National Academies Press: OpenBook
« Previous: 3. Nutritional Enhancement of Soldier Performance at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 1985-1992
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

4
Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations

Irwin A.Taub1

INTRODUCTION

As Operation Desert Storm demonstrated, success on the battlefield depends on superior tactics, high-tech advanced equipment, and high-performing troops who can, under very stressful conditions, properly use the equipment to achieve the tactical objectives set for them. High performance, in turn, depends on the soldiers having—besides good training and suitable protective clothing—nutritionally optimized combat rations.

Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the food and behavioral scientists at the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (referred to as Natick), working closely with the nutritionists and physiologists at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, to optimize the design, processing, and storage of combat rations. If this responsibility is discharged properly, soldiers will consume these rations more completely, they will enjoy them more, their morale will be boosted, and they will ingest special constituents that will help them to perform well even under unusual circumstances and in many different battlefield situations.

1  

Irwin A.Taub, Food Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Natick RD&E Center, Natick, MA 01760–5018

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

This chapter highlights the factors crucial to designing combat rations and puts into perspective the related research in food science and technology that underlies the development of such rations.

OPTIMIZATION CONSIDERATIONS

Six major factors must be taken into consideration in optimizing combat ration design.

Performance enhancement is the key factor and was the focus of the workshop on which this volume is based. Its relevance is self-evident, and more detail on related research is given below.

Caloric densification is extremely important for situations in which a soldier must have highly compact rations that are also easy to handle. These rations have many calories packed into a very small volume. Some of the components have a caloric density of about 7 kcal/mL. The dairy bar is illustrative.

Component preservation is the basis for providing shelf-stable operational rations in the field. The components must be microbiologically stable, which can be achieved either by destroying all the pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms or by inhibiting their growth. Moreover, even after accomplishing that, one must ensure that the food remains biochemically, physically, and chemically stable. It should have the same structure and appearance after 3 years of storage at a nominal temperature of 27°C (80°F) as it had when it was first produced.

Heating and cooling of such rations is an important consideration, because hot food and appropriately cool beverages affect morale and proper food and water intake.

Unless there is consumer acceptance of the food, it will not be consumed and nutrition could be compromised. Meeting all of the nutritional requirements is predicated upon consumption of the entire ration. Satisfaction with the ration contributes as well to the social well-being of the soldier.

Lastly, quality monitoring by using time-temperature integrators is also important. It makes it possible to ensure that, despite high temperature stresses over long storage periods, the food has the intended attributes and nutrients at the time of consumption.

Details on rations and the research relating to the six factors that are crucial to designing combat rations appear elsewhere (Beard, 1991). Only the work done at Natick on component preservation and on the heating of rations that would not generally be familiar is discussed here, primarily by reference to the combat rations currently under development.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

SELF-HEATING INDIVIDUAL MEAL MODULE

A conceptually new self-heating ration is called the self-heating individual meal module (SHIMM) (Figure 4–1). In many ways it is similar to the Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) and has some of the MRE components, including the pouch bread, which remains stable and does not become stale even after 3 years of storage, and the Desert Chocolate Bar, which will not melt in one’s hands. What clearly distinguishes this ration from the MRE is the placement of the entree item in a polymeric tray that has an integral heater capable of being activated by the pull of a tab. The entire component is actually a two-tray system, with the upper tray containing the separately processed food nested within the lower tray containing the chemical heating system. The high quality and familiar appearance of the components, the convenience of the tray-plate configuration, and the flameless, nonpowered heating contribute to the entree’s and the SHIMM’s appeal.

FIGURE 4–1 Demonstration version of a self-heating individual meal, with the contents of the upper and lower packages (shown glued together) displayed separately. The upper package contains the entree, such as the Salisburg steak shown here; the lower package contains the remaining items, including the utensiles. The lids for the entree and fruit cup have been pulled back, and the pouch bread has been removed from its protective packaging.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Component Preservation

With regard to preserving the components so that this combat ration is shelf-stable, all contaminating microorganisms, the pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, must be destroyed. Two strategies are currently available: irradiation sterilization and thermal sterilization. Irradiation would be particularly suitable for whole-meat food items; thermal processing is used for casseroles, gravy-based items, and vegetables in a brine solution.

In the case of processing by irradiation, the meat is first precooked to a medium rare state to inactivate proteolytic enzymes and to make it ready to eat. It is put into a flexible pouch or a metal container, the air inside the container is evacuated to eliminate the oxygen, and the container is then hermetically sealed. The food components are then frozen and subjected to a high dose of irradiation, equivalent to destroying 12 decades of Clostridium botulinum. (Destruction of a hypothetical population of 1012botulinum spores is the basis for the commercial sterility of irradiation processed and thermally processed packaged foods.)

The irradiated beefsteak shown in Figure 4–2, although used by U.S. astronauts, has not yet been approved for general use in the United States. Over the last 3 years it has been used in South Africa by the South African Army, with very favorable results. Investigators are working toward a generic clearance of this technology by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so that it can be applied to the production of similar high-quality entree items.

More conventionally, an entree item formulated as a stew or with some gravy to conduct the heat would be subjected to thermal processing. In the case of the Salisbury steak shown in Figure 4–3, the container has a thin cross section, so a whole-meat item could be thermally sterilized without significant overprocessing and without the associated degradation in quality.

Various other thermal sterilization techniques are being explored, including ohmic and microwave heating. With ohmic heating, the passage of an electrical current through the food produces the high temperature needed to destroy the microorganisms; with microwave heating, the microwave energy is absorbed by the water in the food, which increases the water’s temperature, and the heat is transferred from the water to the other constituents. In both cases, the intention is to achieve a high-temperature, short-time exposure, thereby killing the microorganisms but retaining the nutrients and other quality factors of the food.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

FIGURE 4–2 Irradiated beefsteaks, shown as packaged on the right and as removed from the package on the left.

FIGURE 4–3 Demonstration version of the self-heating individual meal entree, a Salisbury steak, with the lid pulled back and a 6-inch rule placed alongside for comparison. Note the pull tab on the right front corner. Source: Courtesy of Don Pickard, Food Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Natick Research Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Self-Heating

With regard to heating the food prior to consumption, the SHIMM utilizes a chemical heating pad—a magnesium-iron material that is embedded in a high-density polyethylene matrix and that is activated by water. The pad is about one-half the length of the lower tray, which also holds a polymeric bag with the activating solution (Figure 4–4). Upon pulling the tab, the soldier rips open the bag, the water comes into contact with the pad, a chemical reaction immediately takes place, and heat is generated. Within 10 min, the soldier has a hot meal.

Consumer Acceptance

With regard to acceptance, it is crucial that the customers (i. e., military personnel) like what they see so they will want to consume the ration. To ensure that favorable reception, the developers of the meals follow a simple principle espoused by behavioral scientists: When receiving the ration, soldiers should perceive a benefit, both nutritionally and gastronomically. Consequently, if there is going to be a positive association with the ration, the visual presentation becomes very important.

Such considerations have been and are being made both in connection with the SHIMM and by further modifying the MRE. One experimental version of a modified MRE is called the FieldBreak (Figure 4–5). Not only is the meal bag colorful and attractive in name and appearance but so are the individually packaged components. It is assumed that the soldier will associate this military food with a well-liked commercial product, which will very likely increase his or her interest in, and consumption of, the ration.

NUTRITIONAL ENGINEERING FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT

As indicated initially, the foremost consideration is to nutritionally engineer combat rations to contain performance-enhancing components. Inherent in such efforts is the assumption that there is a fundamental connection between performance and nutrition. Accordingly, a performance-nutrition response surface can be constructed as a guide to ration design.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

FIGURE 4–4 Demonstration version of the self-heating individual meal entree, with the upper tray separated from the lower tray to show the chemical heater and the polymeric bag with the activating solution. Source: Courtesy of Don Pickard, Food Engineering Directorate, U.S. Army Natick Research Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass.

FIGURE 4–5 Proposed version of the Meal Ready-to-Eat, renamed FieldBreak, in commercial-style packaging for the meal bag and for the individual components, displayed separately. Source: Courtesy of Joan Kalick, Solider Science Directorate, U.S. Army Natick Research Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Basic Performance-Nutrient Concept

To put the basic performance-nutrient concept into perspective, a hypothetical performance-nutrient response surface is shown in Figure 4–6. It plots performance along the z axis, running from 0.5 to 1, where 1 is the “ideal,” however it is defined. Any type of physical or cognitive performance can be normalized in this way and then correlated with particular nutrients. In this case, performance is plotted against the amount of carbohydrates in the ration (along the x axis) as well as against the total number of calories (along the y axis). It is important to note that as one increases the caloric content, the ration package gets heavier; at constant calories, as one increases the carbohydrate content, the package not only gets heavier but it also becomes disproportionately bulkier because of the replacement of the more energy-dense lipids.

These concerns are relevant to optimizing the weight and bulk of rations without compromising performance. Consequently, if an actual surface determined through experimentation looked like the one in Figure 4–6—and some results already obtained (see Chapter 3) imply that it would—then design decisions would be based on the relatively flat portion of the response surface, the flatness indicating approximately comparable performance. A ration with fewer calories and adequate, but not superfluous, carbohydrates would lead to suitable performance while maintaining the weight and bulk of the ration.

FIGURE 4–6 Hypothetical response surface showing the dependence of an unspecified performance index on total carbohydrates and total calories.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

Several kinds of nutrients for which there could be a positive link with performance are being considered. They are as follows:

  • Macronutrients

    • Carbohydrates (type and total)

    • Lipids

  • Metabolic acids

    • Carnitine

    • Pectin

  • Neurotransmitter precursors

    • Tyrosine

    • Phosphatidylcholine

The macronutrients, particularly the carbohydrates, are crucial. There is interest in not only total carbohydrates but also in the type of carbohydrates. If the delivery of glucose to the bloodstream could be modulated through a judicious selection of complex carbohydrates, then physical endurance might be extended. The rate and extent of carbohydrate conversion, as reflected perhaps in the glycemic index, will form the basis for future experimentation. Various metabolic acids are important as well, since these may influence carbohydrate and lipid utilization.

Precursors to neurotransmitters, such as tyrosine and phosphatidylcholine, are potential performance-enhancing ingredients. The work of Banderet and Lieberman (1989) has already shown that tyrosine can reduce the severity of the symptoms of high-altitude sickness among susceptible individuals. Zeisel (1990) has suggested that choline is an essential nutrient and has also indicated that muscle function and mental alertness could be improved by increasing the amount of phosphatidylcholine in the diet. The potential importance of choline to performance is evidenced by data from marathon runners (Conlay et al., 1986).

The formulation of rations with optimum levels of such ingredients and without compromising the quality of the food or its acceptance is a fundamental challenge for food technologists.

Goal Programming

The design of diets that can be used experimentally to determine the performance-nutrient link—and, ultimately, to design optimal rations containing the desired nutrients—requires the mathematical approach of goal programming (Hintlian, 1990).

For this purpose investigators use LINDO, which stands for Linear Interactive aNd Discrete Optimization. The illustrative equation in Table 4–1 shows the objective function that must be minimized. LINDO allows one to

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

impose many kinds of constraints on minimizing this function, so that more than just nutrient composition is taken into account.

Experimental Diets

In using LINDO in connection with the study described by Askew (see Chapter 3) on assessing the influence of total carbohydrates on performance, the level of carbohydrates in each diet had to be fixed, while the levels of protein and fat were allowed to deviate about specified target values. Moreover, the experiment required three isocaloric diets of 3,200 kcal each, with each providing 250, 400, or 550 g of carbohydrates per day. Consequently, for the diet intended to contain 550 g of carbohydrates per day in each of four daily menus, the protein and fat levels were allowed to deviate minimally from target values of 90 g for the former and 116 g for the latter.

Since the acceptance of the diet might be compromised by the presence of too many similar components from among those being used to establish the menus, the following constraints on meal composition were imposed: at least one entree, no more than two fig bars, at least one cereal bar, and no

TABLE 4–1 Illustrative Equation for Minimization of the Objective Function for Obtaining a Diet with Fixed Carbohydrates and Targeted Levels of Fat and Protein within Specified Constraints

Objective Function

Minimize:+n(fat)+p(fat)+n(prot)+p(prot)

Such that:

CHO=550 (or 400 or 250 g/day)

Prot=90+n(prot)-p(prot)

Fat=116+n(fat)-p(fat) (or 182 or 249 g/day)

Cereal Bar=1

Entree=1

Fig Bar=2

CHO from beverage=250 g

NOTE: CHO, carbohydrate; prot, protein; n and p, negative and positive deviations, respectively, of the protein and the fat.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

more than 250 g of maltodextrin (M 500) from the beverages. These are constraints on the number of units of each component, consistent with the integer solutions computed.

The actual computation involves equations for each nutrient, whether fixed or targeted, taking into account the contributions of individual components to the total, as is illustrated for carbohydrates (Table 4–2). These components with carbohydrates, as illustrated for were configured as food bars, dried items, or baked products. Each has a very specific weight of, for example, 30, 40, or 70 g. Since the solution is constrained to be an integer solution, the program will select none, one, or multiples of each component and will provide a set of optimized solutions, taking the percent carbohydrates into account. These range from 2.1 percent in the beef jerky, to 17.7 percent in the fruit chew, to 50 percent in the cornflake bar, and to 79.7 percent in the strawberry oatmeal bar. The total was to be 400 g in the illustration shown in Table 4–2. A specific constraint was to limit the overall selection to only two flavors of each of the different types of components. Similar computations were made for the diets that contained 250 or 550 g of carbohydrates per day.

For the study described by Askew (see Chapter 3) on assessing the effect of total carbohydrates on performance, the program generated four different daily menus for each of the three carbohydrate levels. A sample menu for Day 1 served to the study group receiving 250 g of carbohydrates is outlined in Table 4–3. Three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and two snacks (in

TABLE 4–2 Objective Function for Carbohydrates Showing the Contributions to the Total Carbohydrates of Individual Components Whose Weights are Selected in the Optimization Procedure

Objective Function for Carbohydrates

Minimize: n(fat)+p(fat)+n(prot)+p(prot)

CHO: 30.2 bludst+32.4 chchdst+28.5 apcndst+25.5 pecdst+30.4 chhvdst+44.8 shwt +43.4 wheats+44.5 branf+41.3 life+45.4 grnut+50.0 crnflk+17.4 cocbev+2.1 beefjy +17.7 frchew+4.7 crml+78.1 oatmbs+79.7 oatsw+78.2 oatapcn+24.9 crcxcw +36.5 sfchw+39.8 sgvchw+29.1 chchchw=400

Constraint: Only one or two flavors allowed

NOTE: prot, protein; n and p, negative and positive deviations, respectively, of the protein and the fat; CHO, carbohydrate. The abbreviations of the food items are replaced in the equation with the weights of those components available for use, and the coefficients represent the percent carbohydrates in each of the components. Illustrative of these abbreviations are the following: crnflk=corn flake bar; beekjy=beef jerky; frchew=fruit chew; and oatsw=strawberry oatmeal bar.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

TABLE 4–3 Sample Menu for the Optimized Experimental Diet Providing 250 g of Carbohydrates on Day 1 of a 4-Day Menu

Meal and Food

Weight (g)

Breakfast

Life cereal bar

30

Nut dairy bar

40

Cocoa bar

30

Beverage

13

Lunch

Creamed chicken chowder bar

47

Bacon and cheese shortbread

25

Smokecraft Slim Jim

46

Almond fig bar

30

Beverage

13

Dinner

Chicken and rice entree

70

Seafood chowder bar

47

Fried onion shortbread

25

Infused flat bread

50

Almond dairy bar

40

Beverage

13

Snacks

A.M.:

Cocoa bar

30

Coconut Bear Valley bar

20

Beverage

13

P.M.:

Cheese shortbread

25

Vanilla dairy bar

40

the morning and afternoon) were served. The breakfast included a yogurt-based dairy bar, which could be rehydrated to a regular yogurt consistency. The lunch was Spartan compared with that obtained at fast-food outlets, but it included a chicken chowder, a Slim Jim, and a fig bar. More conventionally, the dinner included a very tasty seafood chowder, a well-liked chicken with rice entree, a flat bread (which was infused with lipid to increase calories), and an almond bar for dessert. Although three dairy bars were on the menu, no flavor was duplicated. The adjustable carbohydrates, however, were obtained by using a flavored maltodextrin-based beverage containing 13 g of carbohydrates four times a day. The fixed weight of each component was used, representing one unit of the particular configuration; none was broken into smaller units.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Tailored-Ration System

The goal-programming approach can be applied to designing rations as well. It is particularly suited to the concept of a tailored ration system in which the rations are optimized for various situations that might require different nutrients. The idea is to assemble a situation-specific ration by combining a core module of 1,500 kcal with other supplementary modules. As schematically outlined in Figure 4–7 for four situations, one could add to the core module the following tailored supplements: a hot weather supplement (HWS) for the desert; a cold weather supplement (CWS) for the arctic; a high altitude supplement (HAS) for mountainous terrains; and a snack food supplement (SFS) for general use. The tailored ration shown in Figure 4–7 is for the standard temperate environment.

The modules would be combined to provide the total number of calories and any special nutrients needed for each situation. Two core modules for standard use would provide 3,000 kcal (Figure 4–8). In the case of the arctic situation, the CWS alone would have 3,000 kcal, so the total number of calories associated with one CWS and one core module would be 4,500 kcal. In the case of the high-altitude situation, the HAS could be designed with appropriate calories and with high tyrosine-containing components to meet the needs posed by the low-oxygen and, possibly, low-temperature conditions.

The prototype core module with its components is shown in Figure 4–9. Totaling 1,500 kcal, it could have an entree such as the dehydrated pork and rice, the MRE pouch bread, a meat stick, two compressed cereal bars, two maltodextrin packets (which would be configured as a bar rather than as the powder shown in Figure 4–9), and a dairy bar. Despite having a high caloric density of 6.8 kcal/mL with 56 percent of the calories coming from lipids, the dairy bar is a very popular, highly rated item that can be eaten as is or made into a pudding. It exemplifies components that can be made to meet stringent nutritional needs and still meet stringent consumer expectations.

Depending on what is ultimately learned and confirmed about the link between performance and nutrients, specific ingredients would have to be formulated into suitable components that could be optimally combined into rations appropriate to military situations.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

FIGURE 4–7 Schematic representation of the tailored ration concept showing the situation-specific hot weather supplement (HWS), cold weather supplement (CWS), high altitude supplement (HAS), and snack food supplement (SFS) that can be combined, as appropriate, with a core module designed for standard situations.

FIGURE 4–8 Weight distributions among the components tailored for use in two core modules for standard use, totaling 3,000 kcal. M500, maltodextrin.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

FIGURE 4–9 Demonstration version of the core module components, which total 1,500 kcal. Except for the Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) bread, all are dry components, and many are compressed into bars to reduce their volumes. MD 500, maltodextrin.

SUMMARY: THE CHALLENGE

As the foregoing indicates, the task for food technologists can be thought of as the performance-nutrient challenge. After the nutritionists and physiologists select the ingredients of greatest potential—those that would have a positive effect on performance—the food technologist would have to ensure that the related ration components are formulated and processed in a compatible and acceptable manner, that these ingredients can tolerate long-term storage, that they can survive digestion and remain physiologically active, and that they can be delivered in a modulated manner to the targeted physiological sites.

If the challenge can be met, then the combat rations will not only contain performance-enhancing nutrients and related constituents, but these nutrients will also be optimally available at the time of consumption and will be fully consumed. The overall goal is to go beyond that challenge so that soldiers who consume such rations will recognize and experience the performance benefits of extended endurance and heightened alertness.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×

REFERENCES

Banderet, L.E. and H.R.Lieberman 1989 Treatment with tyrosine, a neurotransmitter precursor, reduces environmental stress in humans. Brain Res. Bull. 22:759–762.

Beard, B. 1991 Hot meals in a hot spot: How we feed our troops in Saudi Arabia. Food Technol. 45:52–56.


Conlay, L.A., R.J., Wurtman, K.Blusztajn, I.L.G.Coviella, T.J.Maher, and G.E.Evoniuk 1986 Decreased plasma choline concentrations in marathon runners. N. Engl. J. Med. 315:892.


Hintlian, C.B. 1990 Use of math programming techniques to design experimental diets and military rations. In Abstracts of the IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) Annual Meeting. Chicago: 169.


Srzezinski, A.A., J.J.Wurtman, R.Gleason, T.Nader, and B.Laferrere 1990 D-fenfluramine suppresses the increase calorie and carbohydrate intakes and improves the mood of women with premenstrual syndrome. Obstet. Gynecol. 76:296–301.


Zeisel, S.H. 1990 Choline deficiency. J. Nutr. Biochem. 1:332–349.

Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 77
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 78
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 79
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 80
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 81
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 82
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 83
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 84
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 85
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 86
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 87
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 88
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 89
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 90
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 91
Suggested Citation:" 4. Optimizing the Design of Combat Rations." Institute of Medicine. 1994. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4563.
×
Page 92
Next: 5. Biochemical Strategies for Ration Design: Concerns of Bioavailability »
Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $137.00
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

The physiological or psychological stresses that employees bring to their workplace affect not only their own performance but that of their co-workers and others. These stresses are often compounded by those of the job itself. Medical personnel, firefighters, police, and military personnel in combat settings—among others—experience highly unpredictable timing and types of stressors.

This book reviews and comments on the performance-enhancing potential of specific food components. It reflects the views of military and non-military scientists from such fields as neuroscience, nutrition, physiology, various medical specialties, and performance psychology on the most up-to-date research available on physical and mental performance enhancement in stressful conditions. Although placed within the context of military tasks, the volume will have wide-reaching implications for individuals in any job setting.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!