Astronauts experiencing the physiological stresses of conditions like microgravity and increased cosmic radiation need nutrient-dense foods to offset some of the detrimental health effects of space travel. Turns out that vegan might be the best prescription.
An international team of scientists have developed a "space salad" to keep astronauts well-nourished on future missions into deep space.
The seven ingredients in the salad were chosen for their nutritional
value, as well as for their ability to be grown on a spacecraft, using
minimal space and water, and producing minimal waste. Made of only soybeans,
poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes, the
salad was also designed to take into account “psychological value,”
considered especially important on long voyages where astronauts might be
faced with lengthy periods of monotony with regard to their food choices.
With color, taste, and texture all considered in the salad’s design, one of
the taste-testing crew even commented that they “wouldn’t mind eating this
all week as an astronaut.”
According to Astronomy.com, nutritional requirements in space are different
than on Earth, meaning astronauts on long-duration trips need nutrient-dense
foods to offset some of the detrimental health effects of space travel:
"The human body experiences physiological stresses in space, where it’s exposed to unusual conditions like microgravity and increased cosmic radiation for relatively long periods of time. Microgravity, for example, causes bone loss, which means that astronauts require more than the usual amount of nutrients like calcium and vitamin D."
Plant-based diets are increasingly being acknowledged as suitable for
individuals with greater nutritional demands than the average, such as
athletes, and women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
For those who might be concerned about meeting all their nutritional
requirements with just plant foods, rest assured that even the mainstream
and conservative
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American
Dietetic Association, self-described as “the world’s largest organization of
nutrition and dietetics practitioners”) confirms that you do not need to eat
animal products to maintain your health.
"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes."
Perhaps soon they’ll add astronauts too.
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