Nutrition

[Circle]

Hello :)Guys, do species at the Bionicle universe need to eat/drink ?

[a goose]

I would assume Agori and Glatorian would, however, Matoran and Toa absorb energy instead of eating.- Vorex

[Circle]

I see. And how do they absorb energy?

[a goose]

Generally, through their hands, eg: Matoran holds fruit, energy gets absorbed, Matoran doesn't have to eat it but still gets necessary energy.

[Circle]

Oh of course, like Gali Nuva absorbed energy from water at Bionicle: Mask of Light.Thanks for making it clear

[a goose]

You're welcome.And I think what Gali did was more to the purpose of restoring her elemental energy, but meh. - Vorex

[Taipu1]

I believe Skakdi are one of the exceptions in the MU, they eat through their mouths rather than their hands. There are other exceptions as well, but the major species all do the hand absorbing thing, as Vorex said.

[T.B.O.C]

I believe Skakdi are one of the exceptions in the MU, they eat through their mouths rather than their hands. There are other exceptions as well, but the major species all do the hand absorbing thing, as Vorex said.

I think Skakdi have this ability, but choose to eat with their mouths. Correct me if I'm wrong, however.

[BioGio]

I believe Skakdi are one of the exceptions in the MU, they eat through their mouths rather than their hands. There are other exceptions as well, but the major species all do the hand absorbing thing, as Vorex said.

I think Skakdi have this ability, but choose to eat with their mouths. Correct me if I'm wrong, however.

Yes, the Skakdi choose to eat with their mouths because it is seen as repulsive and frightening. Source. Species of Spherus Magna all eat and drink using their mouths, as was mentioned multiple times in the books set on Bara Magna.Further, absorbing energy directly from food is not actually necessary for most Matoran, as there were "feeding points" for Matoran to recharge (like batteries) yearly. Source.There is another interesting question that arises when we do not allow for eating and replace it instead with "energy absorption": How do the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe obtain nutrients for their biological components? I've posited that many of the necessary elements for compounds of nutrients come from the air, and there are simply many processes that make these basic molecules into the more complex organic compounds necessary. This may not allow for very much in the way of nutrients, but MU inhabitants are only about 15% organic, so they don't really need too much.~ BioGio

[Circle]

I didn't think about the organic part, thanks for the great explaination

[Dralcax]

Wait, if a Matoran absorbs energy from a fruit, then the mass is not used up, so would an Agori or Skakdi be able to consume the leftover mass? And when an Agori or Skakdi eats, then is the energy-depleted mass removed from the system through waste?

[Toa Lapaka]

I believe Skakdi are one of the exceptions in the MU, they eat through their mouths rather than their hands. There are other exceptions as well, but the major species all do the hand absorbing thing, as Vorex said.

I think Skakdi have this ability, but choose to eat with their mouths. Correct me if I'm wrong, however.

Yes, the Skakdi choose to eat with their mouths because it is seen as repulsive and frightening. Source. Species of Spherus Magna all eat and drink using their mouths, as was mentioned multiple times in the books set on Bara Magna.Further, absorbing energy directly from food is not actually necessary for most Matoran, as there were "feeding points" for Matoran to recharge (like batteries) yearly. Source.There is another interesting question that arises when we do not allow for eating and replace it instead with "energy absorption": How do the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe obtain nutrients for their biological components? I've posited that many of the necessary elements for compounds of nutrients come from the air, and there are simply many processes that make these basic molecules into the more complex organic compounds necessary. This may not allow for very much in the way of nutrients, but MU inhabitants are only about 15% organic, so they don't really need too much.~ BioGio

More than likely from the food. They would use the food to give nutrients to their organic parts, but get a yearly recharge to charge the rest.

[BioGio]

Wait, if a Matoran absorbs energy from a fruit, then the mass is not used up, so would an Agori or Skakdi be able to consume the leftover mass? And when an Agori or Skakdi eats, then is the energy-depleted mass removed from the system through waste?

As to energy and mass: They would be able to consume the mass, yes, but there wouldn't be any of the sources of (potential) energy, so presumably the mass would only be good for certain nutrients.As to waste: We can only assume so.

I believe Skakdi are one of the exceptions in the MU, they eat through their mouths rather than their hands. There are other exceptions as well, but the major species all do the hand absorbing thing, as Vorex said.

I think Skakdi have this ability, but choose to eat with their mouths. Correct me if I'm wrong, however.

Yes, the Skakdi choose to eat with their mouths because it is seen as repulsive and frightening. Source. Species of Spherus Magna all eat and drink using their mouths, as was mentioned multiple times in the books set on Bara Magna.Further, absorbing energy directly from food is not actually necessary for most Matoran, as there were "feeding points" for Matoran to recharge (like batteries) yearly. Source.There is another interesting question that arises when we do not allow for eating and replace it instead with "energy absorption": How do the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe obtain nutrients for their biological components? I've posited that many of the necessary elements for compounds of nutrients come from the air, and there are simply many processes that make these basic molecules into the more complex organic compounds necessary. This may not allow for very much in the way of nutrients, but MU inhabitants are only about 15% organic, so they don't really need too much.~ BioGio

More than likely from the food. They would use the food to give nutrients to their organic parts, but get a yearly recharge to charge the rest.

But they don't eat as we understand it. At all. (Except when absolutely necessary.) Unless you're trying to imply that they don't exclusively absorb energy from the food, which would make more sense, although it seems that only energy is absorbed. To quote the old Life Processes Topic:

-Matoran do not eat. They absorb energy from organic food. This absorbing is done through the Matoran's hands.

~ BioGio

[fishers64]

Also, there is evidence that certain Rahi, Ussal in particular, would eat food by mouth, if you are going by the waste theorum. There was mention of Ussal pens not exactly being easy on the nose.

[ALVIS]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

[BioGio]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

[T.B.O.C]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

Yes. The only reason Nokama ingested it was because (I'd assume) eating it would cure her wound, while absorbing it might not be effective. Also, because she was in danger of dying because of her wound, just ingesting it would have been a quicker route for the root to help her.

[VeoiTheRascal]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

Yes. The only reason Nokama ingested it was because (I'd assume) eating it would cure her wound, while absorbing it might not be effective. Also, because she was in danger of dying because of her wound, just ingesting it would have been a quicker route for the root to help her.

I'd disagree on that count T.B.O.C. Granted, consumption would probably be more energy efficient in comparison to the hand-absorption thingy (how does that even work?) that the majority of the MU do, but once the conversion of food matter (in this case the root) into absorbable energy/ molecular pieces/ bionicle-magic is completed, hand absorbtion will take in the converted energy (whatever it is) much faster than the ol' mouth route. Of what I've read and understood so far in the forums, hand absorption magically converts the food matter upon contact which is then absorbed by said hands, whereas the Mouth Route moves the food matter in the internal cavity of a Bionicle where we'd imagine an organ/contraption then breaks down the food into useable material/ energy. Now why Nokama decided to ingest the root, I don't know.

[Dralcax]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

Yes. The only reason Nokama ingested it was because (I'd assume) eating it would cure her wound, while absorbing it might not be effective. Also, because she was in danger of dying because of her wound, just ingesting it would have been a quicker route for the root to help her.

I'd disagree on that count T.B.O.C. Granted, consumption would probably be more energy efficient in comparison to the hand-absorption thingy (how does that even work?) that the majority of the MU do, but once the conversion of food matter (in this case the root) into absorbable energy/ molecular pieces/ bionicle-magic is completed, hand absorbtion will take in the converted energy (whatever it is) much faster than the ol' mouth route. Of what I've read and understood so far in the forums, hand absorption magically converts the food matter upon contact which is then absorbed by said hands, whereas the Mouth Route moves the food matter in the internal cavity of a Bionicle where we'd imagine an organ/contraption then breaks down the food into useable material/ energy.Now why Nokama decided to ingest the root, I don't know.

Because the root is not intended for nutrition, it was meant as medicine. An M&M could contain as many calories as your medication, but it won't have the same effects.

[VeoiTheRascal]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

Yes. The only reason Nokama ingested it was because (I'd assume) eating it would cure her wound, while absorbing it might not be effective. Also, because she was in danger of dying because of her wound, just ingesting it would have been a quicker route for the root to help her.

I'd disagree on that count T.B.O.C. Granted, consumption would probably be more energy efficient in comparison to the hand-absorption thingy (how does that even work?) that the majority of the MU do, but once the conversion of food matter (in this case the root) into absorbable energy/ molecular pieces/ bionicle-magic is completed, hand absorbtion will take in the converted energy (whatever it is) much faster than the ol' mouth route. Of what I've read and understood so far in the forums, hand absorption magically converts the food matter upon contact which is then absorbed by said hands, whereas the Mouth Route moves the food matter in the internal cavity of a Bionicle where we'd imagine an organ/contraption then breaks down the food into useable material/ energy.Now why Nokama decided to ingest the root, I don't know.

Because the root is not intended for nutrition, it was meant as medicine. An M&M could contain as many calories as your medication, but it won't have the same effects.

Yes, but even medicine that is taken as a pill are broken down by our stomach before being absorbed into our bodies and I think it's no different for the root. Plus the fact that the root is neither a purified nor concentrated form of the medicine required, it would be even more necessary to break down the root so the body (in this case, Nokama's) can absorb the molecules that are the medicine.What I am trying to get at is if Nokama wanted quicker results, she should have absorbed the root via her hands instead of through ingestion.

[fishers64]

Let's also recall that in Maze of Shadows, Nokama is given a root by the Karzahni plant to cure her of the Rahi Nui's venom. She puts it in her mouth and chews it, noticing a bitter taste. So the Matoran/Toa/Turaga and presumably all other species can eat with their mouths as well. Perhaps they absorb energy through their hands to charge their mechanical parts, but eat food to keep their organs working?

No, that certainly does not happen, since Matoran consider the actual ingestion of food via the mouth to be disgusting. ("Skakdi are known to chew and ingest their food, choosing to do so over the typical method of absorbing energy, as other inhabitants of the Matoran Universe view this act as repulsive." In other words, ingesting food is considered repulsive even though it's possible.) Obviously, there are plenty of disgusting things that are necessary to do--eating a root being one of them in BIONICLE and stuff like eating bugs in real life (to some)--, but the fact that there is a taboo implies they aren't done with the frequency that this hypothesis would suggest.~ BioGio

Yes. The only reason Nokama ingested it was because (I'd assume) eating it would cure her wound, while absorbing it might not be effective. Also, because she was in danger of dying because of her wound, just ingesting it would have been a quicker route for the root to help her.

I'd disagree on that count T.B.O.C. Granted, consumption would probably be more energy efficient in comparison to the hand-absorption thingy (how does that even work?) that the majority of the MU do, but once the conversion of food matter (in this case the root) into absorbable energy/ molecular pieces/ bionicle-magic is completed, hand absorbtion will take in the converted energy (whatever it is) much faster than the ol' mouth route. Of what I've read and understood so far in the forums, hand absorption magically converts the food matter upon contact which is then absorbed by said hands, whereas the Mouth Route moves the food matter in the internal cavity of a Bionicle where we'd imagine an organ/contraption then breaks down the food into useable material/ energy.Now why Nokama decided to ingest the root, I don't know.

Because the root is not intended for nutrition, it was meant as medicine. An M&M could contain as many calories as your medication, but it won't have the same effects.

Yes, but even medicine that is taken as a pill are broken down by our stomach before being absorbed into our bodies and I think it's no different for the root. Plus the fact that the root is neither a purified nor concentrated form of the medicine required, it would be even more necessary to break down the root so the body (in this case, Nokama's) can absorb the molecules that are the medicine.What I am trying to get at is if Nokama wanted quicker results, she should have absorbed the root via her hands instead of through ingestion.

Yes, but the medicine molecules actually had to get into her body and repair certain parts. Thus the ingestion. Absorbing only gives you energy.

[bonesiii]

The rest of yall have answered this well, just two things:1) Yes, it is confirmed that at least the vast majority of Rahi also eat as we do, though there may be exceptions.2) I agree with fishers' above reasoning about the root. Matoran/etc. can, apparently, eat the way we do, but normally all they need is life energy.

[Voxumo]

i will say that i think the absorbing the energy way of eating would be the best for when your on the go.Let's say your being chased by a ash bear while you were out picking bula berries. you could run from the ash bear while absorbing energy. hence food on the run. i just think that would be more effective.(WARNING OVERLY USED JOKE AHEAD) fast food get it lol. although i would use the regular method if i was at like a party or celebration. but other than that i would just do the energy absorb thing.

[fishers64]

i will say that i think the absorbing the energy way of eating would be the best for when your on the go.Let's say your being chased by a ash bear while you were out picking bula berries. you could run from the ash bear while absorbing energy. hence food on the run. i just think that would be more effective.(WARNING OVERLY USED JOKE AHEAD) fast food get it lol.although i would use the regular method if i was at like a party or celebration. but other than that i would just do the energy absorb thing.

I disagree. When humans use the "normal method of eating", we don't receive energy immediately. Our bodies have to break down (digest) the food we eat in order to use the energy stored within. Absorbing energy directly from an object would likely be faster.Also, the "normal eating" carries a cultural stigma. Let's say that you were at a party where all people present would disapprove of this method of eating. You wouldn't use it, would you?

[bonesiii]

Absorbing energy directly from an object would likely be faster.

Isn't that what he was saying? Better for on the go means faster.

[fishers64]

Absorbing energy directly from an object would likely be faster.

Isn't that what he was saying? Better for on the go means faster.

Sorry, I misread his post.

[ToaofIron]

do rahi eat? i mean a lot of them have HUGE mouths (muaka) so do they eat?

[Toa Lapaka]

Yes they do. Though mostly in unconventionally ways, they need the nutrition for their organic components.

Edited March 20, 2012 by Toa Lapaka

[fishers64]

do rahi eat? i mean a lot of them have HUGE mouths (muaka) so do they eat?

They eat as we do.

[Peach 00]

I would say so, yes, they do need to consume food because they need nutrition to energize organic components , as they are biomechanical beings.