The debate over whether humans should consume meat, plants, or both is ongoing. Based on my understanding, it's possible to thrive on any of these dietary approaches. However, instead of focusing solely on what to eat, it's important to consider an individual's life goals and physical demands.
For those involved in constant heavy lifting and physical exertion, incorporating animal protein might be beneficial. These individuals need to feed their muscles and maintain the energy required for these strenuous activities. However, it's crucial to also consume enough vegetation to support overall health, including mental well-being.
On the other hand, individuals focused on intellectual pursuits—deep thinkers seeking to understand the nature of their mind and emotions—require brain fuel. This includes minimal amounts of protein, just enough to provide DHA and other compounds that support cognitive functions without excess.
Ultimately, the best diet is one tailored to the specific needs and goals of the individual, balancing physical and mental health requirements.
In chemistry, everything revolves around balance. Protein is necessary, but too much can be harmful. The same goes for sugar, fat, zinc, iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E. While these nutrients are essential, excessive intake can lead to toxicity because the body may not efficiently process and eliminate the surplus.
Carbohydrates, which convert to glucose, provide the brain with essential fuel without leaving toxic residues. However, consuming refined and processed sugars disrupts our body's overall chemistry. No one disputes this. Even overconsumption of fruit, despite its natural sugars, can lead to negative side effects, though it is less common to find individuals overeating fruit unless their overall diet is poor. More often, people consume too much junk food, protein, and empty calories rather than calories from wholesome foods.
Eating fruit and engaging in regular exercise can help clear the mind over time. However, this process often involves confronting long-standing anxieties. Many of us are in denial about the extent of our anxiety, which stems from childhood and persists into adulthood. This widespread anxiety contributes to the collective mess we observe in society.
Despite humanity being in a better place today than in any previous era, our problems have also grown larger due to the increased global population. Balancing our nutritional intake is just one part of addressing these broader issues.
We face significant challenges such as warfare, starvation, climate change, and pollution that require urgent resolution. These issues should be beyond debate. As a species, we should strive for completely renewable energy sources—it's a logical step forward. However, the industries currently dominating these sectors are often corrupt, obstructing progress for the sake of profit.
This scenario may change as corporations find ways to monetize renewable resources like sunlight, charging for the power needed to warm our homes. The necessary equipment will have costs, and businesses will still need to generate profits and pay dividends to investors. It's understandable that beneficial advancements like clean water and air come with a price tag.
The problem arises when people are left without these essential resources. As long as this disparity exists, the likelihood of violence and suffering remains high. Therefore, our systems of governance must prioritize ensuring that all citizens have access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and dignity. This should be the foundational goal of any government overseeing these critical areas.
People must be protected from brutality and corruption and treated equally under the law. Once this foundation is established within our country, we must then consider the conditions of our neighboring nations. If they lack these protections, the consequences can spill over into our borders, affecting us directly.
We need policies to shield our citizens from the indirect impacts of crises in other countries, whether economic downturns, excessive migration, water shortages, overcrowded spaces, or job scarcity. These issues can lead to civil unrest and conflict, as opportunistic individuals exploit the situation to incite hatred and division.
When considering your diet, focus on foods that are easy to digest. Vegetation is generally easier to digest than animal protein, even for those who struggle with digesting plants. Fruits, especially the juicy ones, are incredibly easy to digest, making them a beneficial choice. They require minimal energy to digest relative to the energy they provide, making them a perfect calorie option.
In discussions about nutrition, I pay attention to whether people grasp the concept of the perfect calorie. This refers to a calorie that is easy to digest, nutrient-dense, and low in toxicity or impurities. Every food item that can be considered food contains calories, which are composed of macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
The key question to consider is how much energy is needed to digest and fully process a specific food, as well as what waste materials it leaves behind. In essence, what constitutes the "trash"?
This concept can be challenging for people to grasp because they often confuse food and nutrients with something different from what I'm describing. Many plants can be considered superfoods because they require minimal energy from the body to digest and process, facilitating the metabolism of energy and the distribution of nutrients throughout the body. Another crucial aspect to consider is the waste byproduct of a particular food.
Without a doubt, the flesh of animals—whether it's fish, chicken, red meat, or even unusual items like a snail, a dead squirrel, or an orangutan's finger—produces a more complex waste product. While these foods can be rich sources of protein and calories, they tend to result in a heavier waste load on the body compared to plant-based foods.
Consuming animal products can indeed provide a powerful sense of vitality and strength, but it comes with consequences. Operating at maximum capacity all the time, at 98% in our body's chemistry, can lead to burnout. It's essential to find moments of rest to conserve energy, support our immune system, and ensure its resilience.
Prioritizing foods like water-rich, succulent fruits, followed by high-calorie fruits such as bananas, papayas, and mangoes can promote overall health. Fruits naturally rich in sugar can be beneficial when included in a balanced diet.
I've hesitated to discuss these topics openly due to the potential for unnecessary controversy. When confronted with conflicting advice about what to eat or avoid, such as being told not to eat seeds, peanuts, or lettuce, I consider the source. I prefer to follow the guidance of individuals who practice what they preach when it comes to diet and lifestyle choices.
Another consideration is that healthcare professionals typically wouldn't recommend a high-protein diet to someone suffering from inflammatory degenerative diseases. So, why would such a diet be advised for a person who is currently healthy? Introducing unnecessary risks by potentially leading them down a path towards illness is not the goal.
