Sensitizing the Body - Good Thing?

mtread13

Ever now and then, one reads in a thread about how after giving up X (insert food or drink here), then trying it again, one has some pretty immediate and fairly noticeable negative reaction. That becomes an argument that X is really bad.

I've seen that argument used whether the X is carbs, sugar, diet soda, alcohol, red meat, any meat, processed foods, ec.

Sometimes, it seems that people develop more sensitivity to amount of sleep and other phyiscal needs as well.

I think most of us our here to help us on our journy to become healthier. Do we really desire to have to sensitize our bodies so much that a simple change or difference from routine will throw us for a loop? Shouldn't we train our bodies (while improving overall health and capabilities) to retain some flexibility? I don't want either a short-term purposeful or forced change in diet, amount of sleep, additional or less exercise, etc. to derail me. Do you you?

SideSteel

Ever now and then, one reads in a thread about how after giving up X (insert food or drink here), then trying it again, one has some pretty immediate and fairly noticeable negative reaction. That becomes an argument that X is really bad.

I've seen that argument used whether the X is carbs, sugar, diet soda, alcohol, red meat, any meat, processed foods, ec.

Sometimes, it seems that people develop more sensitivity to amount of sleep and other phyiscal needs as well.

I think most of us our here to help us on our journy to become healthier. Do we really desire to have to sensitize our bodies so much that a simple change or difference from routine will throw us for a loop? Shouldn't we train our bodies (while improving overall health and capabilities) to retain some flexibility? I don't want either a short-term purposeful or forced change in diet, amount of sleep, additional or less exercise, etc. to derail me. Do you you?

Interesting post.

My understanding is that with certain food items, completely abstaining from them can result in your body not producing enzymes that may be associated with that particular food item, so that once you start eating it again, your body literally does have issues with that food.

Then people mistakenly conclude "I was right, I really can't eat that food because look what it's doing to me now".

I don't know if this specifically addresses your post but I have two thoughts on this concept.

1) People tend to eliminate foods for the wrong reasons. (Fear, blog posts that don't actually constitute research, Dieting fads, alarmism, incorrect assumption that individual food items are lipogenic by themselves, etc, etc)
but
2) If you truly suspect that you've got a food intolerance, it would only make sense to remove it.

samblanken

And then there's people who drink alochol and can't stop at one. So they just don't drink at all.

chivalryder

If you really want to know what messes up your body, in terms of food, get a blood test done for food intolerances.

Last year, I had become incredibly ill, but no doctor could figure out what was causing all my symptoms. Meanwhile, my family has been discovering that many people in the family had various food intolerances, so I decided to get the test done.

Much to my surprise, I am severely intolerant of peanuts, soy beans, and almonds. I am also intolerant of about 12 other common foods.

Keep in mind, digestive issues and intolerance are two different things. Intolerances are also different from allergies. You cannot die from an intolerance, you can just become incredibly ill. Allergies can kill you.

My quality of life has dramatically improved ever since I had cut out those foods. By the end of the year I was ill, I could barely function at even 50%. I was a mess. Getting the blood test done was worth it's weight in gold.

You can essentially do the same thing with eliminating and reintroducing foods, but unless you cut your diet down to essentially nothing, you will get fudged results, it'll take months to do, and will cost you more than the blood test (if you don't have group benefits from work, or insurance - it is often covered).

ArroganceInStep

If I don't eat dairy for a long time, and then eat a whole half gallon of ice cream in one sitting...my stomach doesn't like it.

At first I would just tell my stomach to stfu and enjoy delicious ice cream, but then I learned if I ate dairy more often that I didn't have that problem.

Crisis averted! Eat all the ice cream!

CallMeCupcakeDammit

If I don't eat dairy for a long time, and then eat a whole half gallon of ice cream in one sitting...my stomach doesn't like it.

At first I would just tell my stomach to stfu and enjoy delicious ice cream, but then I learned if I ate dairy more often that I didn't have that problem.

Crisis averted! Eat all the ice cream!

I love you, man!

UsedToBeHusky

And then there's people who drink alochol and can't stop at one. So they just don't drink at all.

I'm really confused how this is relevant. Alcoholism actually alters a portion of the brain creating the dependence.

mtread13

Thanks, all, for sharing your thoughts - interesting perspectives!