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Forget Food Pills: What's this about Resveritrol?
Hexmage-PA
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
EDIT: Topic of thread changed in light of related, more interesting, and actually possible miracle substance.
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity... what do all these maladies have in common? The food we eat is a common cause. At the same time, many people cannot afford or otherwise do not get food that contains the nutrients human beings need for optimal health.
Food pills have been part of science fiction for decades, but will there ever be a point at which the human race will transition to their consumption? How would food pills be produced and distributed? How would the many facets of our economy, such as farmers and major food corporations, react to an attempt to transition to food pills? Would food pills be prescribed for individuals and treated much the same as medication? How would social situations adapt without banquets for events, romantic dinners for couples to eat on dates, or even popcorn at the movies?
In summary, is the production and use of food pills possible, or even practical?
Heart disease, diabetes, obesity... what do all these maladies have in common? The food we eat is a common cause. At the same time, many people cannot afford or otherwise do not get food that contains the nutrients human beings need for optimal health.
Food pills have been part of science fiction for decades, but will there ever be a point at which the human race will transition to their consumption? How would food pills be produced and distributed? How would the many facets of our economy, such as farmers and major food corporations, react to an attempt to transition to food pills? Would food pills be prescribed for individuals and treated much the same as medication? How would social situations adapt without banquets for events, romantic dinners for couples to eat on dates, or even popcorn at the movies?
In summary, is the production and use of food pills possible, or even practical?
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What I think is more likely is food that is genetically modified to be very nutritious yet incredibly delicious. Like a steak that is fat-free, but is still incredibly tender, juicy, and delicious.
Well, food pills could also contain a substance that negates hunger. Second, if not a single pill, what about a set that could be taken over the course of the day?
Usually the standard is that fat is 9 calories per gram, protein and carbohydrates 4 calories per gram. This would make the smallest possible 1500 calorie pill 167 grams. You need a lot of pills to reach 167 grams worth of fat, and there's also the health hazards associated with just consuming fat for nourishment. It could be possible if we found an even more calorie-dense substance that we could digest, but since the human body evolved to be able to digest things found in nature, it's going to be a bit difficult to find such a thing
Plus, people tend to eat food for enjoyment these days
Well, since it's already been made abundantly clear that food pills are unlikely to be developed, does anyone want to engage in some speculative fiction regarding the transition to food pills if they were somehow made into a viable alternative to actual food?
Seriously though, unless the pill is delicious then there's no way I'm giving up food.
That would be terrible!
Forget food pills, I want floating cities and rocket packs
For taste, I was thinking something along the lines of packs of thin, flavored sheets that you place on your tongue and let dissolve. That way, people could experience pleasant flavors whenever they want without overeating.
They use dehydrated food, I'm pretty sure.
UPDATE: Yep, although I'm not sure you'd want to eat it...
Textures and temperatures are important for food, too. How would a dissolving flavor sheet simulate crunchiness?
Well...people who've never eaten real food probably wouldn't care about those things, or even flavor that matter. Flavor sheets would probably be used mainly by those who were born before the transition to food pills.
Well, they'd just have to get used to it, then. Just because culture's always been around doesn't mean it deserves to stay forever.
Wait, why do we want to get rid of food again?
I'm just trying to envision a world where food pills are the norm. You have a great point at why they would never become prominent, though.
One, this is just speculation. Two, because food pills are a staple of sci-fi. Three, for an in-world explanation, because any government that would favor food pills would likely be against the majority of substances that can possibly be abused or cause harm to individuals, such as unhealthy foods.
How would society adapt for those things, though? For example, the production and distribution of food is a huge industry that provides many, many jobs. What would fill the void?
What, really? With food pills there would be no fast food restaurants, concession stands, vending machines, anything. Maybe I'm not thinking this through enough, but I wouldn't think that the production and distribution of food pills would offer quite as many job opportunities as the current industry.
Food pill developers maybe? The whole food pill idea is well, asinine, it's natural instinct to eat something, and you can't block out instincts, go ahead try it.
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Alright, let's assume that farmers still had to grow food to be converted into pill form. Then, there of course has to be people to create the pills, people to determine who gets what kind of food pill, and people to distribute the pills.
That leaves marketing and retail obsolete.
Why would it make them obsolete? Companies are going to be pushing consumers to buy their pills - they go down easier, taste better, leave you feeling fuller, whatever. Marketing and retail would still be in full swing as different makers tried to convince you to take their pills.
And honestly, food pills are in no way, shape, or form anything even remotely resembling a staple of sci-fi.
Edit: DOOOOOOWEEEEEOOOOOOEEEEOOOOOOO
Possibly in bad sci-fi.
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I can understand the physical limitations, but not the psychological problems. From what I understand, a chemical called leptin lets your body know when it needs food and when it is satisfied. A substance in the pill could artificially induce satisfaction.
I assumed that the government would be in charge of food pills, not private companies. However, I guess it is a possibility.
Okay, fine, but they do show up.
Is the actual act of eating that integral to human nature? I'm sorry, but I'm just having a hard time comprehending that people would be that pissed off that they couldn't taste or feel food in their mouths anymore, especially for those people who would be born after the transition and would never have had any other substance ingest.
Of course, I bite my tongue all the time when I eat, so maybe I'm biased.
The act of taking a break out of your day and eating something with friends/family is one of the primary ways we socialize.