I've been thinking a bit about the United States obesity problem and this little question popped up; Can humans survive on just the nutrients they need instead of solid food?

I mean, if we could, couldn't we just use sort of an IV drip type of set-up and just inject our selves with all the nutrients we need for one meal? This would keep everyone healthy.

If this were possible, do you think that we should do it, or want to do it?

It seems people enjoy eating an awful lot. Would they give up food?

Discuss.

How would you inject yourself with calories?

if this happen... i can't it pizza? I mean, if i want I can it solid food?

Vox Moderated Message:

This is pretty hard to read, could you maybe rephrase this?

We could have feeding tube ports installed at birth, and have regularly scheduled "insertions of calories"

That may be a little bit overkill, If anything you should figure out for yourselff what vitamins, and nutrients you should take daily, and get on a good protein/fruit/veggie diet. Drink lots of water so you don't need an I.V.

Wouldn't that occasionally kill the baby?

In theory we need specific amounts of exactly certain nutrients for survival and performance, but I think we should use as many natural resources to these until we can be completely sure we might as well start surviving on these kinds of supplements.

Edit: And stop being silly, for the least we must keep our face muscles occupied somehow so we should have edible, chewable supplements. Wouldn't it be more convenient to eat a dense packet of all required nutrients than carry around a bucket of nutrients to insert in you anywhere you go, through your stomach potentially infecting you? Get out of here, we don't need tube supplementing, or if ever, in long-distance space travels.

Exercising would be much better.
I don't think anyone would want to inject themselves with nutrients, it's weird.

Vox Moderated Message:

Maybe you should cite research on the importance of exercise? Your argument is rather bare.

I'm not an expert on digestion but I'm relatively sure that injecting really just about anything into the blood isn't how we digest it. It would be way more reasonable to just make a nutrient paste or pill (which I'm like 90% sure already exist) and just eat that if you want people to survive solely on nutrients. The thing is unless you get those tasting like cookies, friend chicken, waffles, candy, etc. nobody will want to eat them as their only supply of food when greasy hamburgers only cost a dollar and taste way better. To answer you question though yes it is *technically* possible I suppose to survive only on nutrients, but getting that exact blend right for everyone would be unbelievably difficult and impractical, so for now just eat healthy or get fat, it's totally your choice.

the best thing to do is eat a vegetable. no need for a tube/needle.

Vox Moderated Message:

Why so? Please expand upon your lack of an argument to actually include any form of point followed by evidence.

actually yes, if you stick to minimum activities, (do some jogging and what not) you can survive. my Trainers friend, has gone 3 months with just Sun, Water, and Air.

He Sunbathes for 3 hours in the morning, then does some exercises and walks around the environment. he is a very environmentalist type of person.