what are your thoughts on different popular dieting methods?

I’m mostly worried about the paleo diet.

I mean, if it resembled the actual diet of the paleolithic man, perhaps it could leveraged toward some healthy choices, but have you ever heard of kidneys?

We have never in our history had such an abundance of animal flesh to consume and the toll the protein takes on our kidneys might be fine for a 40-year lifespan, but it’s not okay for people wanting to push a hundred.

The prognosis for a dialysis patient is bleak.

Fasting.

It’s a real religion, people are having transcendental experiences depriving themselves of nutrition.

I have to concede when people are not eating, they’re not putting on weight, either.

My question is of sustainability.

Is this something you intend to keep up? Surely you know weight isn’t something you lop off and walk away? Surely you know it’s a balance to maintain?

Natural.

Exists in nature. Like poison, feral creatures and viral illness. People say ’natural’ like it’s a universally positive thing. It’s an appeal to antiquity, which is strange considering that people have never in history lived longer and healthier.

Processed food tends to have a lower nutritional value compared to good old fruit, vegetable, legume and meat, but this doesn’t mean all technological advancement is bad. Organic food, for one, has no real health benefit to it and has been suggested to be much less ecological than purported. And GMO, it’s usually modified for a good reason, like reduction of need for pesticides or bolstering the nutritional value.

Vegan.

It’s perfectly doable. Quite a hassle, though, requiring some meticulous planning in order to avoid deficiencies. From an ecological, ethical standpoint this self-sacrifice is commendable, but I would recommend consulting with a dietician before embarking on the path.

Please note ’nutritionist’ isn’t the official, protected title. It’s a dietician that can help you.

The reason I worry about vegan diet is because many parents subject their children to their own choices. It’s one thing to deprive a consenting adult of adequate nutrition, another to do it to a developing child. I would really like some protections for children to ensure they have a fair go at life.