Blog

Apr 25

Historians group periods of time in eras. Terms like Prehistoric, Middle Ages, and Modern are some we recognize. While it's possible that history will show artificial intelligence acted to spark a new era where we humans directed our limited resources toward new discoveries and let machines summarize the past, right now many are still trying to ride the tidal wave of information which is estimated to double every 17 years, by surfing the headlines. The pitfalls of this strategy should be obvious, especially in cases where proprietary algorithms decide which undercurrents we are actually exposed to. And so, in an effort to do our part, this week we bring you an update on FUEL, which compares Pro-Activity's essential message on the topic (gleaned from decades examining the research), artificial intelligence's take, and a few recent and intriguing updates which add to the discussion.

First, Pro-Activity's historical take: 

• Eating primarily real food, loaded with nutrients and fiber, low in sugar and other inflammatory agents, which can provide the energy needed to stay strong both physically and mentally without straining the body to actually utilize can prevent disease, lower injury risk, improve recovery from the day to day and dramatically increase the odds of living a long healthy high-quality life for those who do so consistently. Said another way - eating primarily perishable foods with heavy doses of plants in an effort to avoid extra sugars and processing, with a nutrient profile we can use without straining the system to do so yields the best results.

Or, as summarized by one of two AI tools - 

• Nutrition helps prevent and manage chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats have been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases. 

• Plant-based and Mediterranean diets are especially effective. These diets are shown to reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and protect against heart disease and cancer.

• Micronutrients are essential for long-term health. Vitamins like D, B-complex, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants help reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as dementia, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular issues.

• Nutritional monitoring by professionals enhances prevention. The involvement of trained nutritionists significantly improves the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases through dietary planning and education.

• Early-life nutrition impacts long-term disease risk. Proper infant and childhood nutrition is linked to reduced risks of allergies, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases later in life.

Conclusion: A nutrient-rich, balanced diet is one of the most powerful tools for preventing chronic diseases and promoting long-term health. View the full AI review (and references) from two sources, HERE

 
And last, adding some of the latest wrinkles in the literature and zooming from wide to narrow - 

• In a study of more than 100 countries that looked at dietary patterns and longevity, concluded that in particular, where we get our protein (animals vs plants), plays a significant role in longevity with a decreasing value of animal-based protein after the age of 5 with the risk-benefit tipping toward plant-based protein by 15 years old (figure 5).

• Zoomed further to the small-group level, in generally healthy young adults (50 university students), new research showed that dietary patterns high in processed sugar and saturated fat (i.e. those mimicking the "Western diet") had immediate impacts on brain-body function, most specifically in students' ability to navigate a virtual reality maze which relied heavily on spatial awareness.

• Zooming way in, at the tissue level, a new randomized-controlled trial showed that in regards to building muscle, after stimulating growth with strength training, as long as we get enough protein, the source (animal vs. plant) may not matter all that much. The individuals eating an omnivorous diet did about the same as those eating vegan.

Or in the fewest words possible, it seems Michael Pollan's message is still generally right - "Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants.".

Have a great weekend,
Mike E.