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Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @02:54PM (#9265115)
Glad you asked. Let's look at Kale:

Kale, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) Energy 117 kJ (28 kcal) Carbohydrates 5.63 g Sugars 1.25 g Dietary fiber 2 g Fat 0.4 g Protein 1.9 g Vitamins Vitamin A equiv. beta-carotene lutein zeaxanthin (85%) 681 μg (76%) 8173 μg 18246 μg Thiamine (B1) (5%) 0.053 mg Riboflavin (B2) (6%) 0.07 mg Niacin (B3) (3%) 0.5 mg Vitamin B6 (11%) 0.138 mg Folate (B9) (3%) 13 μg Choline (0%) 0.4 mg Vitamin C (49%) 41 mg Vitamin E (6%) 0.85 mg Vitamin K (778%) 817 μg Trace metals Calcium (7%) 72 mg Iron (7%) 0.9 mg Magnesium (5%) 18 mg Manganese (20%) 0.416 mg Phosphorus (4%) 28 mg Potassium (5%) 228 mg Sodium (2%) 23 mg Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg Other constituents Water 91.2 g Link to USDA Database entry Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, and rich in calcium. Kale is a source of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.[9] Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties.[10]

Boiling decreases the level of sulforaphane; however, steaming, microwaving, or stir frying does not result in significant loss.[11] Along with other brassica vegetables, kale is also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.[12][13] Kale has been found to contain a group of resins known as bile acid sequestrants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and decrease absorption of dietary fat.[citation needed] Steaming significantly increases these bile acid binding properties.[14]

Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by maxerickson on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:00PM (#9265159)
Soylent is going to have no problem providing all of those ingredients.

You gotta reach for delicate and complex organic molecules that are not well characterized, not stuff so well understood that it is listed in internet nutrition databases.

Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:02PM (#9265178)
1) Soylent doesn't include the vast library of known life extending phytonutrients. 2) we haven't discovered most of these compounds, we just know plants have them
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by maxerickson on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:06PM (#9265202)
Yeah, that's what I meant, your Kale-sporge doesn't mention those, it mentions things that are very well characterized.

I always wonder how many of those phytonutrients can stand up to hydrochloric acid and also get absorbed into the bloodstream.

Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @09:09PM (#9267190)
I think most things stand up pretty well to the stomach. Often though, it is the metabolites of any given substance which do the good, so its after they're processed somewhat.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by MrJagil on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:03PM (#9265182)
Why would you wait for him to ask before you provided that information? I wish you had originally formulated this reply, into a reply to the article, as to spare us all of one-liners.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @09:10PM (#9267193)
I admit, I was attempting to create controversy to create a thread which would attract viewers. Single, informative comments tend to be less successful here than long threads.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by craigmccaskill on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:36PM (#9265386)
You're suggesting that X is required for healthy living and that you get X from kale.

Surely the important thing is if you get X from Soylent? Which you completely ignore.

Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @09:11PM (#9267197)
You don't get non-essential phytonutrients from Soylent. The ingredient list isn't that long.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by mrfusion on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:11PM (#9265232)
I've been using kale in smoothies. Do you think all of those beneficial things stay around after the blending process?
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @09:04PM (#9267170)
Of course. Even if you burst all the cells, the ingredients are stable.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by bhayden on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @03:11PM (#9265234)
So which of those are not in Soylent and have been demonstrated as essential to being healthy? As far as I know, none.
Re:Soylent 1.4: a quick review by rjurney on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @09:13PM (#9267206)
Actually, the entire list of non-essential but beneficial nutrients in Kale are good for you, and not in Soylent. This is the case for many plant foods. Just check wikipedia.

However, we haven't identified most phytonutrients in plants that promote long life. We just know they're in there, and that eating plants is the ONLY thing you can do that reliably makes you live longer. So there is no chance Soylent can include these unidentified - but essential to a long life - compounds. Substituting meat for Soylent... ok. For plants... horrible way to shorten your life.