Society is aging. This raises the demand for special medical food among the elderly. They face the threat of declining digestion. They also face chronic diseases such as heart and brain diseases. China is rich in edible medical food. But, its research and processing have long been hard. In the extensive stage. Ultrafine grinding can make food powder spread. It can also make it stick, dissolve, and react. It greatly changes food’s physical and chemical properties and boosts its nutrient absorption. We will use ultrafine grinding to make special medical foods. This will result in high-quality products. This will also spur innovation in medical food tech in my country.
Application of special medical food
Special medical formulas (FSMP) are specially processed and formulated foods. They are also called FSMP. They provide food or nutrients. People who have dietary restrictions need them. This encompasses people with digestive and absorptive disorders, metabolic disorders, or specific diseases. This product can improve patients’ nutrition. It reduces complications and cuts medical costs for hospitalized patients. The “Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Diseases (2019 Edition)” say that special medical foods and diets are vital. They are crucial for my country’s health. They are for many rare genetic and metabolic diseases. FSMP has been widely used in Europe, America, and Australia since the last century. It has become a crucial component of clinical treatment. According to the product form, FSMP can be divided into powder and emulsion types.
Special medical foods include fruits and veggies. They are inulin, black rice, red rice, jujube, apple, hawthorn, wolfberry, lotus root, burdock, fungus, longan, Luo Han Guo, and lily. But, in fact, my country’s special medical food market has few products. The choices are limited and the processing is of low quality. Products mostly rely on imports. The main reason for this phenomenon is the limitations of food processing and crushing technology.
Ultrafine grinding technology
Ultra-fine grinding tech uses special crushing equipment. It crushes materials under the action of grinding, impact, shearing, etc. This makes fine particles with a size of 10-25 μm or less. The particles have interfacial activity and special functions.
The application of ultrafine grinding in food processing is a purely physical process. No other impurities are added during the processing process. This makes ultrafine foods purely natural and keeps the raw ingredients intact. On the other hand, ultrafine food products have very small particles and a large surface area. Due to this, they have more contact with the human gut. This allows for full absorption and maximizes their effectiveness. Its unique potential has attracted widespread attention in the food manufacturing industry. Relevant research shows that ultrafine grinding technology has multiple functions in food processing.
Ultrafine grinding technology has two key parts: drying and grinding. Among them are microwave drying, hot air drying, freeze drying, spray drying, and drum drying. There is also grinding technology, which is divided into dry grinding and wet grinding. Dry crushing is to crush dry materials using airflow or vibration. It operates using a rotating ball (rod) mill and a hammer. This process makes products with good mixing, sticking, dissolving, and reactivity. , biological activity and other characteristics of food powder. Wet crushing technology is a technology that uses crushing equipment to crush fluid or semi-fluid materials. It uses less energy and has no dust hazard. It also has a low calorific value. It achieves homogenization and emulsification. The product has a delicate taste. It is ideal for processing heat-sensitive materials. It has good uses. This is especially true for processing and using fruits and vegetables.
Application advantages of ultrafine grinding technology in special medical foods
Ultrafine grinding is used in special medical foods. It grinds raw materials from animals, plants, and microorganisms into ultrafine powder. This powder can be eaten directly or mixed into new foods.
(1) Enhance the hydration properties of active ingredients
The hydration properties of foods include swelling, water retention, water absorption, and porosity. After grinding food materials, the powder’s average particle size shrinks. Its surface energy rises, its activity grows, and its water solubility improves. So, using ultrafine grinding on the raw materials for special medical foods can improve the use and processing of the raw materials. It can also greatly improve the quality and variety of food.
(2) Improve the fluidity, structure, and function of powder
The nutrition and efficacy of food depend on its chemicals and ingredients. They are also tied to its physical state and particle size. The fluidity of powder is often expressed by the angle of repose, outflow velocity, and degree of compression. Many factors affect powder fluidity. They include two types. The first is environmental factors like temperature and humidity. The second is factors of the powder itself, such as particle size, surface, and shape. Santhalakshmy et al. I studied the flow of rose pollen made by three ultrafine grinding methods. I found that as the grinding power increases, the powder becomes more uniform. Also, the angle of repose and the sliding angle decrease. After ultrafine grinding fruits and vegetables, the extraction rate of other substances increases. The solubility and crystalline form of proteins and polysaccharides change.
