Energetic Food Research Articles

The Sexual Energetic Foods of Venus Planetic Energy in Human Beings

The Sexual Energetic Foods of Venus Planetic Energy in Human Beings

Noise interfere on feeding behaviour but not on food preference of saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola)

Noise pollution exerts negative well-being effects on animals, especially for captive individuals. A decrease in feeding, reproduction, attention, and an increase in stress are examples of negative effects of noise pollution on animals. Noise pollution can also negatively impact animals’ lives by decreasing the efficiency of food choice: attention decrease can cause animals choose the least profitable food, which can affect their fitness. The aims of this study were to analyse the effects of noise on feeding behaviour and food preference of saffron finches. Foraging tests were performed under background sound pressure levels and under a noisy condition. The behaviours exhibited by the birds during the tests were recorded using focal sampling with instantaneous recording of behaviour every 10 s. Results showed that finches consumed more the higher energetic food, and that noise pollution did not impact food consumption by the birds. Noise changed the number of visits on the feeders, and increased the expression of the ‘lower the head’ and vigilance behaviours during feeding. These findings could be important for wild and captive animals because an increase in vigilance and in changes in foraging behaviour could ultimately impact their fitness. Thus, mitigation measures should be taken in relation to noise impact on wildlife, this is especially the case for captive animals, which have no chance to avoid noisy environments.

An educational initiative for Mexican school-aged children to promote the consumption of fruit, vegetables and physical activity

Aim: To present the results of a community initiative focused on strengthening physical activity and the consumption of fruits, vegetables and natural water while discouraging the use of highly energetic food and sugary drinks in public schools of Morelos. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with an educational initiative focused on the school community of two primary schools and two junior high schools. Pre- and-post initiative measurements were made. The study took place in the municipality of Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico, in a rural area and an urban area, from August 2010 to July 2011. Results: Water consumption among school-aged children increased from 15.1% to 20.1% and soda consumption decreased from 21.4% to 13.2%. A slight increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables was also measured (oranges, jicamas, bananas, tomatoes, prickly pear pads, lettuces), that are accessible in the region. It was found that the supply of fresh food is limited and that high energy density foods have an oversupply in both study areas. Physical activity increased with actions such as football and dancing, in accordance with the baseline measurement. No changes were observed in the nutritional condition of school-aged children (n=150; 13.3% with overweight and 7.3% with emaciation), or in adults who presented a body mass index higher than normal, 60.2% to 88.4%. Conclusion: In addition to educational activities, schools need to implement strategies to improve the access and availability of fresh foods while limiting the access of high energy-density foods.

A Link between Anxiety and Sattvik Food as a Potential Pathway

One of the main causes that has put a person’s social and physical health under stress but also significantlyimpacted their mental health is epidemic. The most prevalent and well observed mental condition is anxiety. It cancause a paradigm shift in the eating habits of an individual. The 5000-year-old Indian medical system Ayurveda,which educates about hostile care for the mind, body, and spirit relates major psychological stress like anxiety withimproper diet. Following a sattvik diet helps a person lead a stress-free life and reduces a person’s risk of illnessto mental disorders like depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and hyperacidity; Sattvik diet/ aahar is consideredas one of the safe, organic and energetic food. People who eat a diet high in whole food such as fruits, nuts, wholegrains, legumes and unsaturated fats are up to 35% less likely to develop depression than those who eat less ofthese. A healthy digestion of meal with proper engagement of gastric juices, its digestion and absorption aredirectly related to hormonal balance and production of serotonin level.

Chemical composition, biological activity and factors influencing the quality of Algerian bee-honey (Apis mellifera)

For centuries, honey, the main bee-hive product, has been widely used as an effective therapeutic agent against several health disorders, in addition to its extensive uses as a natural-healthy and energetic food. Further, bee-honey is a beneficial substance when we explore the many uses in medicine, including bacteria-and-virus killing such as Covid-19, body-protecting chemicals, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities. Honey is characterized by complex and variable chemical compositions depending on several fac-tors; botanical origin, climatic condition, bee health, and other stress factors, in particular, uncontrolled use of pesticides and adulteration in this product. Additionally, honey contains an important number of bioactive compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals) whose main roles are involved in medical therapies and wound healing. Thus, this review summarizes the literature about the chemical composition, biological activity, and factors affecting bee-honey production and quality.

Behaviour of quality indicators in banana cultivation, in El Oro province, Ecuador

Banana cultivation is recognized worldwide as a very energetic food line that has high volumes of annual production. The investigative results presented in the present investigation complement a group of studies developed in the province of El Oro, Ecuador. In order to assess the statistical behavior of quality indicators that affect banana yield. Three treatments were used (chemical and organic with respect to the control) in 6 banana plots during December / 2018-June / 2019. The study is descriptive and correlational. The indicators used were stem size, number of hands, number of fingers, plant height, pseudostem circumference and bunch weight at harvest time. Statistical and inferential methods were used, highlighting the correlation and regression analysis. The best results were observed in the treatment with organic fertilizer, which justifies the benefits of agroecology. The evaluated indicators generally coincide with the referenced studies. It was identified that the type of treatment does not influence the average height of the plants. It was possible to find a regression model with a good fit that allows estimating the circumference of the pseudostem according to the behavior of the plant height.

Complex soil food web enhances the association between N mineralization and soybean yield – a model study from long-term application of a conservation tillage system in a black soil of Northeast China

Abstract. Long-term (10 years) application of conservation tillage following conversion from conventional tillage (CT) can achieve a new equilibrium in the soil environment, which is vital to reverse soil biodiversity declines and fulfil the goal of maintaining agroecosystem sustainability. However, in such a situation, how the soil community regulates nutrient cycling impacting crop yield is not well documented. Therefore, the relations between mineralized nitrogen (N) delivered by soil food web and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) yield were investigated after 14 years application of CT, reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT) in a black soil (Typic Hapludoll) of Northeast China. We hypothesized that soil mineralizable N would increase with the complexity of the soil food web, and that the trophic groups involved in associating N mineralization with crop yield will vary with soil depth in the conservation tillage practice. During the soybean growing season, soil organisms, including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mites and collembolans, were extracted and identified monthly from 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depths to estimate the complexity of the food web indicated by the species richness and connectance indices, and to simulate the mineralized N using energetic food web modelling. The species richness and connectance of the food web at both soil depths were significantly affected by tillage practices, and their values decreased of the order of NT > RT > CT. A similar trend was also revealed for the simulated N mineralization, that is, the mineralized N released either from the functional feeding guilds or from the energy pathways of the food web were greater in RT and NT than in CT at both soil depths. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that soil organisms involved in coupling the mineralized N with soybean yield were different at different soil depths, in which fungal and root pathways at 0–5 cm and bacterial pathway at 5–15 cm were the driving factors for the supply of mineralized N to soybean in NT and RT soils. These results support our hypothesis and highlight the essential role of soil food web complexity in coupling N mineralization and crop yield after long-term application of conservation tillage. Additionally, the current modelling work provides basic hypotheses for future studies to test the impact of soil biodiversity or specific functional guilds on the fate of N in agro-ecosystems.

Use of glycerol in fish nutrition: a review

AbstractCrude glycerol and its purified and synthesized forms derived from biodiesel production are non‐toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible and versatile, and can be converted into various chemicals or products for biological use. Among the possible uses, there is its use in fish feeding, due to the chemical and nutritional composition, for being classified as energetic food and has low cost. The possibility of using glycerol in fish diets has been motivated by increasing maize prices, the excessive amount of glycerol produced and its processing costs for other purposes. Glycerol use in fish diet formulations is feasible, provided that certain factors be evaluated, such as digestibility and inclusion levels. In this context, this review discussed the main aspects that must be taken into account regarding glycerol use in fish diets, such as the characteristics and chemical composition of its categories, their fish metabolism pathways and their influence on fish plasma glucose. Crude glycerol or glycerine displays good potential for use in fish feed, as it contains adequate energy concentrations and can replace part of fish feed maize. However, it is evident that assessments concerning specific physiological phases, such as fish in reproductive phases, as well glycerol stability in water, are required.

A longitudinal study on the relationship between mother\u2019s personality trait and eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight

BackgroundMany factors such as social and behavioral are related to appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and there is much of importance to find them. The aim of the study was to explore the association of personality traits, with eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy as well as the neonatal birth weight.MethodsThis is a longitudinal and cross-sectional study. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and the NEO personality inventory was used to assess personality in pregnant subjects. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine food intake. Three hundred and sixty pregnant subjects from Ahvaz (the capital city of Khuzestan province, Iran) were followed from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery.ResultsHigh neuroticism was associated with higher consumption of highly energetic foods (p < 0.05) and less consumption of vegetables (p < 0.01), also was related with lower weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight (p < 0.05). Openness to experience, extraversion and agreeableness were linked with higher consumption of vegetables (p < 0.05). Conscientiousness predicted lower neonatal weight (odds ratio: 1.20, confidence interval: 1.07–1.34, p < 0.01).ConclusionsIdentification of personality traits would help to change the lifestyle and improve management guidelines.

Noções básicas para criação de abelhas nativas: alimentação e multiplicação

Os meliponíneos são importantes polinizadores das espécies florestais tropicais, e uma característica interessante destes é a possibilidade de sua criação de forma racional. A presente revisão evidencia a importância das abelhas nativas e pontos chaves que podem impulsionar a criação. Apesar da sua importância ao ecossistema existem fatores que tem contribuído para a diminuição das abelhas, dentre eles, a ocupação intensiva do ambiente pelo homem, causando impactos por meio da eliminação de fontes de alimento. Como qualquer outro organismo, as abelhas necessitam de nutrientes para seu crescimento e a escassez deste tem efeitos nocivos no desenvolvimento das colônias. Apesar de sua importância o estudo de dietas artificias que podem suprir as necessidades das abelhas em períodos de baixa disponibilidade de alimento ainda são insuficientes. Para suprir a falta de néctar pode-se buscar o fornecimento de um alimento energético baseado na mistura de água e açúcar, no entanto existem poucos estudos visando a elaboração de suplementos proteico que possa substituir o pólen. Estudos com suplementos complementares possibilitam que os criadores aumentem a sua criação por meio das divisão e multiplicação de colônias. Entretanto, existe uma carência de técnicas que permitiriam o crescimento e o aumento da produção meliponicola no país.

Benthic-pelagic coupling in lake energetic food webs

Understanding how energy and matter flow among habitats is a central issue in ecology. In lake ecosystems, benthic-pelagic coupling (B-P coupling) was mainly studied based on the diets of top consumers at a population level or through food chains. However, how B-P coupling operates at the ecosystem level is largely unknown.In the present study, we revealed B-P coupling within an energetic food web framework, combining stable isotope analyses and mass balanced model. We constructed the energetic food webs of two large shallow lakes of different trophic status based on field survey data. We also defined benthic and pelagic components based on the proportion of consumer energy uptake from phytoplankton (benthic: <50%; pelagic:>50%; benthivore: <20%; planktivore:>80%; coupler: 20–80%) and quantified the energy flux through B-P coupling in the two lake food webs.The total consumption was estimated to be 699 t/km2/y in Lake Erhai (mesoeutrophic lake) and 2094 t/km2/y in Lake Dianchi (hypereutrophic lake), and the B-P coupling energy was 405 t/km2/y and 213 t/km2/y, respectively. In these lakes, B-P coupling occurred on multiple trophic levels; lower trophic level consumers contributed the largest proportion (90% and 98%), while top consumers were of limited importance; most coupling links were weak, and energy exchange was highly asymmetric with the total amount of energy exported from benthic part to pelagic part being over 4 folds of the counter flux.The quantity and pattern of B-P coupling vary between the mesoeutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes. In terms of energy flux per unit area, the total system throughput in the mesoeutrophic lake (Lake Erhai) was 3.73 times of that in the hypereutrophic lake (Lake Dianchi), while the proportion of coupling energy was much lower in the former (19%) than the latter (31%). A greater energy flux through pelagic-to-benthic pathways was found in the hypereutrophic lake, and most of the coupling energy was contributed by consumers at higher trophic levels. Besides, the coupling strength was stronger in the hypereutrophic than the mesoeutrophic lake.We showed for the first time how B-P coupling operates in lake energetic food webs. Our results provided new insights into understanding the energy flux through B-P coupling of lake ecosystems, and how such coupling could be changed by environmental disturbances. We also provided a new approach to reveal habitat coupling within an energetic food web framework.

Energetic supplementation for maintenance or development of Apis mellifera L. colonies.

Background:The nutritional requirements of honeybees (Apis mellifera) for their complete development need to be supplied through food sources available in the environment, since honeybees are insects that depend directly on blossoming food sources. However, at certain times a food-supply reduction can promote nutritional stress, thus necessitating food supplementation for maintenance or production stimulus of the colonies. Thus, the determination of optimal energy supplementation can assist in the maintenance and production of colonies. Methods:Twenty Apis mellifera beehives were used (with five beehives per treatment): CTL, control (without feeding); SJ, sugarcane juice; SS, sugar syrup; and IS, inverted sucrose. We evaluated the food consumption, population development, and physiological state (expression of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a genes) of each colony.Results:The results showed that the supplementation of colonies with sugar syrup resulted in an intermediate consumption level (894.6 ± 291 mL) and better development (384.9 ± 237.3 and 158.3 ± 171.6 cm2, sealed and open brood, respectively). Furthermore, this diet ensured that the colonies were in a good physiological state, as bees fed this diet presented the highest relative expression levels of vitellogenin and hexamerin 70a among all the diets tested.Conclusions:Therefore, sugar syrup is concluded to be the best artificial energetic food for use in the supplementation of honeybee colonies.

Autorreporte de enfermedades y patrón alimentario de adultos ≥ 50 años sedentarios vs. físicamente activos

Se investiga la relación entre el nivel de actividad física (NAF) con el patrón alimentario y autorreporte de enfermedades en adultos ≥ 50 años del norte de México. Se les registraron presión sanguínea, dimensiones antropométricas, NAF (MET-min/semana), hábitos alimentarios y autorreporte de enfermedades a 200 participantes (50-80 años; 52% mujeres). Los resultados muestran que 25% es sedentario, 42% es activo moderadamente y 34% es muy activo. Los sedentarios presentaron mayor peso (+9 kg), circunferencia de cintura (+8.1 cm), número (+2) y variedad (10-23) de enfermedades que la de grupos activos (p &lt; 0.05); el consumo de alimentos densamente energéticos fue menor en personas muy activas ( f ≥ 0.27). Las conclusiones muestran que un NAF ≤ 1 137 MET-min/ semana (bajo-moderado) aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades en personas adultas (r = -0.15 a -0.33).

Socio-economics of Acai Production in Rural Communities in the Brazilian Amazon: A Case Study in the Municipality of Igarapé-Miri, State of Pará

The Acai, a fruit of the Acai tree (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), is one of the main foods consumed by the riverside communities in the Brazilian Amazon. In addition, it has become the main source of income of these small producers as its consumption has widely expanded since the 1990s due to the recognition of its properties as an energetic and functional food. In order to analyze the production system and the socioeconomic changes that occurred in rural communities whose economical support is from the management of the Acai tree, a case study was carried out in two communities on the island of Mamangal, in the municipality of Igarap&amp;eacute;-Miri, in the state of Par&amp;aacute;, Brazilian Amazon. Fifty-two semistructured questionnaires were applied to the Acai farming families in these communities located in the municipality in the largest Brazilian producer of this fruit. The main transformations observed in the assessed communities, especially since the last decade, were influenced by the access to electric energy and the expansion of income from the Acai that made possible the expansion of the acquisition of durable consumer goods that even contributed to diversifying the diet of those farmers. Some of the difficulties faced by Acai production are the lack of technical assistance and rural extension services as well in addition to the strong dependence of the communities on the income generated by the Acai.

Diversity of food systems for securing future food availability

We depict the different models of likely future value-chains for agro food sector. The starting points of the reflection are the main coming geo-physical constraints acknowledged by most scientists (rise of sea level; climatic disaster higher frequency; scarcity of concentrated energy and other material resources). Thus the effects of the coming changes (and especially the effects of the global warming) upon agriculture are a regular study topic, while the effects of the other constraints, and the likely evolutions of the food systems as a whole, remain quite overlooked. When the scarcity of resources becomes general (as it is the case for oil and minerals in the coming decades), the present value-chains may no longer function. We draw from these evidences to design 6 models of food value-chains (including farming, processing and delivery systems). We therefore describe the models : “Today” (any food, in-store selling everywhere, at any time); “Amazon” (any food, at home in metropoles, at any time); “Chariot” (mainly local food, in streets of cities and villages, seasonal products); “Roman villa” (local food, at farm, seasonal products); “Survival” (energetic food, specific location, in response to disasters or to “hunger gap”); “Exportation food” (spices, salt etc., at any time). Only the last four together will be frugal enough to be compliant with the future geo-physical constraints. We also explore some consequences in terms of the future way of life, around the topics of agricultural work and cities.

River habitat homogenisation enhances trophic competition and promotes individual specialisation among young of the year fish

Abstract In large rivers, fish ontogenic development success is mainly influenced by resource availability and by the possibility of species to adapt their diet (i.e. trophic niche). Humans have drastically modified freshwater habitats, notably for navigation purposes. Such modifications may reduce food availability for young of the year (YOY) fish and, consequently, influence their ability to reach the adult age. In the Meuse River, decrease of fish abundance is thought to be linked to a drastic reduction of phytoplankton biomass. In this context of decreasing phytoplankton biomass, we studied trophic niches of three cyprinid species (common bleak Alburnus alburnus, chub Squalius cephalus, and roach Rutilus rutilus) and one percid species (European perch Perca fluviatilis) at various stages of development, using stable isotope analysis in order to compare intra‐ and interspecific competition between sites differing in degree of channelisation. Two reaches of the Meuse River differing by their degree of regulation were investigated. We hypothesised that habitat homogenisation would (1) decrease food resource availability and diversity and (2) increase trophic competition, particularly among earlier ontogenic stages, and promote individual specialisation. Our study provides evidence that in the context of low planktonic biomass, most YOY relied on benthic food sources. Furthermore, the Meuse River flow and depth regulation significantly impacted the abundance and species richness of YOY. In the heavily channelised reach, between‐stages competition and low resource diversity lead to an increase in diet partitioning between cyprinid larvae, as well as consumption of non‐optimal energetic food sources such as aquatic vegetation by some individuals. By contrast, in the less channelised reach, larvae displayed a generalist feeding habit focusing on high energy content prey such as different taxa of macroinvertebrates, suggesting that the diversity of habitat reduces the food competition within and between stages. Intraspecific resource repartition is a key point for YOY fish having to cope with plankton‐depleted conditions. Younger cyprinid stages seem more affected by intra‐ and inter‐specific competition in the more channelised reach. YOY fish communities were also less diversified and abundant in the more altered site, which highlight the importance of limiting channelisation to better conserve fish communities.

OBTENÇÃO DE FERMENTO A PARTIR DO CULTIVO DE LEVEDURAS SELVAGENS ORIUNDAS DA BATATA INGLESA

Considered a cheap and very energetic food, bread is part of the gastronomy of various cultures. In its manufacture it is made use of fermentative process and it is in this activity that the natural fermentation is put in doubt as to its sanitary and fermentative standards, being changed then by the commercial biological yeast. The objective of this study was characterized by the production of natural yeast through the fermentation of the English potato with microorganisms present in the tuber itself. The methodology for the production of yeast was based on empirical knowledge and the identification of the types of microorganisms through microbiological analyzes. The results demonstrated the use of the potato as a fermentation base and the analyzes excluded pathogenic microorganisms, verifying the presence of yeasts and mesophilic bacteria common to the medium. Thus, it is possible to emphasize that this artisanal process does not present problems with regard to the sanity of the final product, in addition to providing a valuable historical cultural culinary heritage.

You are what, where, and when you eat: seasonal and ontogenetic changes in a tropical tadpole’s diet

Abstract Tadpole diet is likely to vary in response to environmental conditions and nutritional needs throughout growth and development. We investigated seasonal variation in diet composition of Bokermannohyla saxicola tadpoles and compared diets between two developmental stages with a significant difference in size. We found that the diet of B. saxicola tadpoles was dominated by periphytic algae, in accordance with their benthic habits. Considering number of cells ingested, tadpole trophic niches were broader in more advanced developmental stages. Tadpole trophic niches were narrower during the summer (wet season) than during the winter (dry season), which may reflect increased consumption of more energetic food items during the warm period when primary productivity is expected to be higher. Tadpole metabolism is likely to be higher in the summer and increased energetic needs might be supplied in this manner. However, results differed when biovolume was considered instead of number of cells ingested, with larger items assuming a greater importance and niches being usually larger in the summer. In these cases, the increased ingestion of diatoms (likely to be more nutritive) in the summer may decrease the relative importance of large algae (e.g., Mougeotia sp.) that form the bulk of the diet. Both food availability/accessibility and tadpole feeding behaviour driven by nutritional needs may influence patterns of food acquisition. Given the importance of biofilms to tadpole diet, studies on the mechanisms by which tadpole nutritional needs and environmental conditions interact are likely to provide important insights into the dynamics of aquatic food webs.

The detritus-based microbial-invertebrate food web contributes disproportionately to carbon and nitrogen cycling in the Arctic

The Arctic is the world’s largest reservoir of soil organic carbon and understanding biogeochemical cycling in this region is critical due to the potential feedbacks on climate. However, our knowledge of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in the Arctic is incomplete, as studies have focused on plants, detritus, and microbes but largely ignored their consumers. Here we construct a comprehensive Arctic food web based on functional groups of microbes (e.g., bacteria and fungi), protozoa, and invertebrates (community hereafter referred to as the invertebrate food web) residing in the soil, on the soil surface and within the plant canopy from an area of moist acidic tundra in northern Alaska. We used an energetic food web modeling framework to estimate C flow through the food web and group-specific rates of C and N cycling. We found that 99.6% of C processed by the invertebrate food web is derived from detrital resources (aka ‘brown’ energy channel), while 0.06% comes from the consumption of live plants (aka ‘green’ energy channel). This pattern is primarily driven by fungi, fungivorous invertebrates, and their predators within the soil and surface-dwelling communities (aka the fungal energy channel). Similarly, >99% of direct invertebrate contributions to C and N cycling originate from soil- and surface-dwelling microbes and their immediate consumers. Our findings demonstrate that invertebrates from within the fungal energy channel are major drivers of C and N cycling and that changes to their structure and composition are likely to impact nutrient dynamics within tundra ecosystems.

Improvement of Protein Bioavailability by Solid-State Fermentation of Babassu Mesocarp Flour and Cassava Leaves

The worldwide demand of food is continuously increasing along with its selling price. Higher food costs affect the access of poor communities to nutritious food, so become a priority problem to be solved, according to the United Nations. This study provides an alternative and viable contribution to the enrichment of food for poor communities using agricultural byproducts. Samples of a mixture of cassava leaves and babassu mesocarp fermented in solid-state way with Rhizopus oligosporus were submitted to evaluation of protein quantity and quality, by the comparison of the digestibility before and after the solid-state fermentation. The assessment of essential amino acids, relative nutritional value and protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) estimated the quality of the protein. The solid-state fermentation increased by 15.2% the amount of crude protein and improved quality, resulting in a food with relative nutritional value for 98.18%, equating to the casein (100%). The PDCAAS of fermented mixture (BMF + 32% CLF) showed results similar to beans and protein textured soybean (PTS) reported, indicating a good source of amino acids (0.6037 to the fermented mixture, 0.6296 for beans and 0.6481 to PTS). The SSF also reduced by 94.18% the amount of cyanide present in the mixture, which is a substance derived from the cassava leaves. By the obtained results, it was observed that the use of SSF in byproducts from agroindustry can produce more nutritious food for humans by the transformation of energetic food in structural food which has a higher amount of proteins.