stuff, this was not good.
The outside texture was weird and the inside had very little chocolate that my taste buds could detect. There actually wasn’t much flavor at all…
I cleansed my palate with hummus and peanut buttery apple slices 🙂
Any questions?
Any questions? Nope.
Insightful, delicious, nutritious.
Rock on.
haha, the inside of that bar looks totally questionable! Yikes- and now my brain hurts after reading all of your insights 😀
I love your nutrition spin on #3–very inspiring! And I agree…if they put those kinds of spins on O chem, I might not have had such a hellish time suffering through that semester in school…
I love the apple pie Lara Bars! That is just about the ONLY way I will eat me some nuts–when disguised in a delish apple pie/date/larabar combo 🙂
Courtney
Love the science info! It’s not my strong point, but I love when it’s set out in simple terms 🙂
I want to try one of those green bars!
Yikes, the cross-section of that Green SuperFood bar scared me… is that a corn kernel?!
I am fortunate enough to have never been forced to suffer through organic chemistry. Or any chemistry, for that matter. But I still loved your little science lesson. (Hmm, maybe that’s why! ;))
<3 <3
Thank you so much for bringing flashbacks of Chemistry and Physics into my life. I appreciate it….. 😉 No really, though – love your comparisons!
By the way, in the latest Allure (I think – either that or Self) there’s a whooooooole spread about our favorite drug of choice, coffee. Not talking about just drinking a cup here or there, we’re talking 2+ cups of coffee. Love it, love you!!
Ah, kind of miss science class. But not my creepy teacher.
I got kombucha at the weekend! And had the best hummus salad ever… I think you may need to fly over. Too good to miss out on.
Eating an apple pie lara bar as I type…or was. I think there are now more crumbs on my keyboard than in my mouth.
haha loved your spin on thermodynamics…genius 🙂
That peanut butter and apple slices at the end of this post make me happy.
I totally understood every word of that. Or else I just understood “hummus.”
I’m impressed with your scientific knowledge! Ever since finishing grad school I hate to say it but I am more into E! TV than making my brain think too much, haha 😉
I wish you were my science teacher throughout the year! awesome lesson. will we be tested?
GREAT eats. seaweed salad makes my heart go pitter patter. as does hummus and apples.
I am always so proud to be good friends with you just because of your social justicey nursing job. I could NEVA go through all those science classes…and draw peeps blood. And give them enemas. You are such a hummusy beautiful person 😀
Oh, that hurts my little English BA head!
Sorry that bar sucked. Guess I won’t be buying it.
Ah yes, thermoynamics. I like your application of them much more than my science teacher’s.
Thanks for the info about guava kombucha. I currently have a bottle of the raspberry that I have been savoring. It’s pretty delish, but no Divine Grape.
Thanks for the science lesson Elise. 🙂 I totally remember learning about those laws of thermodynamics. And I’ll always back you up…. who doesn’t love some SPICE AND HEATTTT in their life!
Peanut butter smeared english muffins, red pepper hummus, wf’s salads, apples, kombucha. NOM.
Mmm seaweed salad, yum. The nut butter photos are too appetizing too.
Love the Kombucha but haven’t tried the Guava yet, not worth it though huh?