They are officially into soup. Look at that. Soup is great and easy cooking. Noodles is harder, trust me. You chop things, throw those things into a pot, poor water over those things and cook those things to then blend those things.
Yes, you can do that with pretty much everything sealed in plastic from the Supermarket, including choclate, but there you need to pots. One with water and one in the water with the choclate and I am drifting away...
🌱 Top Low-Calorie, High-Volume Vegetables
| Vegetable| Calories per Cup | Calories per 100g | Key Nutrients
-------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------
| Arugula | 5 kcal | 25 kcal | Folate, vitamin K, calcium
| Lettuce (Iceberg)| 5 kcal | 15 kcal | Vitamins A, K, folate
| Cucumber | 16 kcal | 15 kcal | Vitamin K, potassium
| Celery | 14 kcal | 14 kcal | Antioxidants, vitamin C
| Radishes | 19 kcal | 16 kcal | Potassium, folate, vitamin C
| Zucchini | 19 kcal | 17 kcal | Vitamin C, potassium
| Tomatoes | 32 kcal (raw) | 18 kcal | Lycopene, vitamin C, potassium
| Cauliflower | 27 kcal | 25 kcal | Vitamin C, choline
| Broccoli | 55 kcal | 35 kcal | Vitamins C, K, folate, fiber
| Spinach | 7 kcal (raw) | 23 kcal | Iron, magnesium, vitamins A, K
💡 Key Insights for Maximizing Fullness
1. Preparation Matters:
- Eat raw or steamed to preserve water content and avoid added calories from oils .
- Use in broth-based soups or salads with vinegar/lemon juice instead of creamy dressings .
2. Pair for Sustained Satiety:
- Combine with lean proteins (e.g., chicken breast, fish) or legumes (lentils, beans) to balance volume with protein-driven fullness .
- Example: Add spinach to scrambled eggs or top a large salad with grilled shrimp .
3. Why These Work:
- Water and Fiber Synergy: Creates physical stomach stretch, triggering stretch receptors that signal fullness to the brain .
- Slow Digestion: Fiber delays gastric emptying, prolonging satiety .
4. Avoid Pitfalls:
- Skip calorie-dense toppings (cheese, creamy sauces). Instead, use herbs, vinegar, or spice blends (e.g., chili lime on watermelon) .
🌾 Bonus: Highest-Volume Non-Vegetable Options
For even more variety, incorporate these low-calorie, high-satiety foods:
- Fruits: Watermelon (46 kcal/cup), strawberries (49 kcal/cup) .
- Whole Grains: Air-popped popcorn (31 kcal/cup) .
> 💬 Pro Tip: Aim to fill half your plate with these vegetables at meals. This strategy naturally reduces calorie intake without hunger, supporting weight management long-term .
For full vegetable rankings or recipe ideas (e.g., zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice), explore the sources cited .
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Dominant Amino Acids in Onions & Garlic
Based on compositional studies (per 100g dry weight):
1. Glutamic Acid
- Role: Precursor for glutathione (a major antioxidant), supports brain function (neurotransmitter), aids detoxification.
2. Aspartic Acid
- Role: Involved in the urea cycle (detoxifies ammonia), supports hormone synthesis, energy production.
3. Arginine (higher in garlic)
- Role: Precursor for nitric oxide (improves blood flow), supports immune function, wound healing.
4. Cysteine (notable in garlic due to sulfur compounds)
- Role: Forms allicin (garlic’s active compound), critical for glutathione synthesis, detoxification, and skin/hair health.
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Key Context & Limitations
- Low Protein Content:
Onions (1.1g protein/100g raw) and garlic (6.4g/100g raw) are not significant protein sources. Their amino acids contribute minimally to daily needs.
- Sulfur Compounds vs. Amino Acids:
Garlic’s health benefits (e.g., antimicrobial, cardio-protective effects) stem mainly from sulfur compounds (allicin, diallyl sulfides), not its amino acids.
- Complementary Proteins:
Pair onions/garlic with legumes or grains to form complete proteins (they lack sufficient lysine/methionine).
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Functions of These Amino Acids in the Human Body
| Amino Acid | Primary Functions
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Glutamic Acid | Neurotransmitter, glutathione synthesis, energy for gut cells.
| Aspartic Acid| Urea cycle (removes ammonia), hormone/neurotransmitter synthesis.
| Arginine | Nitric oxide production (vasodilation), immune support, wound healing.
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Practical Insight
While onions and garlic add flavor and bioactive compounds (e.g., antioxidants, organosulfur molecules), rely on other foods (beans, lentils, eggs, quinoa) for essential amino acids. Their true value lies in phytochemicals—not protein content.
For research sources: USDA FoodData Central, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (allicin studies), and amino acid metabolism reviews.
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1. Brain Regions Most Affected by Steroids
Glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol, prednisone) primarily damage:
- Hippocampus: Critical for memory, learning, and stress regulation.
- Prefrontal Cortex: Involved in decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.
- Amygdala: Modulates fear and emotional responses.
Mechanism: Chronic steroid exposure:
→ Shrinks dendritic branches (atrophy) in hippocampal neurons.
→ Reduces neurogenesis (new neuron formation).
→ Disrupts synaptic plasticity (impairs communication between neurons).
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2. Role of Glutamic & Aspartic Acid in These Regions
- Glutamic Acid → Converted to glutamate:
- The brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
- Essential for synaptic plasticity (learning/memory) in the hippocampus/prefrontal cortex.
- Overabundance causes excitotoxicity (neuronal damage).
- Aspartic Acid → Converted to aspartate:
- Also acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter.
- Supports NMDA receptor function (critical for memory formation).
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3. The Critical Link: Steroids Disrupt Glutamate Balance
Steroids indirectly harm these regions by dysregulating glutamate/aspartate pathways:
1. Excitotoxicity:
- Steroids ↑ glutamate release and ↓ its reuptake.
→ Excess glutamate overstimulates neurons → Calcium influx → Cell death.
→ Hippocampus is highly vulnerable to this.
2. NMDA Receptor Dysfunction:
- Glutamate/aspartate activate NMDA receptors (key for synaptic plasticity).
- Steroids ↓ NMDA receptor expression → Impairs memory formation.
3. Oxidative Stress:
- Steroids ↑ free radicals → Damages astrocytes (cells that absorb excess glutamate).
→ Further promotes glutamate buildup.
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4. Why This Matters Clinically
- Cognitive Decline: Steroid-induced hippocampal atrophy links to memory loss.
- Mood Disorders: Glutamate dysregulation in prefrontal cortex/amygdala contributes to steroid-induced anxiety/depression.
- Neurodegeneration Risk: Chronic excitotoxicity may accelerate diseases like Alzheimer’s.
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Key Takeaway
Yes, steroids damage brain regions dependent on glutamic/aspartic acid signaling (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) by:
① Triggering glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity,
② Disabling synaptic plasticity mechanisms.
However, the amino acids themselves aren’t the problem—it’s the steroid-induced imbalance in their neurotransmitter derivatives (glutamate/aspartate) that drives neurotoxicity.
> 💡 Protective Strategies:
> - NMDA antagonists (e.g., memantine) may mitigate damage.
> - Antioxidants (vitamin E, omega-3s) combat glutamate-related oxidative stress.
> - Magnesium blocks excessive calcium influx via NMDA receptors.
Source: Trends in Neurosciences, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Journal of Neurochemistry.