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Arthur C. Clarke

Keto diet and the 4 words

By trying by all means to prevent contagion from the coronavirus these days I discovered the Ketogenic diet, as the general state of health of our bodies is related to the proclivity to contagion. One might think that a diet rich in animal fats contradicts what I call the four words, but it is not the case.

If it is a matter of ‘avoiding all unnecessary suffering’ it is quite reasonable to emulate Hitler’s initiative to eliminate the slaughterhouses, in case Germany won the war (or Goering’s to eliminate vivisections, which was implemented in the Third Reich). There’s no need to torment mammals in the slaughterhouses or in the labs.

But fishing for basic nutrients could be thought of as ‘necessary suffering’ of sea fish for the health of the white man, at least until we figure out a way to synthesise those nutrients in the laboratory. (In my twenties I was a huge science-fiction fan of Arthur Clarke, who in several of his stories imagined a future where meat will be synthesised by artificial means without the need for any slaughter.) So, this day I did not violate the four words when eating tuna after a pumpkin flower soup.

The need to change our unhealthy eating habits through a Ketogenic diet will be explained in my next excerpt from an article that Evropa Soberana wrote in 2013, before this diet gained immense popularity. At the moment I can only advance a single passage from Soberana’s article about how insulin disorder has a negative effect on the immune system:

Insulin remains floating in the bloodstream long after the sugar has been metabolised. Its most well-known side effect is to produce a new episode of sugar hunger, since insulin excess in our blood needs something to do. It ‘gets bored’ so to speak and demands more sugar to burn.

This in turn will release more insulin, in an undesirable vicious cycle that leads directly to compulsive eating, obesity, and diabetes. However, the subtlest and most damaging side effect of prolonged and frequent insulin surges is that it suppresses the release of growth hormone. Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland, and in addition to promoting height, muscle development, bone density, and fat-burning, it is an important immune and rejuvenating agent.

The Spaniard Soberana wrote the article in his native language. If you want introductory information in English about the Ketogenic diet see especially here, here, here and a response to criticism here (he has responded to what another YouTuber says here and here). Wikipedia has a featured article on the Ketogenic diet here.

3 replies on “Keto diet and the 4 words”

I already did the keto diet but I think isn’t worth pursuing long-term. Carbs aren’t the problem, but it works because it’s simple enough rule that forces you to eat lots of meat, eliminate grains, avoid sugary processed foods and fast.

Evropa Soberana has an excellent article about the benefits of fasting.

Fasting is the eating of old cells to rebuild the new. A lot of modern diseases are caused by too much anabolism and not enough catabolism – diabetes, cancer, obesity etc. Elevated blood sugar over time compounds damage in the arteries. It’s cereal, sugar, chips, refined grains in excess + rancid veg oil inflaming arteries.

It’s possible to reverse the damage and ageing with fasting and clean living, but most people don’t value and appreciate health until it’s gone – I’m blessed to get that realization early in life, when it’s easier to get it back and extend your lifespan.

I do intermittent fasting for years and eat breakfast only on days when I exercise in the morning. I see breakfast as an unnecessary luxury.

I did Keto 5 years ago, combined with intermittent fasting (IF). Gave me immense energy, high alertness, good mood. If I didn’t exercise intensely, I’d get insomnia. Also gave me intense hunger – I would devour my meals like a wolf. I kept going until a bad case of heartburn surged, which caused me to return to eating “sedentary”.

I recommend starting Keto without IF, then gradually introducing it. Remember that if your diet doesn’t match your lifestyle, you’re cooking up all sorts of problems for your body in the long term.

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