Olfactory: Charles Spence, the world-renowned scientist who invented gastrophysics, explains that although aging diminishes all human senses, most people believe they would miss sight the most. However, according to quality-of-life indicators and suicide rate data, losing the sense of smell is actually more harmful than losing sight. Even if we lose sight as we age, we can still find comfort in hearing the voices of loved ones and recalling memories. In contrast, when we lose our sense of smell, there is no way to recreate those experiences, and memories of scents cannot be imagined or recalled in abundance. To enrich our lives, we should focus on increasing our scent experiences, as the ability to smell is a key contributor to happiness. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
The plum contains a poison called “amygdalin.” This poison is found not only in plums but also in other drupes. The poison “amygdalin” is a combination of two glucose molecules. When these glucose molecules are divided, they turn into “prunasin,” which is more prevalent in other plants. When an insect attacks a plant, it breaks the bond with glucose, turning it into “mandelonitrile” and quickly converting it into “benzaldehyde” and “hydrocyanic acid (HCN)” once more. HCN is a respiratory poison, and benzaldehyde is a unique fragrance component of cherries, bitter almonds, and pistachios. This dangerous ingredient is also present in green tea, but it appears only in small amounts, so it does not cause any problems when consumed. It is an ironic phenomenon in which by-products essential for survival kill other living beings. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”