Please allow me to separate the worlds of diet and fitness into two specific sides. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll call one side “industry” and the other side “science.” I want to do this so we can separate the two major sources of information available on what to eat into just two main camps.
Please consider the dietary advice the public receives on what we should eat. Let’s first look at the “industry” side. Let’s take any part of our modern agricultural industry – the major food companies and their brands, food processors, fast food companies, restaurants, etc. I think most anyone would agree that these companies (being companies) are in business to make money. No matter which way you cut it, they need us to buy their food products so they can make more money – simple enough. Unfortunately for us, this side of things is precisely the source of dietary information that our media, schools, and governments use.
Okay, now let’s look at the other side; it’s decidedly smaller. On that side, we have the evolutionary biologists and anthropologists who study the natural diet of the human species. The question becomes then – which side do you trust for the source of your information and guidance on what to eat in order to stay lean, strong and healthy?
Does the marketing director for Heinz ketchup or Cheerios have my health and my family’s health interests in mind and can I trust him to do the right thing for us? What about the president of McDonalds, or Pizza Hut? What about the guys who run General Mills, Cargill, Monsanto or ADM? Is their primary goal my dietary health and well being, or is it profit and a return on investment. I think it’s ostensibly clear that their motivation is money
Okay, what about the other guys, the evolutionary biologists or anthropologists studying the human diet and their recommendations. Most of these guys would be tenured professors at some of the best universities in the world. Their motivation is the pursuit of the scientific truth. They do not get a monetary payoff based on how many blueberries you buy or how much bison you eat.
I think that when the simple motivations are laid bare, we are exposed to remarkably upsetting realities. The scary thing is that there is a gigantic, chasm-like difference between the information each of these groups offers us. As far as veracity, without getting into the details, the science guys win hand down. Quite simply, their dietary advice will keep you lean, strong and healthy. The other guys – not so much!
Okay, let’s look at the same logic with reference to the fitness industry where we are generally told how to exercise and get ourselves back into shape. These industry folks sell us gym memberships, books, programs, training sessions and fitness products. They comprise our modern fitness industry. Let’s compare those guys to the top amateur and professional athletes along with their coaches and trainers.
- Modern contemporary fitness industry GOAL – MAKE MONEY
- Top amateur and pro athletic coaches and sports scientists GOAL – WIN
Therefore, the shareholders and investors in a large chain of modern fitness gyms will not have same goals as a top athletic coach. The guys on the side of athletic science carefully research just how to produce the fastest, strongest physical specimens on the planet.
I hope breaking it down this way shows clearly just how preposterous it is for us to listen to anyone in the modern food industry. We should never take any of their advice seriously relative to the real scientists whose goals are completely congruent with ours. I don’t think there is any question as to which source we should listen to for answers on either food or fitness.
Unfortunately, the rational voices of the science side are easily drowned out by the bad guys who misinform us daily. They do so to separate us from as much of our money as possible. Please carefully consider the source for any of the diet or fitness you are considering. Your time and money is extremely valuable – so go with the best.
We endeavor to be the best possible messengers for the good guys. If you’re interested in a natural weight loss diet and exercise program based on both science as well as thousands of years of evolutionary evidence, please check out the eco-diet.
To save time and for more information from these great scientific sources of information please visit our blogs, our expanding book reference lists and the links on our websites: www.fortisfitness.ca or www.eco-diet.com