Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The energy in food corrected for the energy lost in feces, urine, and combustible gas: ME = IE – (FE + UE + GE).  

A food-intolerance reaction resulting from the effect of a food product on a metabolic abnormality of the host. Examples include the problems associated with missing or deficient digestive enzyme activity.  

The regulation of the rates at which metabolic pathways function and interact.  

A rare genetic disorder of copper absorption. The defect is in the mechanism for copper absorption by the enterocyte. Symptoms are those of copper deficiency. The mutation is in the ATP7A gene that encodes the copper transporter P-type ATPase. Metabolic defect resulting from a mutation on the X chromosome that alters the transport of copper…

An example of bacteria producing these toxins is Staphylococcus aureus. They are nonmotile, gram-positive, nonspore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which produce several enzymes and toxins. The enzymes include coagulase (both free and bound to cell membrane staphylokinase), hydraluronidase, phosphatase, proteinase, lipase, and gelatinase. The toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus are aexotoxin (lethal, dermonecrotic, hemolytic, and leucolytic),…

There are three major classes of lipids in membranes: (1) glycolipids, (2) cholesterol, and (3) phospholipids. Glycolipids have a role in the cell surface-associated antigens as well as cell-surface receptors, whereas cholesterol serves to regulate fluidity. Phospholipids have fatty acids attached at carbons 1 and 2. It is usual to find a saturated fatty acid…

A protein that binds melanocortin; the gene for this receptor has several variants. If there is an insufficient number of normal receptors, obesity can result.  

Plants that “may have” medicinal value. Some are recognized remedies while others are folklore. Excess intake of some of these may be toxic. Plants and their commercial preparations are highly variable in their active ingredient content.  

An integral part of the medical treatment for a specific disease state that improves the outcome and speeds up recovery. Components of medical nutrition therapy include nutrition screening, nutrition assessment, and nutrition treatment. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) defines this as the assessment of patient nutritional status followed by therapy, ranging from diet modification to…

Diet characterized by foods that have been altered in texture or form to make them easier to chew and swallow.