One of the most overlooked aspects of fixing health (and / or maintaining it) is stomach acidity. We are suppose to have very acidic stomachs. It's a defining feature that separates carnivores from herbivores. It's "strong" evidence in favor of humans eating a meat-based diet. (r, r)

 

Baboons, for example, who are considered one of our closest relatives, have stomachs that are about 1000X less acidic than ours.

 

The acid (HCl) filters out the pathogens while facilitating meat digestion into the small intestines. However, many (most) adults have reduced acid levels. 

 

A stomach with inadequate HCl impairs digestion which can lead to GERD, SIBO, IBS, constipation, indigestion, autoimmune issues, and protein issues (like fingernails that are ridged and easily break, poor hair quality / loss, ect.). 

 

Luckily there are some easy tests you can do at home to see if you have adequate stomach acid.

 

 

While there can be numerous causes for inadequate stomach acid (like proton pump inhibitors and antacids), a major cause is poor diet ➡ see next topic below.

 

Of course, the solution is a proper diet (more meat, less junk).

 

Additionally, it's important to get enough salt, NaCl, which provides chloride necessary to make the hydrochloric acid.

 

This in an excerpt from the Meat Health Mastermind, a monthly group coaching call for Academy students. If you want to hang out every month, this is the place :)

 

 

The mystery of our poor stomach acid becomes less of a mystery when we see, according to new research, that 2/3rds of calories in children and teen diets comes from ultra-processed food. While this research picks on kids, it's not just the kids eating junk. According to a study published in The BMJ, ultra-processed foods are the main source (~60%) of calories eaten in the US.

 

Ultra-processed foods are the "ready-to-eat" items that tend to be high in carbohydrates and seed oils, while low in protein, vitamins, and minerals. They typically contain added sugars and flavor enhancers, think: packaged sweet snacks, desserts, sugary breakfast cereals, and fast food.

 

The study's lead author, Lu Wang said, “Food processing is an often-overlooked dimension in nutrition research. We may need to consider that ultra-processing of some foods may be associated with health risks, independent of the poor nutrient profile of ultra-processed foods generally.”

 

"...may be associated with health risks..." 🤔
It's bewildering to me how this is still a "may be."

 

 

I think we need more people taking moonshots.

 

If you want the playbook (book/lecture notes) for pulling one off, here it is: "Zero to One." 

 

 

I finished a drawing this week, Part 2 of a "series" that I creatively called "front" and "back."

 

 

I proceeded to conduct my own photoshoot trying to mimic the dramatic lighting and facial expression of the reference photo 😂

 

You can see the rest of these here lol.

 

 

Worth noting: the reference photo was from a number of years ago, right before a physique competition with a professional photographer, perfect lighting, a pump, and many weeks of contest prep (which = low energy, hunger, lots of cardio, i.e...unsustainable). Current shape is just the normal everyday shape powered by the Meat Health Method (i.e. sustainable :)

 

 

 

– Shane Parrish

 

 

 

75% of the money in Warren Buffett's stock portfolio is in just 5 stocks. Why? He says that if you can value a business, it would be madness to put money into your 35th-favorite business instead of your top picks. A quote that has always stuck in my head is: "Concentration builds wealth, diversification preserves it." Not sure who said it, but seems directionally correct.

 

 🤷‍♂️ How many do you know:

• Like what's your little toe called?
• How about the day after tomorrow?
• The tissue that separates the nostrils at the bottom of the nose? (that NED holds on to!)

 

 

A Saturday morning roundup on health and wealth, art and science, creativity and innovation, laughs and life by Kevin Stock.