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So is long distance running natural? Periodic fasting? Living on no meat? Sitting on an elevated seat to defecate? Eating bananas in the wintertime? Or in

So is long distance running natural? Periodic fasting? Living on no meat? Sitting on an elevated seat to defecate? Eating bananas in the wintertime? Or in non-tropical regions? Living surrounded by 1,000,000 other people? Sleeping in a heated (or air conditioned) room? Modern medical care when you're injured or ill? We really have no idea what "the norm of natural" would be. And some things that are not "natural" are clearly beneficial.

chiefalchemist 9y ago
No idea? I'm not so sure that's true. As for not natural but beneficial, can you give an example? Or three?
- Godel_unicode 9y ago
  Off the top of my head; vaccines, vitamin pills, penicillin, and hip replacements.
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    Well. I think hip replacements are not natural. The other three are just "man made" versions of things that readily exist(ed). But perhaps we have different definitions of natural :)
- kbutler 9y ago
  In addition to Godel_unicode's examples Purified drinking water. Mosquito nets Sewage systems Antiseptics in medical contexts Washing hands after using the restroom Lifting heavy things on a regular basis even though you don't have to.
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    To me, Aspartame is unnatural. In that context, mosquito nets, sewage system, etc. are natural. Maybe we just have different definitions :) But to me, progress (i.e., human's reproducing existing patterns) doesn't necessarily equate to unnatural.
DrScump 9y ago
So is long distance running natural? Periodic fasting? Yes, and yes[0]. In fact, the one competitive advantage in early man hunting game was endurance -- humans could outrun almost any game (including fast sprinters such as kudu) over long distances, partially because humans shed heat better. [0] http://news.usc.edu/82959/diet-that-mimics-fasting-appears-to-slow-aging/ http://news.usc.edu/82959/diet-that-mimics-fasting-appears-t...
- kbutler 9y ago
  I tend to agree they are healthy and likely natural. There are people who dispute both (google "long distance running unnatural" or "long distance running unhealthy'). Our "natural" behaviors tend to be "just-so" stories, rather than rigorously proven benefits. The point is, for many things, we aren't sure if they are natural, and many things we take as natural and healthy ("Three square meals a day!") may not be With just about every recommendation for "healthy living" you can find scientific arguments on both sides.
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    There's no doubt personal variations within any given recommendation. The sweet spot should be a starting point, and from there you see if your genetic and gut bacteria profile fits the given study. That said, I can't recall a study that concluded soda is good for you, yet a vast majority of US adults choose that path and stick with it. One of the reasons they stick with it is everyone else sticks with it. There was a time smoking was normalized, to say nothing of cool. Then finally it was marginalized. Can the same happen with weight and obesity? Maybe. But to date it's extremely non-PC to even imply excess weight is bad. I'm advocating shame. But allowing the unhealthy to become normalized isn't working either. Geez, the DoD declared it a threat to national security. Kneeling in unAmerican but being to big to fight is patriotic? I can't get my head wrapped around that. I see no hope for things changing for the better anytime soon.

chiefalchemist 9y ago

No idea? I'm not so sure that's true. As for not natural but beneficial, can you give an example? Or three?

Godel_unicode 9y ago
Off the top of my head; vaccines, vitamin pills, penicillin, and hip replacements.
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  Well. I think hip replacements are not natural. The other three are just "man made" versions of things that readily exist(ed). But perhaps we have different definitions of natural :)
kbutler 9y ago
In addition to Godel_unicode's examples Purified drinking water. Mosquito nets Sewage systems Antiseptics in medical contexts Washing hands after using the restroom Lifting heavy things on a regular basis even though you don't have to.
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  To me, Aspartame is unnatural. In that context, mosquito nets, sewage system, etc. are natural. Maybe we just have different definitions :) But to me, progress (i.e., human's reproducing existing patterns) doesn't necessarily equate to unnatural.

DrScump 9y ago

So is long distance running natural? Periodic fasting? Yes, and yes[0]. In fact, the one competitive advantage in early man hunting game was endurance -- humans could outrun almost any game (including fast sprinters such as kudu) over long distances, partially because humans shed heat better. [0] http://news.usc.edu/82959/diet-that-mimics-fasting-appears-to-slow-aging/ http://news.usc.edu/82959/diet-that-mimics-fasting-appears-t...

kbutler 9y ago
I tend to agree they are healthy and likely natural. There are people who dispute both (google "long distance running unnatural" or "long distance running unhealthy'). Our "natural" behaviors tend to be "just-so" stories, rather than rigorously proven benefits. The point is, for many things, we aren't sure if they are natural, and many things we take as natural and healthy ("Three square meals a day!") may not be With just about every recommendation for "healthy living" you can find scientific arguments on both sides.
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  There's no doubt personal variations within any given recommendation. The sweet spot should be a starting point, and from there you see if your genetic and gut bacteria profile fits the given study. That said, I can't recall a study that concluded soda is good for you, yet a vast majority of US adults choose that path and stick with it. One of the reasons they stick with it is everyone else sticks with it. There was a time smoking was normalized, to say nothing of cool. Then finally it was marginalized. Can the same happen with weight and obesity? Maybe. But to date it's extremely non-PC to even imply excess weight is bad. I'm advocating shame. But allowing the unhealthy to become normalized isn't working either. Geez, the DoD declared it a threat to national security. Kneeling in unAmerican but being to big to fight is patriotic? I can't get my head wrapped around that. I see no hope for things changing for the better anytime soon.