Food and self regulation

Eating has become a purely intellectual and emotional act based on product availability, science in some instances, and current trends in particular.

Most of us make our choices based off of what others have told us is the right things to eat or not eat.

Health has become an argument for specific products, sold without an evolutionary and biological and physiological context.

The thing that is somewhat strange, is that we are higher thinking beings.

We have a conscious awareness of things. We should on paper be better at making sound food choices, based on our nutritional needs, and by that balancing macro nutrients, micronutrients, co-factors, enzyme production and nervous system maintenance.

We should by design possess at least the same knowledge and intelligence around food as animals.

But we are unfortunately not.

Animals can regulate their food intake based of of nutritional needs.

Specific micro and macro nutrients that is needed for optimal function and performance. They can regulate their preferred choices based on changes in availability. Think seasonal changes, changes in climate, and changes in availability of specific plants, insects, animals etc.

They do not need a dietitian, a influencer, a government regulated institution, or the doctor to guide them.

So can infants.

In this study infants that was just beginning to eat solids, was presented with specific selected unprocessed foods. RESULTS OF THE SELF-SELECTION OF DIETS BY YOUNG CHILDREN

They could pick and eat whatever they wanted and how much.

The food choices included milk, salt, organ meats, some fruits, some vegetables, some whole grain cereals to name a few. All foods that most in todays society either have forgotten, or avoid on purpose.

Some of the infants had know deficiencies of some micronutrients at the beginning af the study.

And guess what happened over the course of the study ?

The times we live in focus on the external environment of our eating.

How choices affects our surroundings. Combined with nutritional guidelines and concepts that is rooted in trends, and dogmas, but not in our inherited physiological needs.

But how do our choices affect our internal environment ? Nutrient balance, energy metabolism, and synergies between nutrient breakdown, conversion, digestion, and foundational cellular functions.

Health has become an argument for specific products, sold without an evolutionary and biological context.

We have almost outsourced our diet choices. Lost our senses and forgotten our responsibility.

We are a product of our genes and the environment.

The single most important factor for us to thrive is to understand the impact of our diet on our health.

Not in the context of environmental sustainability, but in that of human metabolism, health and performance.

Bethany Ballantyne on Unsplash