Benders'dictionary of nutrition and food technology

155intestinal tract, bacteria, residues of digestive juices). Digestibilitymeasured in this way is referred to as ‘true digestibility’, asdistinct from the approximate measure ‘apparent digestibility’,which is simply the difference between intake and output.digestion The breakdown of a complex compound into its constituentparts, achieved either chemically or enzymically. Mostfrequently refers to the digestion of food, enzymic hydrolysis ofproteins to amino acids, starch to glucose, fats to glycerol andfatty acids.See also gastrointestinal tract.digestive juices The secretions of the gastrointestinal tractthat are involved in the digestion of foods: bile, gastric secretion,intestinal juice, pancreatic juice, saliva.digestive tract See gastrointestinal tract.diglycerides Glycerol esterified with two fatty acids; an intermediatein the digestion of triglycerides, and used as emulsifiersin food manufacture.dihydrochalcones See neohesperidin dihydrochalcone.dihydrostreptomycin Poorly absorbed antibiotic used in treatmentof persistent bacterial diarrhoea and gastrointestinalinfection.dilatant Food or other material that shows an increase in viscositywith increasing shear stress.See also pseudoplastic; rheopectic; thixotropic.dilatation of fats When fats melt from solids to liquid, at the sametemperature, there is an increase in volume. Measurement of thisincrease, dilatometry, may be used to estimate the amount ofsolid fat present in a mixture at any given temperature. Theprecise measure is the difference between the volume of solidand liquid measured in millilitres per 25 g of fat.dilatometry See dilatation of fats.dill The aromatic herb Anethum graveolens (parsley family). Thedried ripe seeds are used in pickles, sauces, etc. The young leaves(dill weed) are used, fresh, dried or frozen.dimethicone Antifoaming agent added to antacids to reduceflatulence; used alone to treat gripe, colic and wind pain ininfants. Also known as simethicone.dimethylpolysiloxane Antifoaming agent used in fats, oils andother foods. Also called methyl polysilicone or methyl silicone.dim-sum (dim-sim) Chinese; steamed dumplings and otherdelicacies.dinitrofluorobenzene See fluorodinitrobenzene.dinitrophenol Reacts with the amino group of amino acids; usedin separation of amino acids by thin-layer chromatography.Alsoa potent uncoupler of mitochondrial electron transport and