Cru’s Letter

In 2024, a study was done comparing continued consumption of a meal from McDonalds (group A) and an identical meal with ingredients purchased from a local farm (group B). Participants were assessed based on bloodwork to see what kind of metabolic changes were caused. Additionally, they administered brain scans while participants purchased, prepared, and ate the food to note differences in mental state. The findings were quite interesting…

The bloodwork showed a mathematically irrelevant difference between the two meals in their chemical profile and effect on the body.

The brain scans however varied heavily…

Group A was shown to have spikes of stress causing temporary inflammation in the brain. These spikes were correlated with the environment of the restaurant and the knowledge of perceived food quality.

Group B was shown to have an inverse response. The brain maintained a baseline state in purchasing the ingredients and a decrease in stress while preparing the meal.

The study concluded that these differences, over a long period of time, could have a significant impact on emotional state and even brain health.

Now here’s the thing…

I completely made that whole thing up (as far as I know) but I personally believe conducting a study like this would give people a much more nuanced understanding of the effects of the way they choose to eat.

The food space is one of the most toxic categories of online information and it’s because it’s damn near religious for people.

If you’re a vegan, you’re the savior of the world and everyone else is a cold blooded killer and if you’re a carnivore, you’re an ultra-realist intellectual showing the libtards who’s boss.

Pretty ridiculous but it’s human nature when life is too easy.

Now, there is a certain subset of people that proclaim a very “reasonable” approach to nutrition: Everything in moderation, ultra processed food isn’t really that bad, just exercise and you’ll be fine for the most part.

Sounds pretty fair to be honest but these ultra-reasonable folks are missing the mark on an emotional level. People don’t simply eat to fuel themselves these days. Eating is commonly used as a distraction and in good cases, a form of healthy self-maintenance.

In my mind, food is this: the purest reflection of the way you think of and take care of yourself.

With that said, it becomes a little more obvious why fast or ultra-processed food isn’t the best for you.

So what’s the diet for losing shame and building self respect?

It’s probably the one where you prepare meals for yourself daily and have a full understanding of what exactly you’re putting in your body. So, going to chipotle every day and grocery shopping with your eyes closed is not the most intentional approach.

When the foundation of your nutritional habits is convenience, you’re telling the story that you’re undeserving of effort (and unwilling to put it in for yourself). The only thing that is a recipe for is respecting yourself less.

So maybe all the junk food that the modern human is addicted to truly isn’t “that bad” but considering we aren’t just emotionless bags of flesh, it might be worth eating in a way that makes you feel healthy and well respected.

-Cru

P.S. Check out my recent podcast: