Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 31/08/2022 17:51:08

Title: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 31/08/2022 17:51:08
How possible is it to invent a pill that contains all the nutritional elements needed to sustain ourselves?
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: Bored chemist on 31/08/2022 18:01:37
Yes, but it would need to contain something like half a pound of lard to provide the energy and also a lot of water.
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: alancalverd on 31/08/2022 22:37:43
I've always preferred the Whopper but many swear by the Big Mac.

As the Buddhist said to the burger flipper: "Make me One With Everything."

My great grandfather used to say, "If you eat that for a hundred years, you will live a long time". Though I think he was referring to borscht.
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: evan_au on 31/08/2022 23:09:56
It would be a very bulky pill to contain all the fibre that is needed by our guts and microbiome.

And you would need to wash it down with 2 litres of water...
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: alancalverd on 31/08/2022 23:19:17
So it's a Big  Mac,  coleslaw, and a large Coke for lunch, with tea and coffee ad lib per diem. Sounds pretty normal to me.
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/09/2022 08:48:39
ad lib per diem
I don't think per diem makes sense after ad lib.
Title: Re: Is it possible for a pill to contain all the nutritional elements needed?
Post by: alancalverd on 01/09/2022 10:54:35
Sheldon Copper had a strict hydration regimen and some folk wear "fitbits" to control their lives, but most normal people drink when they are thirsty rather than by the clock, and you have suggested a daily norm of 2 liters. If you score zero over more than about 3 diems you will get very sick.