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The problem of Soylent is the oversimplification and premise that our nutrition science has figured it all out (yes, the same science that was vilifying saturat
by kolev 12y ago
The problem of Soylent is the oversimplification and premise that our nutrition science has figured it all out (yes, the same science that was vilifying saturated fat, salt, alcohol, etc.). I can understand using Soylent as a meal replacement occasionally, but doing this regularly is too risky. I mean, people can definitely survive on it, but thrive - I don't think so. Also, every ingredient of it is poor quality. Canola oil vs olive oil, rice protein vs organic grass-fed whey concentrate, worst form of magnesium (oxide vs citrate/malate/glycinate/orotate), soy lecithin vs sunflower lecithin, vitamin d2 vs d3, etc. Every single ingredient is the cheapest form. Some are proven to be detrimental for health - alpha tocopherol vs mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols, vitamin A vs mixed carotenoids, folic acid vs folate, and so on. I won't even mention sucralose, artificial flavors, and the Chinese origin of some of the ingredients. Again, this is not biohacking, this is amateur hour.
- camillomiller 12y agoIt is indeed. I really can't understand the way lots of people jump on this meal-hacking bandwagon. As a vegetarian, I deeply believe that the cure to bad eating habits lies in a better food culture and the broadening of food science knowledge among people. People who eat like shit (especially in the U.S. but also in Europe) believe that they are food lovers. They are not. It's like saying that a junkie is a fine heroin connoisseur. Good eating takes time and commitment and will to understand what goes down your throat, how it is transformed, how it could impact your whole life and the life of other beings, starting from the way food is produced. In other words, it's something more akin to a continuous learning path, with solid scientific points to move from and awareness of many factors. It's not a technological "problem" you can solve with a chemical beverage that spun off the naïf minds of self-entitling startuppers.
- Shish2k 12y agoRather than "is this perfect?", the important question for me is "is this better or worse than my current diet of instant noodles and baked beans, with the occasional delivery pizza when I'm too lazy for instant noodles?"
- fasteo 12y agoBetter, but you've got a problem.
- dwild 12y agoDoes it imply that you are perfect? Go fix all your problems before complaining on our problems.
- fasteo 12y agoChill out dude, I wasn´t implying anything but, using your words here, being "too lazy for instant noodles" seems like a problem to me. And yes, eating properly is fixing some of my health problems. And no, I am not talking about obesity or high blood pressure. I mean some serious health problems.
- dwild 12y agoI'm not the same guy, theses were not my words. I don't think you understood my point. The issue is that you can't compare yourself and you can't take decision for other. There's always a better way, whatever you decide, there's always an healthier way. I'm pretty sure there's a dozen stuff you had in your meal during the last week that was bad for your health in a way of another. That was your choice and only yours.
- auganov 12y ago"The problem of C programmers is the oversimplification and the premise that CS has figured it all. I can understand using C for simple high-level tasks, but doing this too often is risky." Yes, Soylent might not be pefect. Doesn't mean status quo is better.