Nutrition

SpaceNut · 2004-09-02 10:42:28

Plants bought to Mars would endue much hardship with the low level of gravity, none or almost no atmospheric moisture and reduced sunlight but what about the soil that the roots would want to be planted into once reaching there final destination.
Actually the title is a little off but soils on mars would be high metal content and that plants that are selected must be tolerent to this condition for astronaut survival.

Purdue study finds antioxidant protects metal-eating plants
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS....nt.html

SpaceNut · 2004-09-02 10:48:35

From a somewhat different angle with regards to using plants to make a profit.

Money that grows on crops

http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/ … -sten.html

John Creighton · 2004-09-08 09:48:27

I have heard that vitamin B12 is produced in the intestine by bacteria. These bacteria like meet. Vegetarians often have B12 deficiencies. I am not sure if this is a serious deficiency but it is something that should be looked at.

SpaceNut · 2004-09-20 06:08:05

What to Eat on the Way to Mars
"Thirty-five years ago on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin busted open one small meal for man -- foil packets containing roasted turkey and all the trimmings -- while kids at home slurped Tang in solidarity.

That mission lasted only nine days. Now, food scientists are working out ways to feed astronauts on a mission to Mars that will last years. "

http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697, … _tophead_4

MarsDog · 2004-09-30 16:06:22

Given the differences in food preference, and entertainment value,
each space traveller could have a hydrophonic garden onboard,
perhaps one cubic meter each, with light pipes from the outside.
-
Some astronauts might prefer to raise spices, guppies, lizzards,
or just have a rock garden.

SpaceNut · 2020-01-27 20:47:25

bumping so as to be able to find this topic to fix as it relates to what we can grow and for the crews health

tahanson43206 · 2020-01-28 11:58:02

For SpaceNut re this (restored) topic ...

I've been thinking about your reply/response when the subject of frozen foods for Mars expedition members came up in another topic.

You posted a set of links and quotes the gist of which I remember as suggesting the optimum freezing life for various foods was/is six months or less.

I'm inclined to think that those estimates were given for home type freezers, which (from my experience) operate in the range of 0 degrees Fahrenheit, which would be -17 or -18 or so in Celsius.

It would not surprise me at all to learn that freezing to -100 degrees would substantially improve performance, and that is possible in space with suitable sun shades.

However, the idea that came to me recently is my main reason for posting here ...

Dried food is a candidate for long term storage.

This web site includes an estimate of 10+ years: https://foodassets.com/info/bulk-food-shelf-life.html

However, my experience with freeze dried foods (mostly from camping trips) gives me pause, when I am thinking about a menu for two years away from Earth, when having good food would be immensely helpful for morale.

One of the posters in the topic you brought back here suggested a small greenhouse for each passenger/crewperson, and I think that is a pretty good idea, if a way can be found to make it happen.

There is an alternative use for freeze dried foods that I have not heard mentioned, or read about, so I'm tossing it out here to see if work has been done in this specific corner of the problem space.

Freeze dried foods can be re-hydrated and fed to living creatures, who would then become the basis of meals for crew.

Vegetarians could content themselves with reconstituted vegetables, of course, but for those who are agreeable to an animal based entree, I would expect the quality of the product to be quite high, because the dried food would be chosen to be rich in nutrients.

A definite benefit of this plan would be the fall back in case the preferred option fails for some reason. The dried food can still be re-hydrated and served to passengers and crew.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-01-28 12:01:30)

SpaceNut · 2020-01-28 19:12:13

The main difference between freeze-dried foods and fresh foods is water. Freeze-drying is a process that preserves food by removing 98 percent of its water content. This prevents food from spoiling, while still maintaining most of its flavor, color, texture, and nutritional value. Dehydrated foods lose about 50% of their nutritional value because they’re subject to heating during the drying process and can become somewhat chewier, since the heating process “cooks” them over.

Fresh fruit has slightly more vitamins and minerals than dried fruit. The drying process for fruit decreases its nutritional value, but not by much. Another important thing to keep in mind when comparing the two is that the water in fresh fruit concentrates the nutrients. This gives it a slight edge over its dried counterparts.

To ensure that dehydrated fruits and vegetables maintain their nutrient values, store dried foods in a cool, dark, dry place. Heat, light and moisture can destroy vitamin and mineral values and facilitate food deterioration.

Shortly after harvesting, fresh fruits and vegetables start to lose moisture, have a greater risk of spoiling and drop in nutrient value. One study found a decline in nutrients after 3 days of refrigeration, when values fell to levels below those of frozen varieties.

Another reason for freezed dried is the space that each food type will save for packing it into the ship to go to mars.
https://www.superfoodly.com/dried-blueberries/

tahanson43206 · 2020-01-28 19:58:36

For topic development ....

In Post #57 I proposed that the less than savory nature of freeze dried reconstituted food could be turned into a benefit, if the consumers of the reconstituted material are animals. I'm hoping someone develops that idea.

However, since the original 2004 discussion, significant advances have been made in the vat grown meat industry.

How is cultured meat grown?
Meat grown in a laboratory from cultured cells is turning that vision into a reality. ... The meat is made by first taking a muscle sample from an animal. Technicians collect stem cells from the tissue, multiply them dramatically and allow them to differentiate into primitive fibers that then bulk up to form muscle tissue.Sep 14, 2018
www.scientificamerican.com › article › lab-grown-meat
Lab-Grown Meat - Scientific American
Search for: How is cultured meat grown?

I am tossing out the suggestion that with modern techniques, really fresh meat (of various kinds) may be available on the Musk Starship's making their leisurely way to Mars.

The suggestion of individual greenhouse volumes for individual passengers made earlier in this topic would complement fresh cultured meat.

Edit: I decided to follow up by contacting one of the cultured meat companies whose names showed up in a Google search

I post as tahanson43206 in NewMars.com/forums. The subject of cuisine for members of an expedition to Mars is under discussion. I am wondering if the cultured meat products you've been developing would solve the problem of providing fresh food over a period of two years. The default is the tried and true pre-packaged meals provided by the Russian and American support teams for their staff on the International Space Station. I am guessing the Chinese may well have used a similar method of providing nutrition for their crews when their space station was in orbit.
In planning for a 2 year expedition, or for an even longer version with extended layover at Mars, it would be helpful to have the option of providing fresh food for members of the crew.
Small compact greenhouses are possible, and some tests have been conducted, but to my knowledge, no full scale experiments have been undertaken.
Depending on how the process you are developing works in microgravity, it might turn out to be favored for consideration.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-01-28 20:54:22)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-04-15 08:54:48

Planting an Ecosystem on Mars
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/planting-a … m-on-mars/

Lunar Biosphere
https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/ … phere.html

Global Sports Nutrition Foods and Drinks Market to Reach $115.2 Billion by 2026
https://www.news-journal.com/global-spo … c5382.html

War in Ukraine makes farming innovation imperative
https://www.ft.com/content/03bd3dda-afc … 0b8a785ec8

Dig the Fig - The Essential Guide to Probably Everything you Need to Know about Growing Figs
https://balkanecologyproject.blogspot.c … -need.html
Flower Nursery Seedling Machine | Breeding Various Flower Seedlings
https://nurseryseedingmachine.com/flowe … g-machine/

How Nutrition Could Help Long Covid Sufferers
https://techround.co.uk/news/how-nutrit … sufferers/

Researchers find declining nitrogen availability in a nitrogen rich world
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-declining … world.html
Since the mid-20th century, research and discussion has focused on the negative effects of excess nitrogen on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, new evidence indicates that the world is now experiencing a dual trajectory in nitrogen availability with many areas experiencing a hockey-stick shaped decline in the availability of nitrogen. In a new review paper in the journal Science, researchers have described the causes for these declines and the consequences on how ecosystems function.

"There is both too much nitrogen and too little nitrogen on Earth at the same time," said Rachel Mason, lead author on the paper and former postdoctoral scholar at the National Socio-environmental Synthesis Center.

Vertical Farming Saves Water and Land and Could Help Global Food Security, Expert Says
https://www.ecowatch.com/vertical-farmi … urity.html

New indoor farm slated for Springfield
https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news … AEUU57LUY/

Maximizing your garden, Spring lawn care, Guest Joel Karsten - The Gardening with Joey and Holly Radio show | Free Podcasts
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/thew … 0_00-07_00

Gardening Tasks by Month for Hardiness Zones 5b-6a - Insider Gardening (
https://insidergardening.com/gardening- … nes-5b-6a/
Hydroponic vertical farming brings fresh produce to non-arable regions
https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/0 … e-regions/

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-05-27 10:55:22

Vertical farms: A rising form of agriculture
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vertical-f … riculture/

Meet The High-Tech Urban Farmer Growing Vegetables Inside Hong Kong’s Skyscrapers
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkang/2 … yscrapers/

Herbs, spices, and cereals help maintain mental and respiratory health, get energy, and build the body.
https://avmedicine.blogspot.com/2022/03 … -help.html

Tertill, A Solar Powered Roomba-Like Robot That Automatically Removes Weeds From Gardens
https://laughingsquid.com/tertill-solar-weed-roomba/

Why Do Algae Grow So Much Quicker Than Most Other Types of Crops?
https://medium.com/predict/why-do-algae … 447f8c5bd7

Plants Use RNA to Talk to Neighbors
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opin … bors-69337

These Supplements Boost Your Immune Health "Almost Instantly"
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/supplem … 33335.html

"However, not only do most of us fail to hit these daily nutrition goals, but we may have situations—like physical stress or inflammatory health issues—when we need more of certain nutrients than what we're getting from food."

Wikifarmer - The First Farming Encyclopedia In The World
https://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2022/0 … world.html

Wikifarmer is available in 12 languages and has over 12 million unique users.

The platform stands as the first e-library in the world for the farming sector and offers specialised knowledge internationally

"We were surprised that there was a gap in the market with regards to a marketplace that directly connects producers with big clients like, hotels, restaurants, food chains. Upon identifying this gap, we thought to use our previous professional experience and take advantage of the opportunity."

Bowery opens a new vertical farm in Pennsylvania
https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/26/bower … nsylvania/

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-05-27 10:59:05)

SpaceNut · 2022-05-27 13:34:11

The farm will only be the means to get nutrition if we eat more than just fast growing foods. You can not only eat a salad and expect to be healthy for only a period of time while the body converts its self to stay alive. Vitamin's will be used but what else must we do.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-07-27 06:00:04

Some news

Top 7 Vertical Farming Companies in 2022
https://earth.org/vertical-farming-companies/

recycle air and water
https://www.popsci.com/how-iss-recycles-air-and-water/

This green technology can easily be built into buildings, cities and even shipping containers.

How to make the food and water Mars-bound astronauts will need for their mission
https://phys.org/news/2020-06-food-mars … ssion.html

Even though the ISS can be resupplied in as little as six hours (the time between launch and the time a supply capsule will dock with the station), astronauts still rely on conservation measures while in orbit. In fact, roughly 80% of the water aboard the ISS comes from airborne water vapor generated by breathing and sweat, as well as recycled shower water and urine—all of which is treated with chemicals to make it safe for drinking.

The food and water systems astronauts will need to travel to places like Mars
https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innov … laces-mars
If humans are to travel to distant destinations in space like the moon or Mars, they’ll need ways to live for long periods of time. And one of the key challenges of that includes how to have safe food and water to eat and drink when far from Earth.

some other newmars topics
How to Prepare Water for Use: Drinking - House - Farm - Manufacturing
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10266
Living inside Mountains / Caves on Mars?
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=8033
World’s first 3D-printed steak
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10011
Antarctica as a Mars Analogue
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=9798
Sewage treatment
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=7125
Humanoid Robots Could Build Martian Settlements
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10281

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-07-27 07:31:10)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-10-16 19:48:17

The vital role that vitamins play in strengthening your immune system

https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-vital- … ne-system/

Over fishing? removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate greater than that the species can replenish

After 80% population drop in 4 years, Alaska cancels snow crab season in unprecedented move
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat … 496997002/

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-02-22 20:25:02

Almost 24 hrs, one day ago I see news

'35 of the Coolest Animals and Their Extreme Survival Tactics' msn dot com

My fish farm search turns up this thread

I had seen journalism report

Air-Breathing Fish 'Hibernate' in Pods on Dry Land (Video)
https://www.livescience.com/59987-lungf … video.html

Heart and Circulation of the African Lungfish
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.RES.25.1.23

Drought conditions, when the lungfish's pools dry up, they burrow into mud, secrete a layer of mucus, it hardens into a shell, according to the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP).

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2023-02-22 20:26:02)

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#51 2004-09-02 10:42:28

Re: Nutrition

#52 2004-09-02 10:48:35

Re: Nutrition

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#55 2004-09-30 16:06:22

Re: Nutrition

#56 2020-01-27 20:47:25

Re: Nutrition

#57 2020-01-28 11:58:02

Re: Nutrition

#58 2020-01-28 19:12:13

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#59 2020-01-28 19:58:36

Re: Nutrition

#60 2022-04-15 08:54:48

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