Tag: 1970s

While it might seem like a modern invention, commercial protein powders first appeared in the 1950s, setting the stage for their widespread adoption by the fitness community in the subsequent decades. By the 1970s, a crucial era for bodybuilding, protein supplements were a staple, though they bore little resemblance to the tasty, high-tech formulas we know today.

Developed by University of Florida researchers in 1965, the original Gatorade formula consisted of just five simple ingredients. By the 1970s, this straightforward mixture was already a sideline staple, designed to help athletes replenish the water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes lost during intense exercise.

In 1969, a study involving rats was released, finding that the popular artificial sweetener cyclamate could potentially cause cancer. This discovery led to one of the most significant and controversial food safety decisions of the 20th century: a nationwide ban on cyclamate. The move drastically reshaped the diet food and beverage industries and ignited a long-running public debate over artificial sweeteners.

In 1977, a diet promising a 5-pound weight loss in just three days was published in Vogue magazine. This controversial regimen, known as the 'Wine and Eggs' diet, has since become one of the most infamous examples of 1970s fad dieting.