{"id":874,"date":"2026-01-19T07:13:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T15:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ageingbackwards.org\/?page_id=874"},"modified":"2026-01-19T07:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T15:39:10","slug":"fuel-not-food","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ageingbackwards.org\/?page_id=874","title":{"rendered":"Fuel Not Food"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Fuel Not Food<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I do not diet, and I do not advocate dieting since it is a fact that 95% of all diets fail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Ask any bookmaker and they will tell you that 95% is as close to a sure thing as death and taxes. Why bother with something that has been proven again and again to fail, not because people lack the will to make healthy choices but once again because they do not understand how the human body functions.<\/span><\/p>

Big pharma has found that it is highly profitable to further our ignorance about how health produces natural cures.<\/span><\/p>

It is not necessary to avoid food in order to lose weight. Nor is it healthy. Or practical.<\/span><\/p>

When combined, the two most dreaded words in the English language may very well be <\/span>Diet<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Exercise<\/span><\/i>. That wouldn\u2019t be true if people got positive results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The problem is getting worse, not better. Why? There are dozens of sources for advice about diet and exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It is a $71 billion industry and each year 45 million people in the United States go on weight loss programs\u2014 from tailored meal plans like Slim Fast and Nutrisystem, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free to high fat, no carb, all-fat, no-fat, no carb, no food, and cleansing. Now we are experimenting with harsh chemicals to make the body perform as it would naturally.<\/span><\/p>

Yet according to studies\u2014 95% of diets fail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Why? Because they are designed to fail. Eighty-two percent of the nation is fat.<\/span><\/p>

If diets succeeded, their purveyors would soon be out of business. Their very survival depends on fat, ill-informed Americans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In his book, <\/span>Outlive, The Science and Art of Longevity, <\/span>Dr. Peter Attia wrote, \u201cI once believed that diet and nutrition could cure almost all ills, but I no longer feel that strongly about it. Nutritional biochemistry is an important component of our tactics, but it is not the only path to longevity or even the most powerful one. I see it more as a rescue tactic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Diets are triage. They don\u2019t change anything,<\/span><\/p>

You Can\u2019t Do a Don\u2019t.<\/b><\/h5>

Diets do not work because they go against our physical and mental programming.<\/span><\/p>

We are wired to go forth and conquer, not count calories. Diets fail because you cannot do a don\u2019t. We cannot abstain our way to progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We create positive change in our lives from actions we take, not by avoiding things.<\/span><\/p>

There are words, like diet and exercise, which cannot overcome their negative connotations. The implication is that we will be forced to go without something we really want. Since they ask us to deprive ourselves of pleasure, they go against our very basic human nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We DO things well, but we can\u2019t do a don\u2019t. Tell us not to do something and we can\u2019t stop thinking about it. We are programmed to act, not sit on our hands.<\/span><\/p>

Diets replicate the body\u2019s response to periods of inadequate nutrition by storing more fat. Fat is a survival mechanism. It is intended to insulate us against cold and to sustain us through times of limited food. When we withhold food, we send a message that triggers the storage of fat. The more often we try deprivation, the more often we trigger the fat response.<\/span><\/p>

There is no diet plan, no pill, no electronic device, and no magic elixir that will make you healthier. Drugs often come with negative side effects that may not surface until years later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In the words of the late psychologist and author Dr. Wayne Dyer, \u201cWhen we change the way we look at things the things we look at change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Food is more than food and not all food is created equally.<\/span><\/p>

We need to understand what our options are and how they affect us. We need to know what we are putting in our bodies. Do you put premium gas in your car? If you do, you probably know the difference between it and regular. I choose premium because I appreciate maximum performance.<\/span><\/p>

When it comes to human fuel there are two primary considerations: adequacy and purity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Obesity is a deceptive form of inadequate nutrition. While consuming large quantities of processed food may leave one feeling full\u2026for a while, that over-consumption of calories is competing\u00a0 for space in your stomach against nutritious options. It is full of poisons that confuse the body\u2019s internal systems and contribute to chronic disease.<\/span><\/p>

Most food is neither adequate nor pure, which in turn has led to the explosion of the supplement industry, an industry that is pretty much unregulated as to purity or effectiveness. People make their way down the vitamin aisle of the pharmacy and select items for no good reason at all.<\/span><\/p>

Wouldn\u2019t it make more sense if consumers knew what their body needed based on a blood analysis that measures deficiencies?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What about dosage, if you are simply supplementing a good diet should you be taking the same dosage as a Doritos snorter? Should dosages of some supplements be adjusted for body weight in some instances?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Simply by focusing on what is necessary for maximum performance, unhealthy options lose their appeal.<\/span><\/p>

Cleanliness.<\/b><\/p>

Recently we learned that leafy greens are the most dangerous suspects when it comes to food-born illness. They are often wet, handled frequently, processed in volume, and packaged in sealed containers where conditions are perfect. Worst of all, sprouts.<\/span><\/p>

Meat is also notorious for making people sick. Where I shop for meat, I am able to get organic grassfed items that are free from hormones, antibiotics, and minimally handled and processed.<\/span><\/p>

Purity\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Much of what is sold in large food markets contains ingredients that are not even food.<\/span><\/p>

Adequacy<\/b><\/p>

Despite the fact that we are a sick and disabled nation due to overconsumption, we are starving for adequate nutrition.<\/span><\/p>

Protein<\/b><\/p>

Eat more meat, seeds, and beans with rice. If you like meat, you are going to love what you are about to learn.<\/span><\/p>

Fuel for a Maximum Performance Machine<\/b><\/h5>

From the appearance of things, people care more about what they put in their cars than what they put in their bodies. So, let\u2019s change the way we see food and see it as fuel for a maximum performance machine.<\/span><\/p>

Rather than dieting to lose weight, why not focus on being certain that you are getting the fuel with the right additives. Over time, your body will naturally assume its healthy weight.<\/span><\/p>

I tried dieting once. I even quit drinking as part of a New Year\u2019s resolution. Through sheer perseverance, unwavering commitment, cold showers, and the support of my friends, I made it all the way to the 9th of January.<\/span><\/p>

As I took the first satisfying sip of VO Manhattan on the rocks, I recall thinking to myself, \u201cWow! What a nightmare, I won\u2019t be doing that again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

And I haven\u2019t. I do not pursue good health to avoid life but to more fully embrace it. I am an enthusiast, not a fanatic and my rules for fuel are focused on eating well, not restrictions.<\/span><\/p>

Perhaps the only thing that separates me from unhealthy people is that I am mindful about what I put in my mouth. If it is not part of a planned meal, I always ask myself, \u201cDo I really want this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Just by eliminating habitual, thoughtless face-stuffing you will begin reversing the damage done by improper fuel.<\/span><\/p>

Sunoco was an oil company that advertised heavily on television in the sixties as fuel injectors were replacing carburetors. Their cheery jingle offered this caution, \u201cStops filters, guards and bars microscopic particles that slow down modern cars.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Going back to our automobile analogy, you do not want \u201cforeign particles that slow down modern cars\u201d to clog your fuel injectors\/arteries.<\/span><\/p>

Food that comes from large factory farms is often exposed to a wide variety of things not intended for human consumption.<\/span><\/p>

Maltodextrin You Say<\/b><\/h5>

There was a time when America had a sacred relationship with their food producers. We trusted that the food they provided to us was nutritious and safe for consumption.<\/span><\/p>

But more than 10,000 chemicals, some of which are potentially toxic, are allowed in cereal, snacks, meat, and many other types of food sold in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>

Almost 99% of food chemicals introduced since 2000 were greenlighted for use by food and chemical companies rather than properly reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. Many of these widely used chemicals are associated with major health harms, including increased risk of cancer, developmental harm, and hormone disruption.<\/span><\/p>

These substances end up in what we eat, thanks to a legal loophole that allows food ingredients to be classified as \u201cgenerally recognized as safe.\u201d The loophole lets manufacturers \u2013 instead of the FDA \u2013 determine which food chemicals are safe to consume. Chemical and food companies have exploited this loophole for decades.<\/span><\/p>

What it adds up to is that they are deliberately and knowingly feeding us dangerous life altering chemicals that have resulted in 82% of the population slowly dying in misery.<\/span><\/p>

Maltodextrin is rapidly digested in the small intestine, resulting in a significant increase in blood sugar levels. This blood sugar rise triggers the pancreas to release insulin, which facilitates the movement of glucose into cells, thereby bringing blood sugar levels back within the normal range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This sharp rise and drop in blood sugar can lead to unstable energy levels, commonly known as blood-sugar crashes. This can cause powerful sugar and carb cravings as the body attempts to restore balance. We are starving.<\/span><\/p>

Over time, constant cravings and snacking can lead to increased calorie consumption and unintended weight gain, linked to various health issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Additionally, maltodextrin is a calorie-dense additive, providing four calories per gram, the same as sugar, while offering virtually no nutritional value.<\/span><\/p>

I am blessed to live in a farming community. Vista was at various times known as both the avocado and the strawberry capital of the world and San Diego County has over 5,000 farms, many of them small family specialty farms.<\/span><\/p>

As a result, every day of the week there is a farmers\u2019 market somewhere. They are spectacular and you get to know the growers of the things you like. And with deference to Guy Fieri, this is \u201cFlavor Town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Fresh, just picked at the peak of ripeness, the flavors alone can help you make great eating choices. Here is a little secret that diet profiteers and doctors don\u2019t know; <\/span>as you get healthier you will begin to notice that many of these flavors are more complex and satisfying than you may remember.<\/b><\/p>

Your body is sending you messages all the time, but your frequency is blocked by unhealthy eating choices.<\/span><\/p>

Nutrient Deficiency<\/b><\/h5>

Despite the fact that the vast majority of us carry excess baggage we are not overnourished. Quite the contrary, we are starving to death. Obese individuals have high rates of micronutrient deficiencies. Specific deficiencies including vitamin D, chromium, biotin, thiamine, and vitamin C are known to be deficient at relatively high rates in obese individuals and in diabetic patients.<\/span><\/p>

Sixteen percent of the population has Diabetes, but thirty-three percent have pre-diabetes. The problem is getting worse, not better.<\/span><\/p>

Vitamin D<\/span><\/p>

High rates of vitamin D insufficiency have been reported in obese individuals and in diabetics. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (defined as <30\u2009mg\/dL) in obese individuals ranges from 80\u201390%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Chromium<\/span><\/p>

Chromium deficiency has been identified in severely malnourished patients who demonstrate severe insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and painful neuropathy. In published case reports, these symptoms and signs completely and rapidly resolve after the administration of chromium.<\/span><\/p>

Biotin is a water soluble vitamin that serves as a cofactor for carboxylase enzymes in fatty acid synthetic pathways, the citric acid cycle, and amino acid metabolism [<\/span>54<\/span><\/a>]. In addition to its biochemical function, circulating biotin regulates gene expression [<\/span>55<\/span><\/a>]. Prevalence data regarding rates of biotin deficiency in obese individuals or in diabetic patients are not presently available. However, patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrate lower circulating levels of biotin compared to healthy controls and an inverse relationship between biotin level and fasting plasma glucose has been reported.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The main dietary sources of chromium include yeast, <\/span>meats,<\/span> and wheat germ. The use of stainless-steel pots and utensils increases the chromium content of food as traces of chromium are liberated from the steel during preparation.<\/span><\/p>

Then there is the RDA. The recommended daily allowance for food nutrition is published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These guidelines are part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide recommendations to promote health and prevent diet-related chronic diseases. Spending hundreds of billions of dollars in the process we must be the healthiest people ever.<\/span><\/p>

But, no. Chronic disease and premature death are the reality for 82% of the population. If you ask AI if we were healthier one hundred years ago, it says \u201cno\u201d and sites life expectancy as proof. But since infant mortality was a leading cause of death, this is a meaningless response or a head-fake.<\/span><\/p>

The best way to tell if we are more or less healthier than in the past is how much of our income we spend on health-related expenses and that number just keeps on going up as more new maladies are named and a cure is created. Or is it the other way around?<\/span><\/p>

So that brings us back to the RDA and its value to the taxpayer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Protein Deficiency<\/b><\/p>

The average diet does not supply enough of what the body needs to function optimally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What is unique about protein?<\/span><\/p>

Protein stands out because it is the only nutrient your body uses to build and repair almost everything. Unlike carbs or fats, it crafts muscles, skin, and even tiny enzymes that keep you ticking. No other food component pulls off such a massive range of jobs. It\u2019s like the Swiss Army knife of nutrition, always ready for action.<\/span><\/p>

You can\u2019t live without protein\u2014it\u2019s that simple. It fuels growth when you\u2019re a kid, heals cuts when you\u2019re hurt, and keeps every cell in your body humming along. Your heart, brain, and lungs all depend on it to function day in and day out. Skip it, and your body starts breaking down instead of building up.<\/span><\/p>

First, it repairs tissue after a workout or a scrape, knitting you back together fast. Second, it pumps up your energy by feeding your brain and muscles, so you don\u2019t crash midday. Third, it powers your immune system to churn out antibodies that zap germs before they take hold. It\u2019s a triple threat for keeping you strong.<\/span><\/p>

When you don’t get enough protein, your body can experience a range of symptoms. Here are some of the key effects of protein deficiency:<\/span><\/p>