HLTH 340 Lecture 2: The Meaning of Food
5 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
How people distinguish the edible from inedible. How plant chemistry is important as an influencer on palatability and food selection. Health implications of plant chemistry and palatability. Allelochemical : a chemical produced by a living organism, exerting a detrimental physiological effect on the individuals of another species when released into the environment. Pica behavior : a tendency or craving to eat substances other than normal food (such as clay, plaster, or ashes), occurring during childhood or pregnancy, or as a symptom of a disease. Vast differences in what is determined as edible across cultures. Insects, worms, algae, parasites in different areas of the tropics. Nutritional acceptability does not always equal cultural acceptability. Color (intense color is often a warning) Role of serotonin--ex: chocolate is rich in tryptophan--a serotonin precursor. In cases of limited food option, wild foods can make up an important part of diet. These same foods may be considered only marginally edible by others.
