Frankly, we don’t KNOW what the best human diet is, it’s much easier to say what the best human diet is NOT.
The human gut is more like the gut of a dog than any other creature. That should give us a clue to what we are designed to eat. The fact that we can eat and survive on a much wider range of foods is a tribute to our adaptability, to get through ice-ages, and famines, and other natural disasters.
If you look at all the large animals in their natural habitat, they eat a very limited and specialist diet, in normal times. Like us, when forced to find food to survive they may eat other things. Every religious tradition has some rules about eating, about food preparation and about when not to eat. There are fasting traditions in every culture. There has never been a human culture where a vegetarian diet was normal for the population, though in many religious traditions, there is special blessing for the animals we kill for food, and in some cases a preference for avoiding killing animals at all.
Man is at the top of a long food chain. Every plant and animal must eat or find nourishment, and all run the risk of becoming food for some other creature. My personal bias (as a young adult) was towards a vegetarian diet, but today I find that the more animal foods I eat the better my health is. This shows particularly in my skin, which gets itchy if I eat too much fruit. I’m told that the red meat I eat is the best quality protein I can get. I’m told that eggs are a perfect snack. I’m told that my body uses fats to make hormones, and that animal fats are the best source of the essential nutriments needed.
Some other dietary ideas
Many people have tried to develop the concept of the best human diet based on science. Sadly, the original texts used by dieticians were based on “biblical science.” That was almost exclusively the case before WWII. Nutrition science was being developed, particularly in central Europe, but science from Germany and Austria, wasn’t considered important post WWII.
Nutrition is a difficult subject, and the USA was far behind. When the American Dietary Guidelines were drafted in the 1970’s, Senator George McGovern asked for science-based guidance, but he was told there was too much still unknown to offer scientific advice.
ZOE – Tim Spector – in the UK. ZOE is a company, which tries to develop individual diets, based on the principle that each of us is different. In the process they have used modern tools, like the continuous glucose monitor to look at how individuals respond to food. As a result, Prof. Tim Spector tells us that in the last five years, his expert opinion has significantly changed. In this video, he tells us what he chooses to eat. Note that from what we can see he’s a vegetarian, although from what I’ve read elsewhere that’s not the case.
Nourished by Science – Dr. Mario Kratz: This site is new to me, but on the surface, it does seem to follow the science. it’s backed by a very extensive website, Nourished by Science.
Dr Kratz takes on the very difficult task of trying to present guidance about what to eat based on science. I’ve read what he’s written about obesity and type II diabetes, and he seems to be on target pretty well. You can follow his channel and decide for yourself. This is his introductory video.
As for myself QUALITY food is of the essence. The best quality protein and fat, as far as I can be sure is animal based. I know that when I eat too much fruit, I develop skin problems. I eat much fewer vegetables today than I used to eat. I’m very keen to eat more fish. I always use whole milk, and yoghurt, often adding cream. I eat butter and drink black coffee without any sugar or sweetener. I eat twice a day, and seldom snack. I never feel hungry, and the desire for sweet foods only exists as a memory, it’s not a craving.
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