In light of this uncertainty I subscribe to two basic "beliefs":
1) Don't eat dodgy processed stuff (think paleo mindset)
2) Restrict calories
I'm no nutritionist, but I'd venture a guess and say that I'll go far with my 2 point approach.
He had many more good insights. I think a major point is some fat soluble nutrients are essential. That's why eating bone broth or organ meat is so important.
I think an optimal diet is probably mostly plant based, with high quality animal fats and no oils for cooking.
What's generally much more effective is applying rules to your eating habits that result in calorie restriction. Intermittent Fasting or Keto works best, from what I've seen. The former because it requires no willpower for what you eat, or how much - only when. Keto works well because it requires zero willpower for how much you eat or when, only what. Either approach goes to the same place as "just eat less" with much less mental effort.
>"Restrict calories" is a great terminal goal, but terrible advice.
Well I'm not talking counting the calories. In my case its more a general principle. e.g. I'll try to avoid a carb heavy meal.
All the things that we belief to "know" today could once again be proven wrong tomorrow. Just because someone claims that butter, coconut oil, bacon or almond meal is healthy, that doesn't mean you have to go crazy with it and eat large amounts of it daily. Or the other way around: just because some people think that dairy or grains are harmful, for a lot of people it may not be an issue at all to eat them every once in a while (at least if someone is able to e.g. eat only one slice of sourdough bread and then not go carb crazy; I'm not).
I just think given the fact how often we've been wrong in the past, it is smarter to decrease risks by not overusing any kind of food group.
This isn't true. The entire reason there's more salt and sugar in processed foods is to make them taste good. Compare a Snickers bar with broccoli.
Regarding salt, "the experts" don't seem so confident on what levels. In the past few years, the daily recommended intake of sodium has increased.
If you are burning 5000 calories a day hunting or farming, eat all the sugar and fat you want (and can get by your own efforts). But if you are burning 2000 calories a day sitting at a desk... You can't debate food in a vacuum without considering lifestyle.
If one does not believe that they were trolling (i.e. they do not believe that they were doing what trolling is. This is a belief about what they were doing, not a belief about what the word "trolling" means), then that seems like fairly good evidence that they were not trolling.
I don't know what would be a better (and available) measure of one's intent than one's own perception of one's own intent. (Of course, one could imagine that there might be a better source, but in practice I think it is the best evidence we have).
This would only be as convincing to oneself I suppose, but I think that one's memory of one's intent is generally fairly good evidence to present to oneself to show that one was not trolling.
I don't. Thats why I labelled it "beliefs". If I've got a choice between 1) Carrot 2) Carrot flavoured goo then I'm not going to look for a peer reviewed journal supporting the view that the carrot is better.
I've simply drawn a line in the sand and decided that give uncertainty I'll place my faith in the carrot rather than whatever a profit seeking enterprise engineered for me. We all make decisions in the face of uncertainty & this is one of those judgement calls.
I genuinely believe science can do better than nature can (i.e. engineered functional foods)...but right now looking at the supermarket...its not there for me to buy so I will continue buying nature.