Tag: plant-based

One Possible Path

You’ve probably heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

A whole-food, plant-based diet often results in better health outcomes compared to a processed Western diet. However, much of the benefit comes from eliminating the worst offenders—such as refined seed oils, added sugars, fried foods, and chemical additives—rather than from the plants themselves being inherently superior. When you consume a high amount of fruit, your body experiences a surge in glucose and insulin, which can be stimulating. Additionally, plant compounds act as hormetic stressors, nudging cellular defenses and immune cleanup mechanisms. The benefits derived from this diet are activated not by the food itself but by the human immune cells reacting to the anti-nutrients and toxins that plants produce in response to perceived threats from consumers, whether they be insects or humans. This response, which involves stress followed by a cleanup process, creates a notable contrast with a previous poor diet, where the real benefits may lie. In other words, the perceived health improvements often result from reduced harm, hormetic stress, and metabolic overstimulation rather than from the inherent superiority of the foods themselves.

On the other hand, animal-based whole foods that are rich in healthy fats can support longevity and reduce overall mortality by providing essential nutrients in their most bioavailable form while requiring a lower metabolic cost. Because animal foods are easier to digest and lack the anti-nutrients and chemical defenses found in plants, they offer dense nourishment without overstimulating the gut or immune system. By minimizing excess glucose and insulin responses, this dietary approach reduces metabolic stress, inflammation, and cellular damage over time, allowing the body to function more efficiently and maintain resilience, healthspan, and vitality throughout life.

So, what does all of this mean?

Today, we enjoy a level of dietary luxury that past generations did not have, thanks to technological advances in global shipping and refrigeration. We can eat not out of necessity but according to our preferences. This gives us the freedom to choose from various dietary pathways that previous generations could not—be it vegan, fruitarian, vegetarian, pescatarian, carnivore, and so on.

If you are tired of feeling unwell, there is a way to reset your body and shift it back to a state of ease rather than disease.

If you choose to pursue this, my advice is to eliminate processed foods entirely from your diet. Avoid all prepackaged foods with labels on the back. Instead, focus on purchasing single ingredients and whole foods, combining them in sensible ways that fit your lifestyle.

Plant-based foods can be an excellent starting point because of the responses they trigger in your body, signaling that it’s time for a cleanse. After a period that allows your immune cells to work their magic in response to the anti-nutrients from plant-based foods, you’ll likely want to transition to a diet that includes more nutrient-dense, animal-based foods. This approach will ultimately help your body ease into a lower metabolic state, which is essential for long-term health.

In summary, plant-based foods can ignite metabolic processes to help cleanse your body, while later incorporating animal-based foods will provide everything your body needs at a lower metabolic cost.

This is akin to burning the candle at both ends temporarily(high metabolism), followed by a trimming of the wick and a slow burn(low metabolism) until the wax runs out.

What Was Ancient Man’s Diet Like?

The following response is from a post on another friend’s page about what was the diet of early indigenous man. Always a fun discussion.

Enjoy!!!

It is difficult to make definitive statements about the diet of ancient indigenous people, as their lifestyles and diets varied widely across different regions and time periods. However, there is some evidence to suggest that some groups of ancient indigenous people may have consumed a primarily meat-based diet.

One line of evidence comes from the study of ancient human remains. For example, analyses of the bones and teeth of ancient people have shown that they often had larger jaws and stronger teeth than modern humans, which some researchers believe may be an adaptation to a diet that was higher in tough, fibrous foods like meat. Additionally, chemical analyses of the bones and teeth of some ancient individuals have suggested that they consumed a high proportion of animal protein in their diets.

Archaeological evidence also provides some support for the idea that ancient indigenous people consumed meat. For example, excavations of ancient campsites and settlements have uncovered animal bones, and other remains that suggest hunting and butchering activities. In some cases, archaeologists have even found evidence of specialized hunting tools, such as spear points and arrowheads, which suggest that hunting played an important role in the diet and economy of these groups.

It is worth noting, however, that not all ancient indigenous groups were primarily meat-eaters. Some groups, particularly those who lived in regions where plant foods were abundant, likely consumed a more varied diet that included a mix of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods.

Conversely, there is a significant amount of evidence to suggest that ancient indigenous people, in various parts of the world, consumed a primarily plant-based diet. Here are some examples:

1. Archeological evidence: Many archeological studies have found that ancient indigenous people relied heavily on plant foods for their sustenance. For instance, studies of the remains of prehistoric humans in places like South America, Africa, and Asia have revealed that their diets consisted mostly of plant-based foods such as fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.

2. Studies of modern-day hunter-gatherer societies: Anthropologists have studied the diets of modern-day hunter-gatherer societies, which are believed to have similar lifestyles and dietary patterns to those of ancient indigenous people. These studies have found that these societies consume a mostly plant-based diet, with small amounts of animal products.

3. Geographical and environmental factors: The availability of plant foods and the challenges of hunting and gathering animals in certain environments also support the idea that ancient indigenous people consumed a primarily plant-based diet. For example, in areas where game animals were scarce or difficult to hunt, indigenous people likely had to rely more heavily on plant foods for survival.

Overall, while the specific dietary patterns of ancient indigenous people likely varied depending on the region and time period, there is substantial evidence to suggest that plant-based foods were a crucial component of their diets.

All that to say, there is a lot of evidence for both sides of the argument. That is why the verdict is still out for me.
Good luck on your own biochemically unique journey.