dugglebutt
Spices were originally used as a preservative because humans are one of the few animals that will decidedly eat them. Plants grow spices as a sort of defense mechanism.
So humans would cover food in spice so bugs and other animals wouldn’t eat the food
There was actually this really weird thing that happened in the 90’s about an invasive type of shellfish called Zebra Mussels in the Great Lakes and what happened was people started painting their boats and canals with spice and it was never an issue again. And still to this day, the ballasts of boats are painted with spice to prevent zebra mussels.
Kinda nuts.
Oct 10 at 6:19pmWeb
Show threadlonely extrovertOct 10
@dugglebutt really? i thought zebra mussels were gonna be the destruction of the lakes no holds barred. spices?!
Show threaddugglebuttOct 10
@rothko yeah. So the paint they use for boats (primarily) and tunnels and canals are mixed with spices. And they do that to prevent mollusks from sticking to them. It’s kind of brilliant. Whoever thought of that was a genius. It’s such an easy answer, but it works
Show thread66gardenersOct 10

@dugglebutt
#terpenes

That "defense mechanism" of plants is terpenes (there are thousands), of which cannabis is abundant. Spices, in general, also are loaded with terpenes.

The study of terpenes has enabled the development of many cosmetic products and nutritional supplements. Terpenes directly enhance our own immune systems through their consumption. They act as antimicrobials, antivirals, antifungal, and anti-inflammatories

Vitamins are not enough to sustain good health.