What are you drinking?

[NikF]

There are people who think protein is bad for you?

As far as I remember there was one study showing that a high protein intake was clearly unhealthy for the kidneys. It was readily grasped by woo health bloggers and other such types. But the truth is that the study only showed evidence of protein being bad for those already suffering kidney damage.

And since the new year in both gyms I use I've heard this book -

[asin]1405933941[/asin]

- being touted as the fount of all knowledge as far as longevity/living forever is concerned, part of which is eating a relatively small amount of protein every day because the typical amounts recommended elsewhere are bad.

(Well, I guess anything is bad for you if the quantity is high enough, even water.)

Yeah, that's the way I look at it too.


e: the aforementioned study -  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1262767/

[Ken B]

There are people who think protein is bad for you?

(Well, I guess anything is bad for you if the quantity is high enough, even water.)

Yes. Mostly woo-ish vegetarian types. Just yesterday I read an article about one of those denying protein deficiency ever happens. Well it doesn't in carnivorous rich societies, but lysine deficiency can be and has been a problem in other circumstances. The logic is conspicuously don't but familiar. (No one gets goiter anymore, no need to iodize salt.)

[Baron Scarpia]

Well, I'm willing to walk back my skepticism about protein being harmful, because I was implicitly thinking of people who eat "food."

I had forgotten that there are those giant tubs of white protein powder that people cram down their throats. I can certainly believe that you can kill yourself by going to far overboard with that sort of stuff. Same goes for other "supplements."

[North Star]

As far as I remember there was one study showing that a high protein intake was clearly unhealthy for the kidneys. It was readily grasped by woo health bloggers and other such types. But the truth is that the study only showed evidence of protein being bad for those already suffering kidney damage.

And since the new year in both gyms I use I've heard this book -

- being touted as the fount of all knowledge as far as longevity/living forever is concerned, part of which is eating a relatively small amount of protein every day because the typical amounts recommended elsewhere are bad.


Yeah, that's the way I look at it too.


e: the aforementioned study -  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1262767/

Here's a more recent study (2013 vs 1005), with less sunny views about excessive protein intake. Kidney stones (remember recent talk about drinking lots of milk...) are mentioned too, btw.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045293/

Despite the fact that short-term high protein diet could be necessary in several pathological conditions (malnutrition, sarcopenia, etc.), it is evident that “too much of a good thing” in diet could be useless or even harmful for healthy individuals [1, 29]. Many adults or even adolescents (especially athletes or body builders) self-prescribe protein supplements and overlook the risks of using them, mainly due to misguided beliefs in their performance-enhancing abilities [30]. Individuals who follow these diets are therefore at risk [31]. Extra protein is not used efficiently by the body and may impose a metabolic burden on the bones, kidneys, and liver. Moreover, high-protein/high-meat diets may also be associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease due to intakes of saturated fat and cholesterol or even cancer [31].

Eating excessive amounts of protein is a strain on the kidneys, also dehydrating the body, and the extra protein will metabolize into body fat. It's also carcinogenic. And then there's the environmental side of things - animal protein has a huge ecological footprint compared to vegetables.

[Ken B]

Well, I'm willing to walk back my skepticism about protein being harmful, because I was implicitly thinking of people who eat "food."

I had forgotten that there are those giant tubs of white protein powder that people cram down their throats. I can certainly believe that you can kill yourself by going to far overboard with that sort of stuff. Same goes for other "supplements."

Indeed. The dosage makes the poison. I read that drinking as much water as Tom Brady does would be very dangerous for an average person. Beware water.

[NikF]

Today I'll be drinking one of these with a lunch that involves a simple and sharp Orkney cheddar atop cracked black pepper oatcakes. Humble as ever.



Trivia: that woman is actress Venetia Stevenson.

[kishnevi]

I opened a bottle of 10yo Laphroaig tonight. Heretofore my favorite single malt, I was once again disappointed as I have been in their recent bottlings. The former unique experience, and to some off-putting iodine/medicinal/band-aid smell and taste, was buried in the mix, making it not much different from other Islay brands. Still love the island single malts but sad that the most individual of the lot has lost its individuality. Or maybe it's just me...getting on in years, losing my sense of taste and smell? I'm not sure which answer I prefer 

Sarge

Decided I could go for a bottle of Islay at least once a decade, so I got


Apparently they blend together several expressions.  The cigar taste is not as strong as I remember in other Islays, but strong enough that I will finish this bottle and wait another decade for the next. And when I do drink it, it will be heavily watered down.

[LKB]

Just finished a hot chocolate at Starbucks.

( Strains to hear the sound of eyeballs rolling in various spots around the globe. )

Yeah, l know... But l needed some comfort food, and I've been abstaining for the last week or so. Mindless choices have the advantage of requiring only the smallest quantities of both inspiration and attention, and l have little enough energy for either atm.

Now to my favorite Subway for dinner!

,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Just finished a hot chocolate at Starbucks.

( Strains to hear the sound of eyeballs rolling in various spots around the globe. )

Yeah, l know... But l needed some comfort food, and I've been abstaining for the last week or so. Mindless choices have the advantage of requiring only the smallest quantities of both inspiration and attention, and l have little enough energy for either atm.

Now to my favorite Subway for dinner!

,

LKB

Nothing wrong with some guilty pleasures.

Speaking of guilty pleasures...

Enjoying a glass of sweet iced tea (a staple of the Southern US) while kicking back and listening to some of Debussy's mélodies.

[LKB]

Tbh, it wasn't so much a guilty pleasure as it was a psychological imperative. While winters in the Bay Area are relatively mild, this weekend has been fairly cool and damp. When you find yourself walking the chilly streets in the early evening, homeless and alone, with the last few precious dollars in a busted bank account balanced against that prospect of a comforting cup of memories, the challenge can be very great.

Tonight, a friend stepped up. Thanks to him, I'll have at least one meal every day this week, which makes the remaining battles for sleep and shelter possible. There may even be more hot chocolate...

Gratefully,

LKB

[Mirror Image]

Tbh, it wasn't so much a guilty pleasure as it was a psychological imperative. While winters in the Bay Area are relatively mild, this weekend has been fairly cool and damp. When you find yourself walking the chilly streets in the early evening, homeless and alone, with the last few precious dollars in a busted bank account balanced against that prospect of a comforting cup of memories, the challenge can be very great.

Tonight, a friend stepped up. Thanks to him, I'll have at least one meal every day this week, which makes the remaining battles for sleep and shelter possible. There may even be more hot chocolate...

Gratefully,

LKB

I had no idea of your circumstances, LKB. I'm so sorry to hear this. My only hope is you land on your feet again and can live a comfortable life. All the best to you.

[LKB]

Thanks MI,

It is a struggle, as one might expect.

The hardest aspect of this " lifestyle " ( for wont of a better word ) has been maintaining those qualities of my personality which ( hopefully ) make me an interesting partner in conversation, and able to make the occasional worthwhile contribution to the various threads here.

Losing the roof over my head is survivable. Losing material wealth is painful, but acceptable. Losing a bed to sleep in means getting by on a few hours' rest per day, whether on the buses, in a diner with tolerant staff, or in some hidden room within a church where a friend is working.

What l ( or anyone in my position ) must not lose is the greater spirit within, and that's a fight l know l can win.

,

LKB

[Undersea]

Tbh, it wasn't so much a guilty pleasure as it was a psychological imperative. While winters in the Bay Area are relatively mild, this weekend has been fairly cool and damp. When you find yourself walking the chilly streets in the early evening, homeless and alone, with the last few precious dollars in a busted bank account balanced against that prospect of a comforting cup of memories, the challenge can be very great.

Tonight, a friend stepped up. Thanks to him, I'll have at least one meal every day this week, which makes the remaining battles for sleep and shelter possible. There may even be more hot chocolate...

Gratefully,

LKB

Thanks MI,

It is a struggle, as one might expect.

The hardest aspect of this " lifestyle " ( for wont of a better word ) has been maintaining those qualities of my personality which ( hopefully ) make me an interesting partner in conversation, and able to make the occasional worthwhile contribution to the various threads here.

Losing the roof over my head is survivable. Losing material wealth is painful, but acceptable. Losing a bed to sleep in means getting by on a few hours' rest per day, whether on the buses, in a diner with tolerant staff, or in some hidden room within a church where a friend is working.

What l ( or anyone in my position ) must not lose is the greater spirit within, and that's a fight l know l can win.

,

LKB

I had no idea about your living circumstances either and I am actually now quite upset and angry reading about your plight.
You shouldnt have to live the way you are doing in a civilized wealthy country - I'll say no more than that.
I'm thinking about you and wish you all the best too.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks MI,

It is a struggle, as one might expect.

The hardest aspect of this " lifestyle " ( for wont of a better word ) has been maintaining those qualities of my personality which ( hopefully ) make me an interesting partner in conversation, and able to make the occasional worthwhile contribution to the various threads here.

Losing the roof over my head is survivable. Losing material wealth is painful, but acceptable. Losing a bed to sleep in means getting by on a few hours' rest per day, whether on the buses, in a diner with tolerant staff, or in some hidden room within a church where a friend is working.

What l ( or anyone in my position ) must not lose is the greater spirit within, and that's a fight l know l can win.

,

LKB

It's great that you have a positive attitude about all of this. I wish you nothing but the best.

[vandermolen]

As we have no water supply I'm having to exist on red wine and rely on the 'Dunkirk Spirit' (no pun intended) to kick in.

[vandermolen]

I had no idea of your circumstances, LKB. I'm so sorry to hear this. My only hope is you land on your feet again and can live a comfortable life. All the best to you.

+1

[Karl Henning]

Decided I could go for a bottle of Islay at least once a decade, so I got


Apparently they blend together several expressions.  The cigar taste is not as strong as I remember in other Islays, but strong enough that I will finish this bottle and wait another decade for the next. And when I do drink it, it will be heavily watered down.

Well, I must at present content myself with green tea.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks MI,

It is a struggle, as one might expect.

The hardest aspect of this " lifestyle " ( for wont of a better word ) has been maintaining those qualities of my personality which ( hopefully ) make me an interesting partner in conversation, and able to make the occasional worthwhile contribution to the various threads here.

Losing the roof over my head is survivable. Losing material wealth is painful, but acceptable. Losing a bed to sleep in means getting by on a few hours' rest per day, whether on the buses, in a diner with tolerant staff, or in some hidden room within a church where a friend is working.

What l ( or anyone in my position ) must not lose is the greater spirit within, and that's a fight l know l can win.

,

LKB

I admire your good spirits!

[LKB]

It's great that you have a positive attitude about all of this. I wish you nothing but the best.

Perspective is the key to coping, and eventually winning through.

I remind myself of Schubert, who suffered greatly before the end of his short life, and of Beethoven, derided as one driven so mad by his deafness as to write " incomprehensible " music such as Opus 133.

That may seem melodramatic, but l do in fact find such thinking helpful. For how can l complain, having outlived Schubert by decades, calling myself a composer while writing nothing so beautiful as the least of his songs?

When l think of that letter to his brother, remarking on not having eaten in eleven days... And l should complain because l don't get Starbucks every morning?

( Obviously, things are not so simple. And l do not always succeed in remembering the suffering of those l look up to. So yes, l grouse and cuss and am at times bad-tempered, when l can't get enough sleep or food, or may not be close enough to an available restroom...

But l do try to maintain perspective, and to observe those around me who have it worse because of mental illness, or simply because they've lived in homelessness for a very long time, long enough to have lost those aspects of themselves which at one time made them valuable members of a family or community or, perhaps, a music bbs where they used to post regularly. )

At some point, I'll recover enough to enjoy my old lifestyle once again. Wine or whiskey in the evenings, delightful company, a warm, waiting bed at the end of convivial conversation. All of these will return, and be appreciated for what they are.

Because I'll not forget the life l have now, and once l have won through, I'll remember those who have it worse.

And that will be my new perspective.

LKB

[North Star]

I admire your good spirits!

Agreed.