One thing I'm curious about: do liquid diet like Soylent change the brush border in our intestines in an appreciable way? If I went completely soylent for a few months, and then tried to eat something more...raw, would there be any changes in digestion?
Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
491–500 of 665 posts
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#492Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Why not simple, convenient, repetitive meals instead? Name one that a) provides a proper amount of needed nutrients and b) is as simple and convenient as Soylent (or equivalents).
A multivitamin. Organic valley protein shakes (already liquid): https://www.organicvalley.coop/products/protein-shakes/ And purple corn meal for carbs: https://www.amazon.com/Z%C3%B3calo-Peru-Organic-Purple-Flour... Organic virgin coconut oil (in glass jar) for fats: https://www.pureformulas.com/nutiva-organic-extravirgin-coco...
OK I'll bite.
Soylent is $2.69 / 400 cal and vegan.
To get the same macro ratios you don't need the corn meal, the shakes have plenty of carbs, you can do 1 shake @ $3.33 + 15g coconut oil @ $0.55 + a few cents for the multivitamin = ~$4.00 / 400 cal.
(You may still want the cornmeal for fibers and slower carbs, since the carbs in the shake are all from milk and cane sugar.)
So it's more expensive, requires preparation, is not vegan, and the glycemic load is probably worse. Beautiful.
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#493Earlier quoted context omitted.
Products for people on feeding tubes like Jevity? Last I checked Soylent contained Sucralose (Splenda).
> ... sucralose Funny how that information buried on the site. I've re-ordered a few times based on its (prominently featured) use of Isomaltulose, thinking that is where the sweetness came from. Some evidence that sucralose will spike insulin. Seems to jibe with personal experience. Will probably hold off until they eliminate sucralose. Perhaps trehalose?
I don't like artificial sweeteners because I am worried about changes in gut bacteria. There's some research suggesting it may.
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#494Although I was initially brought onto the hype train by great marketing and the promises of health and complete nutrition, I realize that my initial reliance on Soylent was actually part of a deeper problem, brought on by problems such as depression and inappropriate time management. When in reality I should have had enough time to eat out or possibly even cook a meal, I found myself relying on Soylent. I didn't leav…
Sure it is. My problems that Soylent can solve include having an easy and palatable (I sort of enjoy the plain flavor when chilled enough) snack a couple times a week.
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#495Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Only one of these is a "chemical" is the vernacular. The vernacular is wrong in this case and encourages ignorance. "Preservatives", "dyes", "perfumes", "thickeners", and "artificial sweeteners" are all words that everyone understands. We can say "artificial ingredients" instead if we want a catch all. The English language is really expressive. "Chemicals" is a buzzword used a lot by hucksters to push sales through…
I apologize for using "chemicals" rather than using correct terms. I was just using it as a shorthand for something grown vs something made. Edit: This seems to be your argument, that engineered is the same as non-engineered. Because they are all the same basic building blocks. Right?
How do you feel about orange juice manufacturing? They take "something grown", fractionally distil it apart into tanks of purified constituent molecules, and then create a drink by mixing stuff from those tanks together.
Is the result of this process "grown"? "Made"? "Engineered"? All of the above?
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#496It amazes me that VCs find this type of business interesting because it's not defensible in many of the ways a software company is. I am also not sure why the company wants to raise this much money -- they need to continue growing like crazy (outside of tech regions where engineers who are unwilling to cook live) or go bust. Nonetheless, the drink is ok. I tried it for a few months. Instead of avoiding cooking, I hav…
> it's not defensible in many of the ways a software company is As a customer, I don't think about that at all. They may open source their recipes and products, but buying bottles from them is still relatively cheap and by far the most convenient option. Also, whenever mistakes do happen, their support is excellent. This is why they'll continue to get my business.
you will begin to consider alternatives when they are available, and at a lower cost
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#497It amazes me that VCs find this type of business interesting because it's not defensible in many of the ways a software company is. I am also not sure why the company wants to raise this much money -- they need to continue growing like crazy (outside of tech regions where engineers who are unwilling to cook live) or go bust. Nonetheless, the drink is ok. I tried it for a few months. Instead of avoiding cooking, I hav…
> It amazes me that VCs find this type of business interesting There are a lot of companies out there that aren't run of the mill tech companies but are still able to massage their way into that category (another example is We Work). There is so much money chasing outsized returns that companies/founder with a good plan, strong team, large enough addressable market and the right network are close enough for many VCs.
Sorta. To my understanding WeWork has largely been funded by real estate groups looking for more return. I guess Soylent could find funding from CPG/consumer funds, but I'm amazed software VCs are interested.
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#498Although I was initially brought onto the hype train by great marketing and the promises of health and complete nutrition, I realize that my initial reliance on Soylent was actually part of a deeper problem, brought on by problems such as depression and inappropriate time management. When in reality I should have had enough time to eat out or possibly even cook a meal, I found myself relying on Soylent. I didn't leav…
Cocoa soylent was just a better alternative to what I had as options for breakfast. Typical breakfast sandwich or cheap cereals were not particularly great.
I'm honestly not sure how healthy it is, but I'd be very surprised if it was worse than what I'd do otherwise.
Now I agree if you have 5 bottles a day as your only food source, that's probably not great. We don't really understand human food needs as well as we say we do, and we kind of just get by as a kind of coincidence through variety. Having the same thing over and over and over almost garentees you get it wrong, no matter what it is you have.
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#499Have they figured out the vile angry flatulence problem?
Re: Soylent Closes $50M Series B Round Led by GV
#500Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Only one of these is a "chemical" is the vernacular. The vernacular is wrong in this case and encourages ignorance. "Preservatives", "dyes", "perfumes", "thickeners", and "artificial sweeteners" are all words that everyone understands. We can say "artificial ingredients" instead if we want a catch all. The English language is really expressive. "Chemicals" is a buzzword used a lot by hucksters to push sales through…
To add to your point, many of these "chemicals" aren't even all that artificial. Some thickeners for example come from algae and gave been in use since centuries just in different countries. Looking at some traditional food like ham they are incredibly processed we just are used to it.
My point was basically about food breaking down in a system (our gut). We have some knowledge about this. But not much.