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Literally watching what we eat

Looking for new ways to get some perspective on how our bodies process food, some UK scientists have built an artificial stomach that simulates digestion. The machine is made from plastics and metals, all strong enough to withstand the acids that are part of digestion, and is controlled by computers, able to mimic all the physical and chemical reactions associated with eating. It is even capable of vomiting.

The designer, Dr Martin Wickham, is hopeful that "his model will help scientists understand more about how food gets processed in the gut, and which nutrients get absorbed." This knowledge could lead to new definitions of superfoods, which are supposedly the healthiest of foods, determining which nutrients are absorbed the fastest and how to get the most from what we eat. There are commercial applications, as well, and companies have already shown an interest in borrowing the machine to test out some of their new food products (health-type products) release a specified nutrient to the stomach that the company claims it does.

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Filed Under: Science, Health & Medical
Tags: artifical stomach, british isles, computer, digestion, england, lab, machine, research, science, stomach, technology, uk

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 3)

Liz

11-15-2006 @12:04PM Liz said... Wow!
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Helia

11-16-2006 @2:07PM Helia said... I'd pay the entrance fee to see this in my local science museum. Amazing!
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sue miller

11-16-2006 @2:11PM sue miller said... It would benefit teenagers and others to show how junk foods, beef etc. versus fresh veggies compare in terms of digestion and "what goes where . what becomes what...etc.. thank you!
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James

11-16-2006 @2:30PM James said... Wow is right its incredible i hope they learn more things than ever i hope they learn much from it
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Cheryl

11-16-2006 @2:39PM Cheryl said... For people like me who have a medical problem with acid reflux disease which has caused pre-cancerous lesions in the esophogus, this could be a terrific help in understanding what medically fragile people should and should not eat to help this condition. This is really a terrific scientific tool.
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Scribbler

11-16-2006 @2:55PM Scribbler said... This display could enhance the knowledge of the digesting system, but only in a general sense, I think. It could take out some of the guesswork for food product companies, but I wouldn't put my entire dependency in it. For instance, different people are more sensitive to different foods and have different natural metabolic rates. I would find it interesting to see the display at a science and industry museum, however.

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Nancy Newsome

11-16-2006 @3:04PM Nancy Newsome said... I would love to see what happens to a doughnut that is all flour, sugar and fat.
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Kristina

11-16-2006 @3:14PM Kristina said... This is something I would love to get a close look at! and i'm sure my children would find it fascinating.
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Liz

11-16-2006 @3:16PM Liz said... I have always talked about the power of a "see-through" body...if we could see what happens on the inside to the food we consume, many of us would change our eating habits. Seeing is believing!!
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ac

11-16-2006 @3:17PM ac said... i'd like to see them build an artificial stomache and esophagus that could be used for people suffering from stomache and esophugus cancer from acid reflux. these conditions will continue to increase in the future. but this is a great start!
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Sajedeh

11-16-2006 @3:18PM Sajedeh said... This is an amazing device!! I too would love to learn more about it and definitely see it in action. However, I beleive that everyone has different reacions to foods, so I don't think it would be as acurrate as we would all like and wish it could be. But it is interesting to see exactly what food does once it has entered our body!
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nicole

11-16-2006 @3:28PM nicole said... WOW!! And about time they did this! That's awesome!
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terry

11-16-2006 @3:29PM terry said... I would also like to see this in person. I have terrible problems with my stomach, so this might help my dr. help me.
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anita henri

11-16-2006 @3:39PM anita henri said... This is certainly cause for celebration. too many folks are suffering and we HAVE to eat. Education is the key.
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Jayson

11-16-2006 @4:20PM Jayson said... Just another way to tell us everything we eat is bad for us!!
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jyl

11-16-2006 @3:40PM jyl said... I think this would be a great way to "see" what certain foods do to a persons stomach. This would be so much more useful when trying to get healther or dieting. Actually visualizing this would keep going through your mind, unlike reading about things, we forget after time. This is great!
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brian

11-16-2006 @6:01PM brian said... Um did anyone notice what it is made of?? Metal and plastic. Not flesh and blood. It will not absorb nutrients like the body does, it will just break down the foods and shake, rattle and roll kinda like the stomach. It'll be good for education to the children, but I doubt it will help the scientists that much.
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fggf

11-16-2006 @3:56PM fggf said... where can i get one?
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Jo

11-16-2006 @4:10PM Jo said... I think this is wonderful although I dunno how accurate the information gathered will be. I am hopeful for a cure for IBS in the near future. Maybe this could be the start.
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Wildkate

11-16-2006 @4:12PM Wildkate said... WoW! I want to see it vomit after eating pasta.
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44 Comments / 3 Pages

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