The Type and Nature of the Food We Eat can have a Greater Impact than We Think
It’s fascinating to learn that the form of the food we eat may have more impact than we think
“Is blending our many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into smoothies as healthy and nutritious as eating them?”
Surprisingly, even though the whole food we put into the blender may contain the same nutrients as a liquid smoothie, how those nutrients are absorbed may be affected by their form and composition.
A 2019 paper published in the journal Food and Function described how researchers tested the digestibility of three different types of foods (solid, semisolid, and liquid) that were similar in nutrient content. They then measured how different forms of food affected appetite and specific blood tests in human subjects.
Interestingly, scientists found that liquid food caused a greater increase in triglycerides (a form of fat in the blood) than solid food. Liquid food causes less satiation and satisfaction (satiety) than solid food.
Other studies (cited in the same article) have found similar results. For example, ground nuts (peanut butter) have been shown to cause a greater increase in blood fats (triglycerides) than whole nuts.
Why is it important?
When excess triglycerides enter the circulation after a meal, it can trigger inflammation. In fact, increased blood fat levels after meals increase the risk of heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes, experts say.
These types of studies are interesting, but they are also inconsistent because they are very difficult to study. Liquid meals can also be convenient and lifesaving, especially for people who depend on liquid nutrition for medical reasons.
Still, it’s interesting to know that the nature of the food we eat can have a greater impact than we think.
“Is there any evidence that drinking seltzer water is harmful for people with osteoporosis?”
No good evidence. Seltzer water is plain water that has been mixed with carbon dioxide, or “carbonated”. It was discovered accidentally in 1767 when a man in England hung a bowl of water over a vat of beer in a brewery. He called this process the “impregnation of water with stagnant air”.
According to Harvard Medical School, although carbonated beverages have long been linked to reduced bone density and fractures (particularly in teenage girls), research primarily attributes the caffeine in these beverages to caffeine rather than carbonation. Of course, if carbonated beverages replace calcium-rich foods, this may also have a negative effect on bones.
“So enjoy seltzer water without worry, but don’t overdo it with caffeinated beverages, whether carbonated or not,” these experts say. And don’t let your seltzer water replace your consumption of high-calcium foods and beverages in the process.
Thanks for reading.
