The reporter noticed that "human feed" has become popular on the internet recently. The so-called "human feed" or "human food" actually refers to those convenient, fast, and seemingly nutritious meal replacements. For example, black sesame walnut powder, monkey head mushroom yam powder, scoop a few spoonfuls, mix with water, shake vigorously, and soon you can get a sticky liquid food. Who is buying 'human feed'? Is' human feed 'delicious? Can such 'feed' really ensure the daily energy intake of a person or even replace three meals? With these questions in mind, the reporter conducted an interview. Netizens tried "not very delicious in taste" and within a few hours, they became hungry when searching for "human feed" on online shopping platforms. It is not difficult to find that most of the products are in powder form and need to be mixed before consumption. Similar products have monthly sales ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, with a certain "human food" selling over 24000 units within 3 days of its launch. Short videos related to the topic of "human feed" have also received millions of views. What is' human feed 'and' human food '? Reporters found that as early as 2012, Rob Reinhardt, co-founder of food startup Soylent, mixed powdered nutrients needed by the human body to create a beige liquid during his entrepreneurial period in order to obtain nutrients more effectively. Subsequently, multiple brands launched meal replacements or solid drinks with the gimmick of "human feed". The founder of a domestic feed brand once publicly stated that their development motivation stems from their experience as a programmer who is too busy to eat, attempting to solve the problem of dietary efficiency through standardized nutritional formulas. Who is buying human feed, such as "life-saving food for overtime" and "no cooking for lazy people"? According to the observation of e-commerce data and social media platforms by reporters, their core users are highly aligned with the product positioning, such as office workers who are tired of overtime, white-collar workers who resist cooking and do not want to order takeout, test takers who are racing against time, and weight managers who pursue a light fasting lifestyle, all of whom are willing to "try new things". However, the taste of the paste like "human feed" seems not very "wonderful". A netizen described being "seeded" online and bought a bag to try out out out of curiosity, spending 69 yuan. However, "when I opened it, it was a salty and sweet lime paste, and the customer service even said that they would not return it after opening it, and it was thrown directly into the trash can..." The reporter noticed that some consumers who had tried it also said that they would feel hungry within a few hours after eating it. Experts interpret that long-term consumption of "feed" can lead to a series of problems such as malnutrition. If "human feed" is actually a marketing gimmick and essentially a meal replacement product, can they meet the energy and nutrient intake needs of the human body? According to Wang Xia, the chief physician of the Nutrition Department at Nanjing Second Hospital, the basic treatment diets in clinical practice include liquid, semi liquid, soft foods, and general foods. The so-called 'human feed' becomes liquid when diluted, and semi liquid when thickened. This type of food is generally used as a transitional diet in clinical practice, suitable for patients with weak digestive function such as cancer patients or postoperative patients, "said Wang Xia. It is worth mentioning that meal replacement is not a medical standard term. According to the quality control ranking, food supervision and production processes in medicine are further divided from "strict" to "broad" into nutritional drugs, special medical foods, special diets, and solid beverages. Obviously, "human feed" may have uneven quality as it does not require a high threshold. From a nutritional perspective, Wang Xia bluntly stated that "human feed" is not suitable for ordinary people to eat for a long time. Meal replacements that have undergone grinding, high-temperature treatment, and long-term storage may experience nutrient loss at every stage. Although claimed to have four to five hundred kilocalories per bag, it is highly likely that it cannot be achieved in reality. Experts point out that long-term consumption can lead to a low calorie state, resulting in a decrease in basal metabolic rate. Insufficient total calorie intake can lead to malnutrition and a decrease in the body's immune system. In hospitals, it is also considered a therapeutic diet, only for some patients. Scoop a few spoonfuls of powder, mix it with an appropriate amount of water, and shake it vigorously to drink it directly. It may seem convenient and time-saving, but Wang Xia pointed out that if you eat liquid or semi liquid food for a long time, it may also lead to a decline in chewing function. Of course, the harm to the digestive tract is self-evident, and there is a risk of "disuse atrophy" of the digestive tract. Our body has a protective effect. Normal eating requires chewing with the mouth, peristalsis in the stomach, the formation of chyme, and absorption in the small intestine. However, drinking "human feed" directly can lead to the decline and degradation of gastric function. Over time, even if normal diet is restored, a series of adverse reactions such as indigestion may occur. So is' human feed 'useless? Wang Xia believes that it also needs to be viewed rationally. For example, if some people are busy with work and eat less, resulting in insufficient or unbalanced nutrition, it can be used as a temporary meal replacement. In addition, for some special groups such as those who have undergone weight loss surgery or those who have short-term weight loss needs such as women with polycystic ovary syndrome preparing for pregnancy in the short term, these groups who need to control their calorie intake in a short period of time can be assisted by meal replacement. It is possible to replace one or two meals a day within a month, but not for a long time. Experts emphasize that the daily diet of the general population should be based on fresh ingredients, with a focus on balanced and diverse types. It is recommended to consume more than 12 types of food per day to meet basic nutritional needs and avoid excessive dependence on meal replacement products. (New Society)