This was my rationale for sticking with my mostly wheat-based diet, but I think my belief in this position is slipping. It does appear that there are strong biochemical reasons to favor rice over wheat, for example. I think there’s reason to be skeptical of “Okinawans eat this way, so you should too” but I think “Okinawans eat this way” is at least weak evidence for any particular diet change, like “you should eat more rice” or “you should eat more seaweed,” but that those changes need other evidence (“you’re gluten intolerant” or “iodine is good for you”).
There’s a lot to be said for self-experimentation. One of my friends has found that his digestive system “shuts down” (constipation, lack of satiation, possibly additional symptoms I’ve forgotten) if he doesn’t eat wheat. This trait runs in his family. I haven’t heard of anyone else having it.
One’s ancestry and long-lived populations give clues about what to experiment with, though.
This was my rationale for sticking with my mostly wheat-based diet, but I think my belief in this position is slipping. It does appear that there are strong biochemical reasons to favor rice over wheat, for example. I think there’s reason to be skeptical of “Okinawans eat this way, so you should too” but I think “Okinawans eat this way” is at least weak evidence for any particular diet change, like “you should eat more rice” or “you should eat more seaweed,” but that those changes need other evidence (“you’re gluten intolerant” or “iodine is good for you”).
There’s a lot to be said for self-experimentation. One of my friends has found that his digestive system “shuts down” (constipation, lack of satiation, possibly additional symptoms I’ve forgotten) if he doesn’t eat wheat. This trait runs in his family. I haven’t heard of anyone else having it.
One’s ancestry and long-lived populations give clues about what to experiment with, though.
That’s fascinating. Do you know what he tried to replace it with?
I’m pretty sure it was rice. He hasn’t experimented to find out whether he needs gluten or if it’s something more specific to wheat.
I’m pretty sure it was rice. He hasn’t experimented to find out whether he needs gluten or if it’s something more specific to wheat.