Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 07/01/2012 15:43:09

Title: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: neilep on 07/01/2012 15:43:09
Dearest Foodologists and Peeps With Experience Of Eating Food !

As a Sheepie I of course luff food. I know all there is to know about all types of food and have spent my whole entire life studying it from inside my tummy.
In addition to studying it I maintain a strict regimental process of consuming nutritional bio-matter every single day !!That's dedication ewe know !

Food, as ewe know was invented in 1326 by Mac Donald of the clan McClan MaccyDees.


Look here are two types of food for ewe to look at .

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Two Types Of Food For Ewe To Look At Immediately Above This Sentence Referencing The Above



The food on the left is a tasty snack...the food on the right is not !


Why Do We Love Food ?......Do ewe think it is an evolutionary faux pas for us to enjoy food so much ?..Should we just not desire the food types we need for sustenance and nothing else ?   That way we would all be healthy wouldn't we ?

whajafink ?



hugs and shmishes


mwah mwah mwah !



Neil
Ewe Wannada Chili Sauce On Dat Boss ?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx









Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: cheryl j on 09/01/2012 18:51:45
It would be nice if the body balanced food intake or absorption, the way it does water, but it doesnt, because we can store extra calories in a relatively light weight form, fat, that also serves the purpose of insulating from the cold, as well as cushioning and protecting the organs of the body. And what was healthy in times of scarcity (sugar, fat, protein) is not as healthy in times of high abundance.
But I do notice that it is possible to change certain preferences. If you get used to a really low sodium diet for example, normal foods start to taste almost too salty. And if you start eating more fruits and vegetables for several weeks or months, you will probably crave them when if you stop. So its not a losing battle to try to change your eating habits. I think it works better if instead of totally and abruptly denying yourself certain things, you "crowd them out" with healthier food for a while, until you wean yourself off the junk.
Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: Devilmunkey on 12/01/2012 00:06:56
The human body has evolved a number of mechanisms to help us survive periods of hardship and lack of food. Up until quite recently, malnutrition and starvation were common and very serious problems (as is sadly still the case  in many parts of the world). An appropriate pleasure response to ingesting foods (e.g. dopamine and other edocrine responses) encourages the body to consume food via a reward system.

Foods particulary high in fats and sugars would have been extremely valuble (in a biological sense) to our ancestors as they are energy (calorie) dense. As food is generally more readily available, it becomes very easy to over consume, we have yet to evolve beyond the food-scarcity scenario that our bodies are sensitive to.
Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: Don_1 on 12/01/2012 14:38:50
Yum yum..... fooooooooood!

I do like a nice lamb shank with rosemary......... SLURP...
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.ifood.tv%2Ffiles%2FLamb%2520_Shank.jpg&hash=3939273a491342149997cf2ea881b3a9)

Here sheepie sheepie, come to uncle Don_1...... (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.picgifs.com%2Fgraphics%2Fb%2Fbutcher%2Fgraphics-butcher-527011.gif&hash=95dd79a723de906ab5d44622c9548734) Ah hahahahaaaa (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fevil%2F4.gif&hash=6f2b4a15b21f3b61397a3078a6b89e77)
Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: imatfaal on 12/01/2012 17:48:57
Just came back from lamb cutlets for lunch - Sorry Don, I beat you to it!
Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: neilep on 12/01/2012 20:21:27
Quote
Posted by: Devilmunkey

The human body has evolved a number of mechanisms to help us survive periods of hardship and lack of food. Up until quite recently, malnutrition and starvation were common and very serious problems (as is sadly still the case  in many parts of the world). An appropriate pleasure response to ingesting foods (e.g. dopamine and other edocrine responses) encourages the body to consume food via a reward system.

Foods particulary high in fats and sugars would have been extremely valuble (in a biological sense) to our ancestors as they are energy (calorie) dense. As food is generally more readily available, it becomes very easy to over consume, we have yet to evolve beyond the food-scarcity scenario that our bodies are sensitive to.

Quote
Posted by: cheryl j

It would be nice if the body balanced food intake or absorption, the way it does water, but it doesnt, because we can store extra calories in a relatively light weight form, fat, that also serves the purpose of insulating from the cold, as well as cushioning and protecting the organs of the body. And what was healthy in times of scarcity (sugar, fat, protein) is not as healthy in times of high abundance.
But I do notice that it is possible to change certain preferences. If you get used to a really low sodium diet for example, normal foods start to taste almost too salty. And if you start eating more fruits and vegetables for several weeks or months, you will probably crave them when if you stop. So its not a losing battle to try to change your eating habits. I think it works better if instead of totally and abruptly denying yourself certain things, you "crowd them out" with healthier food for a while, until you wean yourself off the junk.


Thank ewe Cheryl J & Devilmunkey for your very great comments.

I just find it interesting that as humans we have not evolved an instinct to not really take pleasure in food but to develop a need that just satiates the body requirements. I can appreciate that in the past that perhaps the 'pleasure' received was a way of rewarding for storage and that we can, with regimental diets ,control how the body can crave (or deny) certain foods.

One would have thought that as quick as we have been able to evolve the ability to create, enjoy the delicacies of tasty treats, that, from a health perspective , a natural  ' guard' would have evolved to control these desires and hone our instincts to just appease the body's needs appropriately.
Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: neilep on 12/01/2012 20:24:13
Quote
Posted by: Don_1


Yum yum..... fooooooooood!

I do like a nice lamb shank with rosemary......... SLURP...

Quote
Posted by: imatfaal



Just came back from lamb cutlets for lunch - Sorry Don, I beat you to it!



Why ewe !!!!!!!!


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Title: Re: Why Do We Love Food And Just Not Require It ?
Post by: cheryl j on 14/01/2012 17:34:25
I just find it interesting that as humans we have not evolved an instinct to not really take pleasure in food but to develop a need that just satiates the body requirements.


Well, given more evolutionary time with abundant food sources of a variety of types, maybe food selection will become more finely tuned. But in the past, too strong of a preference, even if it was for a nutrient or vitamin you needed, might have worked against you if there wasnt much too choose from. Some calories are better than no calories. And part of our evolutionary success seems to be that humans managed to settle in almost any climate and find something to eat, from the artic to the desert.
But sometimes I wonder though if we dont select needed nutrients a little bit. I do find myself really craving a big cold glass of milk sometimes (calcium? postassium?) or really wanting a big beefy steak or something high in protein. Around February/March, fresh  fruit starts to really appeal to me. Funny how there seem to be "fall foods" and "winter foods" and "summer foods" even when we arent controled by harvest times.