People have chased anything that promises youth, long life, or a boost in fertility for centuries. Today, supermarkets line their shelves with products that claim similar miracles, but modern science lets us separate fact from fantasy. Back in the day, however, pseudoscience and snake‑oil remedies ruled the market, and a surprising number of everyday foods earned a reputation as love‑potions.

Why These 10 Totally Normal Foods Were Once Considered Aphrodisiacs

The belief that certain edibles could spark desire sprang from four main ideas in early modern Europe: foods that generated heat, those deemed especially nourishing, the “doctrine of signatures” (where a food’s shape hinted at its power), and the oddly named “windy meats” – foods that caused flatulence. The latter category, for instance, included beans, whose expelled air was thought to “inflate” a man’s vigor. Across centuries and continents, these notions took hold, giving rise to a colorful catalogue of supposedly seductive staples.

10 Beans

Beans have fed humanity for millennia, appearing in countless cuisines worldwide. Yet between the 16th and 18th centuries in England, they earned a scandalous reputation as a bedroom aid. The era’s medical lore identified four routes to aphrodisiac status: heating the body, providing hearty nutrition, resembling sexual organs (the doctrine of signatures), and producing gas – the so‑called “windy meats.” Beans fell into the latter group; the belief was that the same wind expelled during flatulence could puff up a man’s “air‑bags,” readying him for lovemaking. Consequently, physicians prescribed beans and peas to men struggling with performance.

This quirky theory persisted despite the lack of any scientific backing, illustrating how cultural superstition could elevate a humble legume to erotic fame.

9 Mustard

Mustard’s fiery kick was once thought to ignite passion. The plant’s natural defense releases isothiocyanates, which irritate pests and, when we bite into the condiment, trigger a sharp, tingling sensation by stimulating pain receptors in the mouth. Ancient Romans cultivated mustard across Gaul, and medieval monks later refined its preparation. Some monastic orders, fearing the “heat” might stir carnal thoughts, even forbade their members from making or consuming it, believing it could tempt them away from chastity.

Thus, mustard’s sharp bite was linked to a metaphorical heat in the lover’s chamber, reinforcing its status as an alleged aphrodisiac.

8 Potatoes

Shakespeare’s comic character Falstaff famously pleads, “Let the sky rain potatoes,” in *The Merry Wives of Windsor*. Though the line sounds absurd, contemporary audiences understood it as a wish for sexual success. In the 16th and 17th centuries, potatoes—especially sweet potatoes, which had been known in Europe long before the white variety arrived from the Americas—were widely believed to boost virility. Falstaff’s odd request was a humorous way of asking the heavens for bedroom prowess.

This belief persisted long enough that potatoes earned a spot on the “love‑food” list, even if the playwright used them for comic effect.

7 Carrots

While today we tell kids carrots improve eyesight, ancient Greeks and Romans saw them as a different kind of stimulant. Their elongated shape and phallic connotations led to the notion that they could loosen inhibitions and spark desire. The doctrine of signatures wasn’t yet rigid, but the visual resemblance was enough for the ancients to deem carrots an erotic aid.

Historical anecdotes reinforce this claim: Emperor Caligula allegedly forced senators to eat carrots to provoke scandalous behavior, and Roman soldiers reportedly brewed carrot broth for captured women, hoping to heighten their passion.

6 Eggplant

Eggplant—technically a fruit—has long been associated with sexuality across cultures. In 16th‑century France it earned the nickname “pomme d’amour” (love apple), while Korean literature and Japanese haiku also likened its shape to the male organ. Its family ties to deadly nightshade added an aura of danger, prompting some societies to believe the fruit could both arouse and cause wild side effects, from fever to madness.

Beyond its visual symbolism, the plant’s toxic relatives fueled rumors that eggplant could stimulate appetite, provoke fever, and even cause leprosy, further cementing its mysterious reputation.

5 Parsnips

Parsnips, especially when sweetened with honey, were once a luxury in ancient Rome. Emperor Tiberius, after tasting them in Germany, imported the root as tribute and made it a patrician delicacy. Their elongated, white form also suggested a phallic link, leading to their classification as an aphrodisiac.

By the 17th century in England, parsnips joined a long list of “bedroom boosters” prescribed to married couples, illustrating how a simple root could be elevated to romantic stature.

4 Almonds

When sugar became widely available, it turned almonds into a sweet treat—most famously as Jordan almonds or dragees, often presented at weddings. In many Middle Eastern cultures, almonds carry aphrodisiac lore, which explains their presence in nuptial gifts.

These confection‑coated nuts are traditionally given in bags of five, each almond symbolizing a wish for the couple: health, children, wealth, long life, and happiness. The number five, being indivisible, underscores the wish for a stable, enduring marriage.

3 Coconuts

Coconuts weren’t always the tropical beach‑side staple we know today. In medieval Germany and England, they were exotic imports from India, prized for their shells, which fashioned goblets and cups. Their rarity sparked beliefs in magical properties, including the ability to stir desire and even detect poison.

While Monty Python’s famous coconut gag suggests they were impossible to find in medieval Europe, historical records confirm they were indeed present—and thought to be potent love‑enhancers.

2 Lettuce

Ancient Egyptians elevated lettuce far beyond a salad leaf. Depicted on tomb walls and linked to the fertility god Min, the crisp, tall plant was believed to keep the deity “ready for action.” Its straight stalks and milky sap suggested stamina and vigor, leading Egyptians to view it as a sexual tonic.

Modern science notes lettuce’s vitamin A content supports reproductive health, but whether it truly fuels endless bedroom energy remains a matter of myth versus fact.

1 Beer

Alcohol’s reputation as a libido booster is well‑known, but beer’s aphrodisiac status dates back to pre‑18th‑century Europe. Before hops dominated brewing, beers were flavored with a mixture called gruit—herbs that varied by region. Some of these herbs were stimulants, leading drinkers to credit the brew with heightened desire.

When hops eventually replaced gruit, the belief shifted, as hops were thought to have a calming, even libido‑dampening effect. Today, science confirms that while alcohol can lower inhibitions, it doesn’t reliably enhance sexual performance.

Generally, dictators and vicious tyrants tend to be a paranoid and hateful bunch who torture and kill out of misanthropy or as a defense against imagined threats. It’s when you get down to the specifics of their individual phobias and pet peeves that it gets weird. These are the 10 normal things that terrified some of history’s most infamous tyrants.

10 Normal Things Overview

10 Lin Biao Water And Wind

A key supporter of Mao Tse-tung who eventually rose to become his right hand man and chosen successor before dying in a mysterious and suspicious plane crash, Lin Biao was a notorious hypochondriac who suffered an irrational fear of water, as well as wind and cold. His many phobias made him appear like a drug addict most of the time, and in his later years he was often in a very fragile physical and mental state.

He would become seriously ill whenever he perspired and was said to have so feared liquid water that most of his water intake had to come in the form of cooked food. He suffered diarrhea at the sound of running water, and even the sight of rivers and lakes in traditional Chinese paintings made him nervous. He did maintain a house near the coast, but it was hidden in the hills as he could not stand the sight of the sea, which meant he had minimal contact with the navy.

This also affected his personal life, as he didn’t have a bath for years and would only be wiped down with a dry towel. His house had a number of wind-sensitive devices in it, and his wife allegedly had to be careful how she moved while near him, lest she cause a sudden, unwanted breeze. As he was also known for his hatred and contempt for nearly everyone, it isn’t entirely surprising he eventually met a sticky end.

9 Nicolae Ceausescu Disease And Drafts

Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu (at right in the photo above) was a notorious hypochondriac, an ailment apparently stemming from problems with his throat early in life. He had an apparent fear of air conditioning, with many buildings built on his orders constructed without it, and his foreign minister complaining of the lack of AC meant accompanying the president on trips to hot African countries was a nightmare.

Later, his hypochondria developed in a fear of drafts and an obsession with disinfecting everything he touched. Food Safety Agency personnel made sure the doorknobs wherever he went were disinfected with alcohol, and staff in his entourage stood on hand with a medical kit with disinfectant wipes in case Ceausescu needed to shake hands with any foreigners. In one reported incident, after being given an affectionate kiss by President Carter during a visit to the United States, the Romanian leader splashed himself in the face with a bottle of alcohol while in the car driving away from the White House, muttering about Carter being a “peanut-head.”

He also refused to eat food at official dinners on foreign trips due to fear of being poisoned, and he employed a chemist whose job it was to destroy the presidential excrement to prevent foreign intelligence from knowing the state of his health. Later, during a visit to Cuba, Castro told Ceausescu about how he had dodged a CIA poisoned-shoe plot designed to make his beard fall out. The Romanian president returned home declaring he would only wear clothes once. They were to be destroyed immediately after.

All his fears of poisoning and infection were rendered moot when he was deposed and executed by firing squad while forced to stand next to a toilet block.

8 Francisco Macias Nguema Education

The slow-minded dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias Nguema failed the Spanish civil service three times only to succeed on his fourth try due to favoritism by the Spanish, who thought the simple and badly educated man would be an easily manipulated figure. This proved to be a mistake, as his previous humiliations left Nguema with a resounding hatred for intellectuals and education in general. After using his newfound emancipado status to organize militia of his own majority Fang tribe, he turned on the white colonists and sent 7,000 Spanish civil servants fleeing the country.

After fully consolidating absolute power in 1973, he would embark on a campaign to eradicate education from his fiefdom. He went so far as to ban the word “intellectual,” close all libraries (as well as newspapers and printing presses), and declare private education illegal, hoping to teach only political slogans to young impressionable minds. Declaring himself “Grand Master of Science, Education, and Culture,” he purged intellectuals and killed or exiled everyone with an education. It is said after Nguema was through less than a dozen graduates of technical colleges remained in the country.

After a reign of terror that saw organized religion gutted and the economy collapse, Nguema became increasingly unstable as he smoked the intoxicant bhang and took the hallucinogen iboga, becoming so delusional he would engage his dead opponents in debates. After being deposed in a military coup, he was executed by hired Moroccan troops while he ranted at everyone that he would come back from the dead to haunt them.

7 Kaiser Wilhelm II Asians

Kaiser Wilhelm II was obsessed with the perceived threat to Western civilization coming from Asia, coining the term “Yellow Peril” that would later become popular in the English‑speaking world, to the Kaiser’s glee. After the Japanese defeated China in 1895, Wilhelm sent a letter to his cousin Tsar Nicolas II a picture of the Archangel Michael warning the Western nations (represented by mythological women) of a storm approaching from the East, a storm with a glowering Buddha in the center. In 1900, he had ordered German soldiers en route to China to “act like Huns,” showing no mercy and taking no prisoners.

Having a distaste of Russians who weren’t blood relatives, after Russia was defeated by Japan in 1905, the Kaiser blamed the victory of a non‑Christian nation over a Christian one on Russian Christianity being in poor shape, while Japanese soldiers exhibited “good Christian values.”

In 1907, he warned darkly of a coming war between Japan and America, which he believed was a matter of “Race, no Politics, only Yellow versus White.” He would later claim to the tsar that a German agent had informed him that 10,000 Japanese troops in military jackets with brass buttons were hiding in Southern Mexican plantations, apparently in a bid to capture the Panama Canal. He would even offer to send the Prussian army to help defend the Californian coast from Japanese invasion, though it is likely the US declined firmly.

6 Kim Il Sung Mortality

After the founder of the North Korean regime turned 65 in 1977, he assembled a group of doctors with instructions to help him to live to the age of 100, 120, or even older. According to Kim So Yeon, Kim Il Sung’s personal physician and leader of the “Longevity Center,” the group analyzed 1,750 herbs recorded in Asian medicine textbooks and conducted experiments to see how they could be used to extend the life of the dictator and his son.

One early attempted remedy was youthfulness through laughter, with the Center organizing comedy performances for the dictator and assembling young children to do miscellaneous cute things for his amusement. A more disturbing remedy was favored by Kim in his later years, in which he received blood transfusions from young people in their twenties, who were fed especially nutritious food before making the donation.

The dictator Kim only ended up living until the age of 82, which his physician blamed largely on bad habits and relying on supposed miracle cures while not actually taking care of himself. She even blamed the blood transfusions for changing his blood type from AB to B, and thus, according to Korean blood‑type superstition, turning him from a gregarious and lively tae‑yang personality to a quiet and calculating tae‑eum personality. Regardless, Dr. Kim expressed remorse for wasting her career helping to extend the life of a dictator and has since defected to the South.

5 Park Chung Hee Youth Counterculture

During the 1960s and 1970s, marijuana use was common and considered unremarkable in South Korea, though it has a strong taboo today. This began to change during the regime of dictator Park Chung Hee. Park opposed the influx of American counterculture, which he viewed as decadent and a threat to his rule. During a tour of the Ministry of Justice in 1976, Park put it plainly: “At this grave juncture that will settle the matter of life and death in our one‑on‑one confrontation with the Communist Party, the smoking of marijuana by the youth is something that will bring ruin to our country. You must pull up by the roots the problem of marijuana smoking and similar activities by applying the maximum penalties currently available under the law.”

Park wanted to establish his authority over an increasingly restive youth culture influenced by the American hippie movement and rock and roll. He targeted American‑influenced music in particular. During a massive 1975 crackdown on drugs, many young musicians fell afoul of new drug laws and were arrested, with their songs blacklisted from public broadcast or heavily censored. Korean music became less edgy and more pop‑oriented in the wake of the crackdown, an influence that continues to this day. One notable target was rocker Shin Joong‑hyun, who had refused to write a song praising the dictator. He was tortured, committed to a mental hospital, and presented to the public as an insane drug addict.

Park Chung Hee also engaged in a campaign to root out cultural trends he deemed decadent and pushed through the Minor Offence Law, which made it illegal for women to wear a skirt shorter than a certain length or for men to have hair longer than a certain length. This led to the spectacle of police enforcing the government‑approved lengths wielding rulers to harass young women on the street or subjecting hapless young men to an impromptu shave.

4 Benito Mussolini The Catholic Church

Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was known in his youth as a mangiaprete (“priest‑eater”) due to his strongly held antipathy toward the Catholic Church. Fascist squads at the time were known for beating up priests and terrorizing Catholic youth clubs and Catholic‑owned banks. Mussolini was narcissistic with a common‑law family and many mistresses.

Before he became a fascist, Mussolini had been a socialist, writing and editing for the socialist newspaper Il Popoli (“The People”) and its weekly supplement, La Vita Trentina. Among his writings for the supplement was a novel, entitled The Cardinal’s Mistress, written to denigrate the Catholic Church. The pulp story is mostly purple prose about a long‑suffering cardinal and his salacious mistress, full of sex, murder, and corrupt Catholic intrigue.

Mussolini eventually reconciled with the Church in order to secure political power, reaching out to Pius XI even as fascist squads were attacking the centrist Catholic Popular Party. Mussolini made concessions to ban gambling and divorce and allow greater Church influence in schools, and the Pope agreed to order the Catholic party to disband. Mussolini wiped out Italian democracy by catering to the pope, but this merely showed his youthful hatred had evolved into a calculating and cynical contempt.

3 Adolf Hitler Horses

While Hitler was generally known as an animal lover, he had a strange antipathy toward horses, whom he associated with the arrogance of aristocratic cavalry officers. In his polemical Mein Kampf, he compared horses to the Jews, saying of the latter that “[their] will to self‑sacrifice does not go beyond the individual’s naked interest in self‑preservation … The same is true of horses which try to defend themselves against an assailant in a body, but scatter again as soon as the danger is past.”

According to Gustav Adolf von Halem, “Hitler did not like horses because they were not disciplined enough for him. They always disturbed the best military parades, especially when there was music. As far as I am aware, the Fuhrer never rode a horse himself. He hated them.”

He is said to have been furious that Berlin crowds watching Nazi military parades were less enthusiastic about tanks and tractor‑towed artillery pieces than they were about a pair of horse regiments left over from the reign of the Prussian king Frederick II. He would attempt to abolish the horse cavalry altogether, which would seem to make sense, except that the Wehrmacht found them invaluable in the muddy wastelands of the eastern front.

2 Joseph Stalin Flying

The man of steel was not such a tough guy when it came to getting on airplanes. This may have been worsened by the catastrophic 1935 crash of the Maxim Gorky, an eight‑engine luxury plane with an onboard cinema and library, which flew over the Red Square in triumph until an escort biplane crashed into its right wing. For travel from Moscow to his dacha, he preferred a motorcade, while he took longer trips by train accompanied by armed soldiers.

Stalin agreed to fly only once, for the Tehran conference in 1943 with Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt. He would have preferred to go overland, but no safe route existed at the time. Two Soviet‑built Douglas DC‑3 airliners were configured for the flight, but Stalin rejected them in favor of American‑built Lend‑Lease C‑47 transports. Air Marshal Alexander Golovanov, commander of the 18th Air Army, was chosen as the pilot, but at the last moment, Stalin chose to take the other plane, piloted by the relatively unknown Lieutenant Colonel M. Grachev. His logic? “Better to go with Grachev. Marshals do more sitting behind a desk than behind the controls of a plane. It will be safer that way!”

The flight was successful, but Stalin was reportedly tense and terrified during turbulence. Grachev received a handshake, a promotion, and a Hero of the Soviet Union medal. Stalin, however, never flew again. Churchill was forced to fly to Moscow for a critical meeting in 1944, and an ailing Roosevelt made the long journey by sea to Yalta in the Crimea in 1945, because the Allied leaders knew they were never going to convince Stalin to fly anywhere else.

1 Ayatollah Khomeini Pepsi

In the late 1950s, Ruhollah Khomeini was deeply involved with a group of Shia clerics who were targeting the minority Baha’i faith in Iran, which was hated because it was heretical in their eyes and because of its association with the state of Israel. Things took a turn for the weird when they realized the Pepsi contract to market in Iran had gone to Baha’i businessman Habib Sabet. In 1957, Khomeini declared that anyone who drinks Pepsi will “roast in the fires of hell.” The market for the beverage slumped immediately, allowing Coca‑Cola to make inroads into the country by making sure they appointed a non‑Baha’i to head the franchise.

As anti‑Western sentiment increased in the 1960s, attacks on Pepsi intensified. In 1963, the Pepsi bottling plant was ransacked and torched. The shah’s secret police may have exacerbated the antipathy for the beverage with the horrific torture method of anally raping male prisoners with Pepsi bottles. After the revolution, Khomeini would eventually lift the fatwa, as well as similar fatwas against companies like Schweppes, when control of the bottling plants was shifted to operators deemed more acceptable by the fundamentalist Shia clergy.

Pepsi got its revenge in 2012 when rumors began circulating on the Iranian Internet that Pepsi planned to use powerful lasers to shine the image of their logo on the Moon’s surface, reminiscent of a 1979 belief that Khomeini’s face would appear on the lunar surface as he returned from exile. Thousands of Iranians climbed onto their roofs to stare at the Moon. When nothing happened, some bought Coca‑Cola out of spite. Among the joke images circulating on the Internet in the wake of the event was one that showed Ayatollah Khomeini superimposed on the Moon enjoying a refreshing sip of Pepsi.

North Korea may be the most isolated and secretive nation on the planet, but that doesn’t mean we are completely clueless about life behind the curtain. When you think of the Hermit Kingdom, you probably picture odd laws and a total blackout of outside media. Its people are forced to obey a host of peculiar regulations and are cut off from many commonplace websites and forms of communication. In fact, most citizens likely have no idea they live under such a restrictive regime because they never see anything beyond the state‑run channels. Below you’ll find 10 completely normal everyday actions that are outright illegal in this closed‑off country.

Why These 10 Completely Normal Activities Are Banned

10 Using the Internet

Imagine a world where you can’t Google a recipe, stream a video, or scroll through memes – that’s the reality for the average North Korean. The state treats the global internet as a dangerous contagion, allowing only a privileged handful of officials, scientists and a few university students to log on. Everyone else is forced to stay on a tiny, government‑controlled intranet called Kwangmyong, which offers just a sliver of information approved by the regime.

Officially, the law forbids any use of the worldwide web. The leadership fears that unrestricted access would let people compare their lives to those abroad, sparking dissent. By keeping the population offline, the regime can control the narrative and prevent the free flow of ideas that might threaten its grip on power.

Even mobile phones are tightly monitored; most citizens can only make domestic calls, and any attempt to connect internationally is considered a grave offense. This digital isolation is a core part of how the government maintains its iron‑clad control over everyday life.

9 Smiling

We all love a good grin, but in North Korea a smile can land you in serious trouble on a very specific date. On July 8th, the anniversary of Kim Il‑sung’s death, citizens are prohibited from smiling. The law treats any display of happiness on that solemn day as disrespectful to the founding leader.

If someone is caught beaming on the anniversary, the punishment can be severe – ranging from forced labor in a concentration camp to even execution. The same strictness applies to other exuberant behaviors like being loud, drinking alcohol, or throwing a birthday party during the mourning period.

Kim Jong‑un extended this tradition by declaring an 11‑day mourning period for his father, Kim Jong‑il, on the tenth anniversary of his death. During those days, laughing, drinking, and even shopping were banned, underscoring how tightly the regime controls even the most mundane expressions of joy.

8 Watching TV

Think about the endless choices on a modern TV guide – sports, dramas, news from around the globe. In North Korea, that luxury doesn’t exist. Citizens are only permitted to watch state‑run programming, and owning a television or radio capable of receiving foreign signals is illegal.

The government’s rationale is simple: any exposure to outside culture could undermine the official narrative. As a result, the only channels available are those that broadcast propaganda, news glorifying the leadership, and a few approved cultural shows. The lack of variety is a deliberate tool to keep the populace focused on the regime’s messaging.

7 Driving

Imagine being forced to walk everywhere because a car is a luxury reserved for the elite. In North Korea, only about one in a hundred residents is allowed to own a vehicle, and the restrictions are even tighter for women.

Women are outright forbidden from driving, regardless of whether they work as traffic officers. If a woman needs to travel, she must be accompanied by a male guardian. Historically, even bicycles were off‑limits for women, though that rule has been relaxed in recent years. Still, the limited transport options mean most women remain home‑bound, caring for families while men take on state‑assigned jobs.

6 Leaving the Country

Travel outside the borders of North Korea is a dream most citizens will never see. Any departure must receive explicit government approval, and the process is fraught with danger. Those who attempt to flee without permission risk imprisonment for themselves and their entire families, often ending up in harsh labor camps.

Successful escapes usually involve costly smuggling operations, where third‑party traffickers guide defectors across the heavily fortified border. Even then, the risk of capture is high, and the penalties are severe – ranging from long prison sentences to execution.

5 Wearing Jeans

Fashion is a form of personal expression, but in North Korea the government dictates what’s acceptable. Skinny jeans, for instance, are strictly prohibited because they are seen as a symbol of Western decadence.

If you’re caught sporting disallowed attire, you’ll be summoned to a court where you must write a confession of “anti‑socialist” behavior. Release only comes after someone provides you with state‑approved clothing, and your employer is notified of the infraction. Similar bans exist for dyed hair, piercings, and other “non‑conformist” styles, with city patrols actively searching youth hotspots for violators.

4 Talking on the Phone

Making an international call in North Korea isn’t just frowned upon – it can be a death sentence. In 2007, a factory chief in South Pyongan province was executed in front of a stadium packed with 150,000 spectators for installing thirteen phones to make overseas calls.

The incident turned chaotic: six people were killed on the spot, and a further 34 were injured as the crowd rushed out of the arena in panic. This brutal example serves as a stark warning that any attempt to bypass the state’s communication controls is met with the harshest possible punishment.

3 Choosing Your Profession

Dreaming of a career as an astronaut or a rock star? In North Korea, that fantasy is impossible. After finishing high school, every citizen is conscripted into the military – men serve for ten years, while women serve until they turn 23.

Once military service ends, the state assigns each person a lifetime job, often in agriculture, street sweeping, factory work, traffic control, or teaching. There’s no room for negotiation, and the work week typically stretches to 48 hours with only Sundays off. In 2016, the regime even ordered a massive 70‑day work sprint for virtually the entire population to boost the economy.

2 Getting a New Haircut

Changing up your hairstyle is a simple way to refresh your look, but in North Korea the options are painfully limited. The government officially approves only 28 haircuts – 14 for women and a handful for men.

Women’s styles are generally short, reflecting the expectation that married women keep their hair modest. Men may not exceed two inches in length, and any spiky, dyed, or otherwise “non‑socialist” hair is strictly forbidden. Deviating from the approved list is deemed anti‑socialist behavior and can lead to disciplinary action.

1 Talking Smack About the Government

Criticizing the government is a daily habit for many of us, but in North Korea it’s a capital offense. Every citizen must pledge unwavering loyalty to Kim Jong‑un, his family, and the state. Even a casual insult or a whispered dissent can result in imprisonment or execution.

Foreign visitors aren’t exempt either. American student Otto Warmbier was detained after allegedly stealing a billboard from his hotel room, an act the regime interpreted as an insult. He was sentenced to a labor camp, fell into a coma, and died after being released back to the United States.

Observers have likened the country’s oppressive atmosphere to the dystopian world of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” While we may gripe about minor inconveniences, remembering these ten completely normal activities that are banned in North Korea puts our own complaints into perspective.

When you set out on a globe‑trotting adventure, you quickly realize that many everyday habits you consider “normal” in America can look downright peculiar to people on the other side of the world. This list of 10 things normal in the US highlights those quirks that raise eyebrows, spark conversations, and sometimes even cause a chuckle. From the way we market medicines to the size of our coffee cups, each item reveals a cultural twist that makes the United States uniquely… well, a little strange.

10 Things Normal: Why They Surprise Travelers

10 Pharmaceutical Advertising

If you’ve ever flipped on the TV in a European country, you probably noticed a very different advertising rhythm. Instead of the nonstop “break‑time” spots that pepper American programming, many overseas broadcasters schedule ads in hour‑long blocks, letting you finish a show without interruption. You’ll also notice a conspicuous absence of commercials for cars and, more strikingly, prescription drugs. That’s because, outside of the US (and New Zealand), direct‑to‑consumer pharmaceutical advertising is generally illegal. The law aims to keep drug promotions within the realm of medical professionals rather than the living‑room audience.

For the viewer, this means a sigh of relief: no more barrage of glossy ads promising miracle cures for everything from hair loss to depression, each accompanied by a litany of side‑effects that sound scarier than the condition they claim to treat. The side‑effect lists often mention risks like severe organ damage or even death, making the whole pitch feel more like a modern snake‑oil spectacle. Many argue that keeping drug marketing out of the public eye would protect consumers from misleading hype and keep the conversation focused on doctor‑patient dialogue.

9 Garbage Disposal

The handy kitchen gadget that shreds vegetable peels, fruit cores, and—if you’re not careful—fingers, might seem like a small convenience, but it carries a hidden environmental cost. Older sewage systems can’t always handle the fibrous waste that grinders produce, leading to clogs and costly repairs. Moreover, people often toss inappropriate items like coffee grounds or eggshells into the disposal, only to discover later that these substances wreak havoc on pipes and treatment facilities. Remember, the water you flush eventually makes its way back into the ecosystem after passing through treatment plants, which can only filter out so much.

Research from Australia suggests that sending food waste down a garbage disposal can be up to three times more harmful than simply sending it to a landfill. Consequently, many European nations have banned these devices outright, and even New York City is currently debating whether to phase them out. The debate underscores a growing awareness that what feels convenient at home may have broader ecological repercussions.

8 Shady Product Price Labels

Ever walked into an American supermarket, done the mental math on a price, and then felt a sting when the register added tax, a surcharge, or a mysterious “card fee”? In the US, the sticker price often excludes these extras, leaving shoppers to guess at the final amount. The EU, by contrast, mandates that shelf‑side tags display the full price—including all taxes and mandatory fees—so you know exactly what you’ll pay before you reach the checkout. This transparency eliminates the surprise of a higher bill at the register.

Another European consumer protection: retailers cannot tack on extra fees for using a credit or debit card. The price you see is the price you pay, no hidden costs. Some argue that adopting these practices in the US would simplify shopping, reduce checkout anxiety, and foster greater trust between buyers and sellers.

7 Super‑sized Food Portions

How often have you asked for a “large” at a fast‑food drive‑through, only to walk away with a mountain of fries, a supersized soda, and a burger that could feed a small family? The United States loves its oversized portions, and it’s a cultural badge of honor to say, “I’m going supersize!” Yet many Europeans find these gargantuan servings bewildering. In most other countries, meals are intentionally smaller, focusing on balance rather than sheer volume.

Critics argue that such massive portions contribute to rising obesity rates, as the caloric surplus is hard to ignore. While the freedom to choose a larger size reflects American individualism, it also carries the responsibility of dealing with the health consequences that come with over‑indulgence.

6 “How Are You?” as a ‘Hello’ Greeting

Guilty as charged: many Americans replace a simple “Hello” with a breezy “How are you?”—often without expecting a genuine answer. It’s a polite social ritual that functions more as a greeting than an inquiry, and the typical response mirrors the question with a quick “Good, you?” The exchange is rapid, surface‑level, and rarely invites a deeper conversation.

Cross the Atlantic, and you’ll discover that “How are you?” is treated as a sincere question. People may launch into a detailed account of their day, and they’ll expect you to reciprocate. Skipping that depth can be perceived as rude. So, when you travel abroad, a straightforward “Hello” or “Hi” might save you from unintentionally starting a monologue you never intended.

5 Free Drink Refills

Imagine ordering a meal, paying for a single soda, and then being told you can sip endlessly for free. In the United States, many fast‑food chains and diners offer unlimited refills on soft drinks—a perk that encourages you to keep the cola flowing while you devour that supersized burger. It’s a habit that many of us take for granted, especially when the ice‑filled glasses keep refilling themselves.

Travel to Europe or other parts of the world, and you’ll quickly learn that each drink is billed separately. The concept of a “free refill” is almost alien, and the extra cost can be a surprising shock when the bill arrives. Additionally, the amount of ice we expect in our beverages can also raise eyebrows abroad, where drinks are often served with less ice or none at all.

4 Red Solo Cups

The iconic red Solo cup has become a staple at American parties, tailgates, and barbecues—so much so that it even inspired a chart‑topping country song by Toby Keith. Its bright hue, disposable convenience, and cheap price make it the go‑to vessel for beer, punch, and any party drink you can think of. You’ll likely find a stack of them in a kitchen cupboard, ready for the next spontaneous gathering.

Step outside the United States, and you’ll discover that these red cups are virtually unknown. Many countries favor reusable glassware or locally preferred disposable options, and the cultural practice of hiding alcoholic drinks in a bright red cup is largely absent. The rarity of the Solo cup abroad reflects differing attitudes toward drinking culture, waste, and party aesthetics.

3 Tipping

In the United States, tipping is an entrenched expectation. Whether you’re dining out, taking a cab, or getting a haircut, a gratuity of roughly 15‑20 % is considered the norm, even if the service is merely adequate. The practice stems from the fact that many service‑industry wages are set below a living wage, with tips expected to bridge the gap.

Travel abroad, and you’ll encounter vastly different customs. In many European nations, a service charge is automatically added to the bill, eliminating the need for an extra tip. In Japan and South Korea, leaving a tip can actually be seen as an insult, implying that the staff performed poorly. Understanding these nuances can prevent awkward moments and unexpected expenses on your travels.

2 To‑Go Coffee

For many Americans, a day isn’t complete without a to‑go coffee in hand—whether it’s a caramel macchiato from Starbucks or a classic cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. The culture of grabbing a hot (or iced) beverage from the car window, sipping it while navigating rush‑hour traffic, has become a symbol of efficiency and personal productivity.

In contrast, many countries view coffee as a leisurely ritual. In Italy, for example, espresso is enjoyed quickly at the bar, but never taken away in a disposable cup. The emphasis is on savoring the flavor, not on convenience. Some travelers even discover that making coffee at home with a French press or pour‑over yields a richer experience than the fast‑paced American “coffee on the run.”

1 Having Huge Gaps Under Stalls in Public Bathrooms

Ever felt uneasy using a public restroom where the gap between the stall door and the floor, or the door and the adjoining wall, leaves a clear view of your neighbor’s legs? In the United States, many restroom stalls feature wide openings that provide little privacy, forcing users to endure an uncomfortable lack of concealment while attending nature’s call.

Travel to Europe, and you’ll often find fully enclosed stalls that extend to the floor, eliminating those awkward sightlines. However, these privacy‑focused restrooms usually require a small fee for use—a modest charge that helps cover maintenance costs. Some regions also incorporate bidets instead of toilet paper, encouraging a more hygienic and waste‑reduction‑friendly approach. The combination of privacy, cleanliness, and modest fees can make the European bathroom experience feel both more dignified and efficient.

Sometimes seemly innocent and innocuous images have pretty dark and sinister backgrounds. A happy-faced photo of an ordinary family can be hiding what could become some of the darkest moments in history. Below we have found ten seemingly normal images, which, when you dig a little deeper into the backstory, unravel dark and tragic stories.

Related: 10 Haunting Images Of The Chernobyl Disaster And Their Backstories

10 Omagh Bombing, 1998

A man smiles for a photo wearing a bright yellow jumper with his equally smiley son hoisted on his shoulders. They are a couple of excited Spanish tourists visiting the town of Omagh in Northern Ireland.

They stand in front of an innocuous red car on a busy street. The year is 1998, and that red car was packed with around 500 pounds )226 kilograms) of fertilizer-based explosives that would detonate moments after that photo was snapped. It was a terrorist attack orchestrated by the Real Irish Republican Army (Real IRA), a splinter group from the IRA that did not agree with the ceasefire that the IRA had agreed upon earlier that year.

The explosion would kill 29 people, injure 220, and spark national and international outrage. The two in the photo would miraculously survive, though the photographer would unfortunately die.^[1]

9 David A. Johnston

Legs stretched out in front of him, a notebook and pen on his lap, David A. Johnston directs a sunny smile to the cameraman, Harry Glicken, who was a student of David’s. His demeanor is relaxed and excited. As he should be. He is a volcanologist studying the rumbling Mount St. Helens.

Thirteen and a half hours later, Johnston would be killed by the eruption of Mount St Helens. His last words shared over the radio to the closest U.S. Geological Survey office were, “Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it!”

His remains were never found. Glicken was meant to be on duty observing the volcano that day. But he swapped shifts with Johnston at the last minute as Glicken had an interview to attend. Upon hearing the news of the eruption and Johnston’s death, Glicken was devasted and joined helicopter crews to try and find survivors for hours before they refused to allow him to continue. In a strange twist of fate, Glicken would die from a separate volcanic eruption in Japan years later.^[2]

8 Black Bear in the Woods

The photo shows a 300-pound black bear in the forest. The bear is around 100 feet (30 meters) away, behind a fallen log, and seems to be following the photographer.

The photo was snapped on a phone by Darsh Patel, a 22-year-old Rutgers University student who had decided to go hiking in West Milford’s Apshawa Preserve with four of his fellow university friends. Unfortunately, the bear ended up chasing the students, so they decided to split up. When they regrouped, one student from the group was missing: Darsh Patel.

Patel’s body was recovered four hours after police arrived at the scene. He had been mauled by the bear he had photographed only moments beforehand. His phone would also be recovered with puncture marks and this foreboding photo.^[3]

7 Tyler Hadley

The photo is blurred. As if the photographer moved the camera as he took it. The photo shows two men, one with a shaven head, holding an orange cup to the camera. The photo could be from any house party. But, the man with the aloft orange cup is Tyler Hadley, and earlier that day, he killed his parents, Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley, with a clawed hammer while high on ecstasy.

Their dead bodies, wrapped in towels and covered in family possessions that reminded Tyler of his parents, lay upstairs in the house as the party raged on.

Tyler had a history of verbally promising to kill his parents since he was ten years of age, seething whenever they would punish him or show parental authority. Finally, on the day of their murders, he promised the party of the century. Writing on his Facebook page at noon, “party at my crib tonight… maybe.” His classmates did not believe him, as his parents were known to be strict. But at 8 pm, he again posted a message: “party at my house hmu.”

At the party, he started telling people of his murderous deed. People who heard left or thought he was lying. His best friend, Michael Mandell, was shown the bodies upstairs. Afterward, they posed for this infamous photo. Michael eventually ran away from the party, and through word of mouth, Tyler’s crime was reported to the police. Tyler was arrested the morning after the party and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Hadley house was later demolished.^[4]

6 Dutch Girls of Panana

Two young women pose for a selfie in front of the wild nature of Panama. The two girls are Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, Dutch travelers who were hiking the El Pianista trail. They set off for their hike on April 1 at 11 am. Unfortunately, on the 2nd, they did not turn up for an appointment, and the parents of the girls stopped receiving the daily texts they had been getting in the past.

On April 6, the parents arrived in Panana along with a full police search. The forest would be combed for ten days. Nothing was found.

Ten weeks later, a woman handed in a blue backpack. The backpack belonged to Froon, and inside were personal belongings, including a camera and their phones. The phones had evidence of emergency numbers having been dialed only hours after the girls started their hike, but due to lack of reception, the calls did not connect. Froons’s phone died on April 4, and Kremers phone would be turned on intermintently between the 5th and the 11th, but the incorrect pin was entered, or no pin was entered each time.

On the camera, ninety flash photos were taken between one and four am in complete darkness deep within the jungle. One disturbing image shows the back of Kremers’s head with blood on her hair.

Two months after the backpack was discovered, a pelvis and a foot inside a boot were discovered, along with other remains. These were later DNA tested and confirmed to belong to Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. What happened to them remains a mystery today.^[1]

5 The Red-Haired Woman

The photo shows a man bouldering in Montecito’s Cold Spring Trail in California. Behind him is a flash of red color on the rocks. This red is the hair of Saylor Guilliams. Guilliams had gone on a later afternoon hike with her friend, Brenden Michael Vega. They were ill-equipped, and as it got darker, their cell phones were not enough to illuminate the path, and they ended up slipping.

Vega injured his arm, but Guilliams broke both ankles and her wrist. Vega went to get help but ended up falling 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) off a ledge and succumbing to his injuries. This left Guilliams alone. She would lay there for the entire night until the men bouldering would later discover Guilliams laying on the rocks, unresponsive. They called emergency services, and she was airlifted out. She would survive the ordeal.^[6]

4 Daylenn “Moke” Pua

Daylenn Pua went and visited his grandmother in Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii. He had told her he was interested in hiking the Haiku Stairs, otherwise known as the “Stairway to Heaven.” This hike was closed to the public, and anyone caught hiking it was trespassing. His grandmother warned him against it, saying he would be locked up if he did. On February 27, 2015, he caught a bus and ventured forth to the stairway to heaven hike. Daylenn sent texts to his grandmother with photos of the hike. He was never seen again.

After his disappearance, the photos were studied; one showed a man in the far background. He seems to be following behind Daylenn. The family asked for public assistance and for anyone who recognized the man to come forth. To this day, he or his remains have never been found, and what happened to him and the identity of that strange man in the photo remains a mystery.^[7]

3 Jolee Callan

Dressed in an oversized red shirt, 18-year-old Jolee Callan stands on top of a sheer cliff face and takes a photo of the beautiful view below of Pinhoti Trail in Cheaha State Park in Delta, Alabama

She had just hiked to this scenic location with her ex-boyfriend, Loren Bunner (20). Moments after this photo was taken, Loren would shoot her in the head twice with a .22-caliber Ruger Bearcat revolver and throw her body off the cliffside.

He would later call the police and say that he killed his ex-girlfriend, turning himself in. The pair had dated for ten months before Jolee broke up with Loren as he was controlling and did not allow her to meet with her friends. Despite the breakup, they kept in regular contact. They even had a dog together.

Two months after the breakup, Loren invited Jolee on the hike where he would end up murdering her. Loren Bunner was sentenced to 52 years in prison.^[8]

2 Tina Watson

Two divers pose for a photo while scuba diving off the beautiful Queensland Coast. Behind them, a stiff prone figure lays on the ocean floor. This would later be discovered to be Tina Watson, murdered by her husband

Tina Watson was visiting Queensland with her husband, Gabe, for their honeymoon. On the day of her death, they decided to dive into the popular and challenging wreck of the SS Yongala. The two were underqualified for such a dive, and the dive company suggested a guided dive for the expedition, which they refused.

During the dive, Tina ran into trouble and sunk nearly 100 feet (30 meters) to the ocean floor. Gabe claimed to have tried to save his wife, but due to an ear problem, he said he could not dive deep enough to help her. When she was brought aboard, she was pronounced dead after 40 minutes of CPR. Due to contradictory statements issued by Gabe and the fact that before their marriage, Gabe asked Tina to increase her life insurance and make him the sole beneficiary, foul play was suspected. He was charged with manslaughter charges in Queensland but later had his charges dismissed when he was charged in his home country of the United States related to the planning of the murder.^[9]

1 The Dating Game

The photo shows two people. A man and a woman standing side by side. The photo is a still from a popular TV show called The Dating Game, which aired in the 1970s.

The woman’s name was Cheryl Bradshaw. The man beside her, Rodney James Alcala. At the time of his appearance, Rodney was in the middle of a murder spree. He committed five murders between 1977 and 1979. He would torment his victims by strangling them to unconsciousness, allowing them to regain consciousness, and then repeating the process again and again before killing them. He was described as a killing machine. His exact murder count is unknown, but he was caught and convicted for seven murders.

He appeared on The Dating Game as a “successful photographer who got his start when his father found him in the darkroom at the age of 13, fully developed. Between takes, you might find him skydiving or motorcycling.” He won the date with the bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw. She, however, refused to go on a date with him, calling him creepy. He would later go on to murder three additional women after this appearance, and some speculate that the rejection was a driving factor.^[10]

For a lot of people food is something in which they can take joy and comfort. We indulge in junk food, try to eat healthy food, make too much food to celebrate special occasions and, thanks to the internet, we can learn about new and exotic foods to try from all over the world. But there are issues we need to be wary of, like over indulging, and food allergies, and safety in terms of food prep. But even the most wary and responsible among us would be unlikely to have seen any of these bizarre reactions to food coming. 

10. A Collapsed Lung Caused by Ghost Peppers

If you’ve ever tried to eat a ghost pepper before you know that you should probably never eat a ghost pepper. They average about 1 million Scoville heat units. Compare that to sriracha which, at best, is about 2,500. For most people, eating a ghost pepper will cause extreme discomfort, sweating, drooling and potentially some stomach upset. That’s a good reaction, though, relatively speaking. 

A 47-year-old man who had entered a ghost pepper eating challenge. After suffering some severe pain and vomiting he was taken to the hospital. Doctors discovered that he was suffering from an esophageal rupture, which means he ended up tearing a hole in his throat as a result of eating the pepper. He also suffered a pneumothorax, better known as a collapsed lung. 

The hole in the man’s throat was leaking food into his chest cavity including hamburger, onion and “green vomitous material.” It’s been suggested he wasn’t even eating pure peppers, but a burger with peppers on it, then he chugged a bunch of water afterwards. He spent 23 days in hospital as a result, and still had a breathing tube when he left. 

9. Carb-Heavy Foods Leading to Drunkenness

You’ve probably experienced some stomach upset at least once in your life after eating something that wasn’t necessarily bad, it just didn’t agree with you. Maybe it made you feel sick, or maybe it just made you gassy, who’s to say? The stomach is a weird and wonderful place, and no one knows this better than a 61-year-old Texas man whose claim to fame is an inexplicable beer gut.

Rather than excess weight from drinking beer, this beer gut refers to the way the man digests food. He went to the hospital suffering from dizziness and related issues and a blood test revealed his blood alcohol was 0.37% which is indicative of being pretty drunk. The weird part, of course, was that the man had not had any alcohol. 

As it happens, the man suffers from a condition called auto-brewery syndrome. Doctors initially brushed it off as the man basically being a liar. They assumed he was drinking in secret and not admitting to it. After keeping him under observation and determining his alcohol levels would rise even when he clearly wasn’t drinking, they discovered that he had an abundance of brewer’s yeast in his digestive tract. As he ate any carbs, the yeast and sugars combined to start producing alcohol inside his body.

The condition is pretty rare and not enough studies have been done to verify much about it, but it does seem linked to the use of antibiotics, which may kill off other gut bacteria. 

8. Black Licorice Heart Attacks

Black licorice is a bit of a maligned treat in the candy world and routinely shows up on lists of the worst candy ever. Still, some people have a taste for it and, as if to validate all the haters out there, that could be a very bad thing. Eating large quantities of black licorice carries some serious health risks that you might not expect from run-of-the-mill candy.

Black licorice has been linked to at least one death due to a heart attack. The man was 54-years-old and had been eating an entire bag or two of black licorice every day for weeks. He collapsed and then died 24 hours after getting to the hospital.  His blood tests showed incredibly low potassium which is caused by something called glycyrrhizin. It’s what makes black licorice sweet, but it’s clearly dangerous. 

Low potassium can dangerously alter heart rhythms and that, combined with the man’s already poor health owing to smoking and a poor diet, led to the fatal heart attack. Obviously you need to consume large quantities of licorice to suffer this fate, but it can happen.

7. A Throat Swelling Shut From Hot Food

Getting your food piping hot is usually a good thing because most meals just taste better that way. But there are levels of heat and you’ve probably burnt your tongue at least once when you realized something wasn’t cool enough to eat yet. So what do you do when food is too hot? Most of us wait, or maybe blow on it to speed the process up. Sadly, that was not what Darren Hickey did. 

The 51-year-old man worked as a wedding planner and was at a venue where a chef offered him a fish cake to try. He must have eaten too quickly as the cake was hot and, rather than spit it out, he simply swallowed it. The fish cake burned the back of his throat and for a time he seemed fine. However, as the day progressed, the burn began to swell until it caused his throat to constrict so much he could no longer breathe. He died as a result of his injuries.

6. Death Caused by Fermented Corn Noodles

Most of us in the Western world eat noodles made from wheat, and occasionally we’ll have rice noodles as well. But you can make noodles out of a lot of different ingredients and that includes corn. A Chinese dish called suantangzi is made with fermented corn noodles and that’s where the problem arose for a family in China that consumed the dish back in 2020. Nine family members ended up dying.

There is a bacterium that can grow in corn which produces something called bongkrekic acid as a by-product. The bacteria that produces it is nearly impossible to get rid of, you can’t wash it off and you can’t cook it out, either. It has no taste or odor so you can’t tell if your food is infected.

Consuming infected grain leads to vomiting and abdominal pain and the mortality rate is pretty high. The only method of prevention is to basically not eat fermented grains at all. 

5. Severe Gastrointestinal Distress from Escolar

The saying “there’s plenty of fish in the sea” is typically a reference to romantic prospects but it’s also just an accurate observation. There are lots of fish in the sea and humans tend to only consume a small number of them as a food source. Tuna, salmon, and bass are all very common. But what about escolar?

Unscrupulous fish sellers will sometimes swap escolar for tuna because it’s cheaper. By all accounts, escolar is a tasty fish, but it’s not ideal for most people to eat thanks to a natural wax in the fish’s flesh that can, in some people, cause keriorrhea. Even if you don’t know that word, the suffix must be ringing a few bells. It’s a specific kind of diarrhea that you can Google if you’re feeling adventurous and is known to be caused by escolar anywhere between 30 minutes and 36 hours after eating it.

While some people will hide the fish, pretending it’s tuna, other places sell it openly as white tuna, butterfish, rudderfish or Hawaiian walu, because it really is considered tasty and it doesn’t cause the adverse reaction in everyone, making it kind of like the seafood version of Russian Roulette. It earned escolar the nickname of Ex-Lax Fish. 

4. Dreamfish Hallucinations

Along the coasts of Africa and Europe you can find a fish called salema porgy, but it’s more often called dreamfish. People have been eating them since Ancient Rome and probably before, but it’s definitely not an everyday sort of thing owing to the fact these little fish will make you trip out. They contain hallucinogenic compounds similar to LSD. 

Despite the effects, or because of them, you can find the fish on menus throughout Europe, you just need to be cautious when eating it. Some people have noted that they’re pretty incapable of doing even basic tasks after eating the fish. At least one diner claimed to have seen the Angel of Death while other people have hallucinated Batman or the chatter of birds. As in, they could see the sounds birds were making. 

It’s not all fun and games, however, as abdominal pain, amnesia and paralysis are also potential effects, along with “brain electricity.”

3. Popcorn Lung from Microwave Popcorn 

Microwave popcorn is over 40 years old at this point and has been a staple of movie nights at home for that entire time. Who doesn’t love a bag of pre-buttered popcorn that’s ready in two minutes? But there is a little known dark side to microwave popcorn that’s known as popcorn lung. Sounds a bit silly, but it had the potential to be fatal.

Popcorn lung happens when the bronchioles of your lungs become damaged and inflamed from inhaling toxins. It gets its name because of how closely tied to popcorn the disease was. In fact, it was first identified in workers at a popcorn factory and later popped up in some people who ate large amounts of microwave popcorn at home.

Popcorn used to be processed with a chemical called diacetyl. That was what made it taste like butter without having to use real butter which would go bad in a package of popcorn. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the chemicals in the popcorn bags themselves were also determined to contain perfluorinated compounds, which have been linked to cancer. 

2. Nardoo Poisoning

Most of us have likely not heard of nardoo, but it’s an edible fern you can find in Australia. Aboriginal people have known of it for ages and they can show you how to cook and eat it too, if you want. And, if you don’t want to suffer the potential lethal consequences of eating it, you really should follow their instructions.

Nardoo’s big claim to fame dates back to 1861 when Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills tried to be the first non-aboriginals to cross Australia from South to North. Within three months their supplies ran low, and some locals showed them how to make nardoo. With an abundant supply, they continued to eat it, up to five pounds of it a day, but there was a problem. Despite eating, they were growing weak. They lost weight, their heart rates slowed, and they began to shake frequently. They were starving, but didn’t realize it.

Nardoo contains an enzyme called thiaminase. It prevents the body from processing thiamine, which is vitamin B1 and that, in turn, prevents you from metabolizing energy from the food you eat. So you can eat and eat and eat but get no nutritional benefits. 

What Wills and Burke failed to realize was that the aboriginals had been roasting the seed pods of the nardoo before preparing it. Heat breaks down the thiaminase and makes it edible. They were eating it raw. Both men died from it as a result.

1. A Sexually Transmitted Allergy

Nut allergies are so commonplace that kids can no longer have peanut butter in most schools and peanuts were replaced by pretzels on airplanes. But the extent to which a person may suffer a nut allergy is not something most of us fully understand because, in some cases, it’s almost unbelievable. That’s the case with a couple who were written about in a medical journal back in 2007.

In this case, the man in the couple had eaten Brazil nuts two or three hours before getting together with his girlfriend, who they were both aware was allergic to the nuts. He claimed to have already bathed and brushed his teeth before seeing her so there was no chance of a reaction. However, there was still a reaction, and a very specific one in a very sensitive location that manifested after they had sex, if you catch our meaning. 

Further testing showed that the allergens from the nuts were actually transmitted through her boyfriend’s semen during intercourse causing her to have an allergic reaction. There’s evidence of a similar situation happening to another woman indicating allergies can be essentially sexually transmitted.