I'm fascinated by the duality of life. Specifically, how something that is necessary for life can also take life. Water, for example. It is one of the most important molecules on earth. All plants eventually die without water and humans typically only survive three days without it. It is absolutely vital. Yet it can end our life effortlessly. If we ingest it we live, if we ingest too much of it we die. Similarly, oxygen is imperative - to us and to the planet. Even just a few minutes without oxygen and our human brain will likely never be the same. Much longer than that and we die completely. We need it desperately, however too much oxygen can lead to cellular damage and death. Food is another example. We not only need food in order to survive, but also to thrive. Within weeks without food, our body processes begin to shut down. If that continues long enough, we die. Food provides our body with the nutrients and energy necessary to fend off illness and disease. Yet continual overconsumption of food can increase illness and disease. It can cause the exact thing it prevents. Sleep is incredibly important for mental and physical health. Similar to food, it allows our body to perform systems vital for surviving and thriving. We eventually die without sleep, and too little sleep can cause heart disease, anxiety, depression and obesity. Yet, as you may have already guessed, too much sleep can also lead to heart disease, anxiety, depression and obesity. As I’ve been writing this, a phrase that doctor Peter Attia often mentions has been stuck in my head: “the dose makes the poison.” Meaning that something healthy may be toxic in high doses. Conversely, something toxic may be healthy in low doses. "What is there that is not poison? All things are poison and nothing is without poison. Solely the dose determines that a thing is not a poison." -Paracelsus
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
March 2024
|