Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

The organizing, interpreting, conceptualizing, and conscious experiencing of information coming in from our dietary-intake-related senses, which include sight, taste (texture and flavor), and sound.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is a complex network of nerves located outside of the central nervous system (i.e., brain and spinal cord) that transmit messages between the brain and…

Peristalsis is a wave-like muscular movement (i.e., involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation in a continuous pattern) that occurs throughout the GIT, facilitating food movement (Feher, 2017).

Permeability refers to the ability of nutrients, microorganisms, and other constituents to pass through the cellular lining of any barrier. We will refer to it regarding the intestines and the…

Personality refers to the enduring set of traits and styles that an individual exhibits, representing both dispositions—natural tendencies or personal inclinations—and ways in which the person differs from societal norms…

A personality trait is a consistent internal characteristic and persistent tendency to think, feel, and behave similarly across time and situations (Farrington & Jolliffe, 2001),.

Peyer’s patches have an oval-shaped structure and are part of gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) found along the entire length of the small intestine, just below the intestinal epithelium. Peyer’s patches…

Phagocytes are a group of cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, that can engulf and digest foreign particles, such as bacteria and debris. They are essential components of the innate immune…

Phagocytosis is a process in which cells, typically specialized immune cells like macrophages and neutrophils, engulf and digest foreign particles, such as bacteria or cellular debris. This mechanism is crucial…

A phylum is a major category for classifying living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It helps organize diverse species into broad groups.