Mention ‘Good Health,’ and Nutrition Pops Into Mind For Many
It’s a huge deal!
I mean, searching “nutrition books” on Amazon spams 70,000 results! It seems to me that ‘science’ itself still poorly understands it. Maybe that’s why there isn’t a consistent approach to it.
A topic so emotionally loaded that it’s got people labeling diets as “superior,” each with its warriors who will defend their choice to the grave—often without conclusive evidence.
Whether low-fat, low-carb (hello, keto), fruit-only, carnivore (cooked), or Liver King’s somewhat questionable diet…
But Why Is Nutrition So Confusing?
The science of nutrition is so messy. [1]
And our bodies are complex machines, and how we process food depends on many factors.
You’ve seen the guy who eats a mountain and boasts a flat tummy. Then that guy stuck on TikTok for belly-fat teas and workouts after a piece of cake!
There’s no one perfect diet that works for everyone.
That should be your first takeaway.
So, if there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, the principles of proper nutrition should be:
How Did We Actually Come To Understand Nutrition?
From 2 primary sources: epidemiology and clinical trials.
I’ll be quick before you get bored to death!
Epidemiology. It’s looking at patterns in a population to figure out what might be causing a health issue.
For example, in 1854, John Snow noticed [2] that people living near a specific water pump kept getting sick with cholera.
After digging, he realized, “It’s the contaminated water!”
That’s how it works.
The Problem? May Show A Link, But Doesn’t Always Prove Cause & Effect
Take alcohol, for example. Some studies [3] show people who drink alcohol in moderation tend to live longer than people who don’t drink at all.
But, such studies don’t account for the people who’ve already died from alcohol-related causes. So, when they say moderate drinking (who gets to define [4] moderate?) leads to a longer life, they often overlook those who drank themselves to an early grave.
If they were included, the results won’t be giving. They don’t want that.
Plus, healthy elderly modest drinkers are usually active and have good healthcare. Meanwhile, non-drinkers might just be dealing with health issues or have a history of risky behavior.
So, the studies often make alcohol look like the fountain of youth, when in reality, it’s probably just the good genes and gym routines of those drinkers.
So, this is where clinical trials come in to clean up the mess. They’re more controlled. But in health, it works better in investigating aspects like exercise. Sure, an hour a day.
But imagine trying to test the effects of KFC on kids by randomly assigning them to eat KFC for a few months. Then, some give in to mom’s healthier food, ruining the whole study!
We’re pretty terrible as participants in clinical studies on nutrition. Unless you lock people up like lab rats. Ethical?
But even though nutrition research has had its bumps, things are improving.
One cool advancement? Lifestyle medicine centers; Newstart Lifestyle Center, Living Springs Retreat etc.
‘Health camps’ where proven disease reversal strategies (including nutrition) are implemented. These places stick with patients for months, offering patient education, personalized care, and constant check-ins. The results? Massive!
These centers have shown me, and many others, that nutrition, plays a crucial role in disease reversal.
So, What’s All This Nutrition Talk About?
From our introduction, we saw that we’ve come from the Creator’s hands. He designed our living bodies to be sustained by fruits from living trees and seeds from living herbs.
Even after the fall, God suggested eating herbs, knowing their antioxidant properties in fighting the consequence of disease. Science finally caught up! [5]
Fast forward through Noah’s time, the Tower of Babel, and the spread of mankind across the earth, all the way to industrial revolution.
Food production became faster, cheaper, and sweeter, at the cost of meals that grandma wouldn’t even recognize.
All in the name of convenience and shelf life.
Throw in the rat race of white-collar jobs [6], modern education [7], and doom-scrolling. [8]
“Who’s got time to bake stone-ground, whole-grain bread?” [9]
No wonder if you dare cross your 60s fit and healthy, you’ll be somewhere being interviewed if you’re not yet a YouTuber!
Declining nutritional quality has affected both lifespan and healthspan over generations, and unfortunately, this has been passed down genetically. [10]
So, with these changes over generations, Nutrition Part B aims to:
- Encourage you to assess your nutrition.
- Simplify nutrition with principles instead of another trendy diet plan.
- Reinforce the dietary habits you’ve already acquired.
- Introduce fresh ideas to improve your nutrition today.
Your first step towards a NEWSTART to take charge of your health!
RestAwhile Retreat Center sounds like a good name. Hi Eric!
These series be making me feel like a certified nutritionist! I’m about to epidemiology everyone this week😂
I thank God for these series and the small steps I have made towards my NEWSTART to take charge of my health.
Retreat center😂
You really are a believer
It narrows down to the small steps, I’m glad God is taking you through