In the Go Figure department.
What is the best diet for humans? | Eran Segal | TEDxRuppin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z03xkwFbw4
New research led by Prof. Eran Segals and Dr. Elinavs research unit indicates a drastic change in blood sugar levels between two individuals on identical diets - this may explain why some struggle to lose weight while others, on the same diet, stay lean and fit. The scientists even developed an algorithm that can calculate ones blood level based on his or her biology and lifestyle.
Here’s a fascinating talk about discovering that foods impact us individually. (not well said, Prof Segals does a better job.)
First asked my doctor about healthy eating over 50 years ago. His reply was “everything in moderation” . Harder than it seems because that includes white sugar and white flour, which is in a lot of food most of us eat.
Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I first thought found that a diabetic life diet didn’t seem anything more than eating healthily. IE avoiding processed foods and simple carbohydrates.
At this point of my life I’m unconvinced there is such a thing as a perfect diet. I do the best I can, which is not alway enough; right this minute, I’m craving a frozen pizza I have in my freezer. There are many foods I simply cannot eat any more, and it pisses me off.
Yeah, that moderation thing has been my guiding light.
I figure the more we shove into ourselves the more our bodies need to process - and unless you are really working hard you just don’t need it. But, then my dad got a way fatter gut than he needed to (as young man he was slime, athletic) and that did a head trip on me at a fairly young age, I promised myself I would never let that happen to me, and I didn’t.
I’d say that “avoid processed foods” would be as valuable a motto as “everything in moderation”.
For one thing, “in moderation” is a fluffy concept that means very different things to different people.
For example, in my college days, my friends and I would each get a dozen doughnuts and a three liter bottle of pop (they had those in the late 80’s and early 90’s), then spend the day eating and drinking that crap while playing video games. After college I decided to eat junk food in moderation, so cut it down to ‘only’ a two liter of pop and not eating all of the doughnuts. Yes it was a more moderate intake of crap, but I was still abusing my body.
It was only when I had kids and knew that I needed to practice what I preached, that I really cut out the processed food and made eating healthy a priority. Now processed food is never in my grocery cart.
Fluffy concepts are fine for some people, but for others they are only an excuse to continue doing whatever they need to stop.
“For one thing, “in moderation” is a fluffy concept that means very different things to different people.”
Indeed. I have a friend whose notion of moderation is very different from mine. But then, he weighs over 400 pounds. (really)
Perhaps a better maxim might be “always get up from the table a little hungry”. That’s hard for me. I tend to snack well after dinner.
Just when I had thoroughly gotten used to low-sugar diet, I had congestive heart failure. Now I’ve got to get used to a virtually salt-free diet.
Advocatus, that stinks. How’s it working out?
Yes, moderation is a very fluffy term. But than I’ve found soft boundaries more realistic that hard fast rules, specially when it comes diets and fitness.
I’d say that “avoid processed foods” would be as valuable a motto as “everything in moderation”.
But tougher. Though I take your point and agree.
I usually find hard rules much easier to follow than fluffy ones. Once I start taking advantage of the fluffiness, I fall completely off the wagon very easily.
But we all operate in different ways, so if fluffy works for you or anyone else, do it.
Advocatus, that stinks. How’s it working out?
Yes, moderation is a very fluffy term. But than I’ve found soft boundaries more realistic that hard fast rules, specially when it comes diets and fitness.
Just getting started really. That's the reason you haven't seen me around the last two weeks -- I was in the hospital. It's a pain having to watch everything I eat for sugar AND cholesterol AND salt! I got used to drinking a glass of 2% milk pretty much whenever I felt like it, but I find it has 300 mgs of sodium! But I expect I'll get used to it over time.
A nice satisfying draft of 2%. Mmmm, hits the spot.
This is why I count my blessing assiduously. I rather put up with a CPAP than that sort of radical diet and I’m not even that fond of food.
Good luck with towing the hard and fast rules line and I hope it produces the good results to make it worth the sacrifice.