Researchers have developed customizable omega-3 nanoemulsion drinks to protect astronauts’ bones and muscles from space radiation. [ https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30563/tailored-drink…utrition-2](https://www.labroots.com/trending/space/30563/tailored-drink…utrition-2)
How could customizable drinks help provide astronauts on future, long-term space missions with the proper levels of nutrition? This is what a recent study published in ACS Food Science & Technology hopes to address as a team of researchers investigated novel methods for improving future astronaut diets. This study has the potential to help scientists, mission planners, and astronauts develop improved dietary plans, specifically as space mission durations are aimed to increase in the coming years.
For the study, the researchers introduced beverage nanoemulsion drinks, with emulsion drinks being a common drink that typically consists of a blended mixture of two normally non-mixable substances like an oily substance and watery substance with microscopic droplets within the liquid since they don’t full mix together. In this case, the researchers propose nanoemulsion drinks with even smaller droplets and consist of water and Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), which provide bone and muscle protection against space radiation.
In the end, the researchers found that customizable drinks with a variety of sweetness levels and flavors are the best options. Going forward, the researchers aspire to test the tastiness of the beverages under microgravity conditions, as they note the drinks taste like typical flat sodas after carbonation loss.
