Vitamin D’s Space Travel Class Upgrade
How Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” becomes essential in space.
Astrodietetics
Nutrition for the Final Frontier
Aldosterone in Space
Learn about the steroid hormone aldosterone and its role in regulation of fluids and electrolytes, along with how its levels might increase on space missions.
Enhancing Food’s Freshness with Sound Amplification
Regarding space fare, astronauts frequently complain that “the food …lacks a certain crunch,” and consequently seems less fresh. What if there were simple ways to enhance the perceived freshness of foods, increasing enjoyment? “Freshness,” as it turns out, is correlated with enhanced sound, even in non-perishable foods.
What’s the Deal with Astronauts and Shrimp Cocktail?
Shrimp cocktail has been a staple of NASA menus since the Gemini missions and remains a favorite on the ISS. Why is this retro-fancy appetizer so popular among astronauts?
5 Reasons Food Tastes Different on the ISS
How fluid shifts, spacey smells, and ambient noises affect the tastes of foods on the ISS.
Leptin in Space
Find out how leptin, a hormone that controls hunger and satiety cues, behaves differently in space.
Menu Fatigue in Space: Solutions
Part 3 of the Menu Fatigue series: Lessons from HI-SEAS 1, Skylab, and the ISS for addressing the problem of Sensory Specific Satiety on longer missions.
Menu Fatigue in Space: Satiated Astronauts
Part 2 of the Menu Fatigue series: exploring the established problem of underconsumption and diminished energy intake on previous space missions.
The Problem of Menu Fatigue in Space
Menu Fatigue, an offshoot of Sensory Specific Satiety, is a physiological response that keeps individuals from wanting too much of any particular food. When considering space travel, which is already limited in menu variety, it’s an issue that will need to be dealt with if longer missions are going to be successful.
A Complete History of Space Food
Discover the first food eaten in space, who thinks “Tang sucks,” and how food science technology has improved for space missions over the past half century.