The internet needs to know!
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
| You'd have to rank Reese Witherspoon as one of the most uncontentious celebrities we have left. But not even America's sweetheart is safe from controversy in the age of the internet. This winter she posted an objectively adorable TikTok of herself using fresh snow to make Chococinnos, a Witherspoon family treat. And she's been buried under a blizzard of disgust and judgment ever since. | I don't live in snow country, and I have a pretty high threshold for what I find disgusting. So I'm on Team Witherspoon for this one. But what does an actual expert have to say? You're about to find out. | | | | Team Witherspoon, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline | | | Written by Ginger Wojcik February 15, 2024 • 3.5 min read | | | | | | Q: | All right — is it safe to eat snow or what? | | A: | We all know not to eat the yellow (or brown) snow. But what about the white stuff? First off, it's true that snow can contain contaminants that don't meet the eye. That's because as water freezes, it encapsulates particles in the air, which may include contaminants like pesticides, mercury, black carbon from wood-burning stoves, dirt, and other potentially harmful chemicals. There's no way to know for sure how contaminated snow is without bringing it into a lab for testing.
But before you get too high on your horse (looking at you, TikTokers), bear in mind that you're regularly exposed to these same contaminants through the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the food you eat.
Still got the ick? Stick to this rule: Only eat snow after it's been snowing for a while. Both rain and snow help clean the air by bringing contaminants down to the earth. So the longer it's been snowing, the more "scrubbed" the air is of these particles. Snow that's been falling for hours would potentially have fewer contaminants than the first falling snow.
Here are some other safety tips when it comes to eating snow: - Avoid old snow! The longer it's been sitting there, the more time it's had to absorb contaminants.
- If it looks dirty, don't eat it. Common sense, people!
- Be cautious with urban snow. Levels of contaminants are going to be higher in more densely populated areas compared to rural, non-industrial spaces.
- Don't eat snow on a windy day. Especially if you're in an open space where dirt is easily kicked up into the snow.
- Avoid all snow that's close to roads or has recently been plowed. In addition to dirt, this snow may also contain chemicals like magnesium chloride.
- Never eat snow in place of drinking water. This can increase your risk of hypothermia by lowering your core body temperature.
| | | Annie Hibbs, Registered Dietitian | | Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) | | | Unstrained | | | | | Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strain Pot Strainer | Do you ever sit around thinking, "Colanders are due for some innovation"? No? Well, someone else sure did! Introducing the Snap N Strain Pot Strainer. This nifty tool allows you to strain food directly from the pot and do it with precision. It's also half the size of a normal strainer, so it will take up less space on your shelf. | | Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store's vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | What we're digesting | 💊 Vitamins that may help you manage psoriasis symptoms. Consider asking your doctor about these options. | 🍵 10 potential benefits of drinking hot water. I definitely didn't know about all of these. | 🙂 How to get clear skin fast. Check out these tips for every skin type. | 🥬 11 signs you're eating too much fiber. Listen up, vegans and vegetarians! | | Thanks for reading, friends! Meet us back here on Sunday to get a veggie-packed recipe with lots of cheese. See you then! | | Until next time, | | Take care of yourself, and we'll see you again soon! | | | | | This edition was powered by | Chococinnos. | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment