The Importance of Eating in Community
We are communal people...we thrive on it, we are wired that way! We have, historically and culturally, used the dinner table as a meeting place, an area and event where we come together to fellowship and share in each other's lives.
But we also understand the importance of the quality of the foods we eat...it is, on that level, seen as, simply, fuel.
Can you see the dichotomy ??
These two ideas are not opposed to one another, but rather COMPLEMENT each other!
________
Anthropological studies suggest that humans have always lived in groups, as evidenced by early human societies. These groups provided protection, shared resources, and increased chances of survival. The cooperative behavior seen in hunting, gathering, and sharing food highlights the communal nature of early humans.
~Sahlins, M. (1972). Stone Age Economics. Aldine-Atherton. Sahlins discusses how hunter-gatherer societies were characterized by sharing and reciprocal exchange, emphasizing the communal nature of early human societies.
Psychological research indicates that social connections are fundamental to human well-being. Studies show that people with strong social ties are happier, healthier, and live longer. ~Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995).
The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497-529
Sociology explores how humans create and maintain social structures and institutions, emphasizing the importance of community and social networks. ~Durkheim, É. (1893). The Division of Labor in Society.
"From an evolutionary standpoint, cooperation and social living have provided significant survival advantages. Humans who lived in groups were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their social tendencies."
~Wilson, E. O. (2012). The Social Conquest of Earth
Modern studies continue to support the importance of community and social networks in human life.
~see Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
..........you get the idea that we NEED each other.
____
Food as Fuel
Now, at the same time, we also need to understand that Food is our Fuel. The better quality the food, the more efficient the body will operate. We are "living machines", and require certain elements in order to function: fatty acids, amino acids (protein), and even a small amount of glucose (don't worry!! your body already makes what little it needs on it's own...no need to consume any).
The human body stores energy in the form of fat, which can be converted into ketones, especially when insulin levels are low. This is particularly important for the brain, which can use ketones as a preferred fuel source. This is why humans, especially newborns, have a significant amount of body fat.
Different types of food affect insulin levels differently. Carbohydrates cause a significant insulin spike, which can slow down the metabolic rate. Proteins can also increase insulin levels, but this effect is amplified when consumed with carbohydrates. Fat, on the other hand, has a minimal effect on insulin unless consumed in very large amounts.
During times of undernutrition or starvation, carbohydrates and grains are essential to help people gain weight and avoid starvation. However, for optimal health and freedom from chronic diseases, a diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in quality fats and proteins is recommended.
Insulin has a suppressive effect on the metabolic rate. When insulin is low, the metabolic rate increases, and the body can waste energy in the form of ketones, which are excreted through breath or urine.
So...food acts as fuel for the body, and the type of food consumed can significantly impact how efficiently the body uses this fuel. Managing insulin levels through diet can optimize energy use and overall health.
Further references on Food as Fuel:
- "The Evolution of Human Diet: The Known, the Unknown, and the Unknowable" by Peter S. Ungar.
- "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston A. Price.
- "The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet" by Nina Teicholz.
____
A Tale of a Lizard, a Mouse, and a Monkey
Use your lizard brain, mouse brain, and your monkey brain to put it all in perspective (see the work of neurologist, Dr. Rick Hanson).
The Lizard Brain (Reptilian brain) helps with involuntary responses, reactions, and impulses to keep you alive & "keep the lights on", like knowing when (through hormonal signals) to go get food, spike your cortisol to avoid a threat, and when to relax and rest.
The Mouse Brain (Limbic brain) helps regulate emotions and desires. By recognizing and appreciating the nourishment we get (both physically with food, and emotionally through gratitude), we will, as a response, continue to allow this to drive out quest for further nourishment. This is where we can appreciate the give and take of community and communal living, and personal interaction.
The Monkey Brain (neocortex) controls higher brain function and reasoning. This is where we understand the "science" of "food as fuel".