It ’s impossible to roll in the hay how many calories we ’re about to consume just by glancing at the nutrient on our plate . That ’s why the researchers at GE are strain to ramp up a universal gram calorie counter . Here ’s how it would play .
The quest to build up a automobile that can automatically calculate calories in any food was spearheaded by GE ’s Matt Webster , a specialist in diagnostics and biomedical research .
“ I thought that this was crazy and impossible , but I take it as a challenge , ” henotesin GE Reports .
He began the process by abrade a monumental food library compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — a database throw nutritionary information for an astounding 6,500 foods ( who bonk there were so many ? ) .
“ I want to boil it down to a simple recipe that determined kilogram calorie from a small smattering of data point points , ” Webster enjoin . “ Perhaps I could measure those datum point with detector and use them to calculate the calories in any food . ”
By study various foods for their fat and water content , Webster and his team decide the average calorie concentration for certain foods . This depth psychology allowed them to machinate an equation that estimates calorie in solid food with just three simple measurement : weighting , fat content , and water depicted object . The remainder accounts for the compounding of sugars , carbohydrates , protein , and other constituent .
As for the twist itself , Webster ’s team , along with researchers from Baylor University ’s Department Electrical and Computer Engineering , are currently developing electronics and detector that lavish food with microwaves and look for fat and water signatures in the waves that pass off through ( water and fertile interact with microwaves very differently ) .
The researchers are presently testing the arrangement on mere smorgasbord of fossil oil , piddle and sugar . They ’ve get a prototype , but their ultimate goal is to create a push - button gadget that could be used in mundane kitchen . Eventually , they ’d like to link the gadget to smartphone apps or a workout band .
Of course , calorie counting is n’t going to tell you anything about the quality of the food you ’re eating . Some high - gram calorie foods are packed with healthy fatness and nutrients , like olive and coconut tree oils , nuts and seeds , glum drinking chocolate , dry fruit ( though they ’re also tamp down with concentrated sugar ) , avocados , eggs , and oily fish .
Perhaps Webster and his team can take the next step and design a machine that , in addition to calorie numeration , offer common mother wit solid food advice to control a sizeable and balanced dieting .
[ GE Reports ]
caloriesChemistryFuturismScience
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