Saying the word "hedonism" to most people most likely invokes the mental images of sex, food,
and decadence, not necessarily in that order. Yes, Rational Hedonism includes the oral, culinary savoring of good food, but the "Rational" part means being aware of what you are stuffing in your face and stomach. Rational Hedonists don't have to be Vegan, Vegetarian or Organic -- although many are -- while others eat any place from Taco Bell, McDonald's or KFC and everything in between, to the finest restaurants. Sure you are the god of your world, you eat what you is pleasing to your palette, but being in charge of your life means being a wise Ruler; you get only one body, one time around at life, and Rational Hedonists want it to last as long as possible and keep it all in good working order. Although difficult to do all at once, one thing a Rational Hedonist should be aware and over time, eliminate from their diet are oils (such as soybean-which suppresses your thyroid and lowers your energy levels, vegetable and palm) that have been hydrogenated and partly hydrogenated in foods. This process creates something that doesn't exist in nature. Seriously, these have no place in any humans' food. In the past, our ancestors got essential fats and oils needed for brain development, warding off disease, and "lube" essential functions in the body from the fish and animals they ate. Oils to cook with, such as olives, were pressed and used quickly before going bad. All these were Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) - good, natural fats our bodies need and even crave. Our food troubles began when we ceased to have farm-based societies and stopped living off the land, and began to migrate to ever-growing cities. Most pioneers and early European Americans used bear, pig or other animal fat but although even up until 1920 most of these fats eaten were saturated, such as butter and lard. With the onset of answering the need of feeding all these people packing into cities, to have a longer shelf life and keep the foods from aging or going bad and smelling, the process developed of subjecting fat or oil to tremendous heat and hydrogen bubbles forced under pressure into the boiling fat molecules deliberately processed to have a "new", extra hydrogen molecule forced into shapes they were never designed to be in, which makes them more saturated (indigestible and an unnatural form). These are, in effect, poisonous to your body. The fatty acids in the oil then acquire some of this hydrogen, which makes it denser. The very stuff that thickens with the consistency of margarine or butter and known as Trans-Fatty-Acids, and is the stuff you are eating in store-bought cookies, munchies such as potato chips, doughnuts, pastries, snack cakes and lots of candy. But these Trans-fats fat have not been "Trans-formed", they have been "De-formed". Trans-fats are poisons to our body, just like arsenic or cyanide. They interfere with the metabolic processes of life by taking the place of a natural substance that our bodies can process and need and crave (Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) found in fish, meats, butter), that perform a critical function. Our bodies have no defense against trans-fats, because they never even existed in our two billion years of evolution before modern food technology -- so we have never had the need or the opportunity to evolve a defense against them or cope with them. And by the way, when you see the terms, mono- and di-glyceride-- these are also hydrogenated oil products. All of these lower our bodies' natural ability to fight off disease attacks (such as cancer), weakens cell walls and compromises cellular structure; accelerates tumor growth; thickens and clogs artery walls causing heart disease (approximately 30,000 deaths a year), damages blood vessels; raises blood sugar levels and helping cause weight gain, high cholesterol and diabetes; interferes with the absorption of the essential fatty acids and DHA our bodies need, impairs brain function and damages brain cells accelerating or causing Alzheimer's. There are countries where hydrogenation is outlawed, why is diet and fat conscious America so complacent? The World Health Organization tried to outlaw this ingredient decades ago in the 1950's. Doctors, researchers and scientists blatantly warn about the detrimental health effects of trans-fats. Even when trans-fats are in certain foods, the FDA allows it to be labeled on the ingredients, zero, as long as it's less than .05%, fooling people into thinking it's healthy. It's no wonder that America is experiencing epidemic levels of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Partially hydrogenated oils are not only alien and incompatible to our body's system, but kill you in the long run by producing diseases like multiple sclerosis and allergies that lead to arthritis and all the while, causing relentless weight gain. A pleasurable Rational Hedonistic lifestyle includes the Epicurean tradition of preparing and savoring fresh home cooked meals you love, slowing down in order to enjoy them with the conversation and laughter of friends and family. A Rational Hedonistic lifestyle is about enjoying all aspects of life, which one can not do with a life cut short due to serious health problems or drunken recklessness. Cut out the drive-through fast foods and frozen prepared food bursting with dangerous hydrogenated and partly hydrogenated additives that are destroying your body. The "Rational" part of Rational Hedonism is about using the wonderful mind you developed to continue learning and make informed choices - not hard to do in instant-internet-access via cell phones and tablets. Much of the above information was taken from here and here.
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AuthorG.K. is currently the official Spokesman representing Rational Hedonism online; an Ordained Celebrant (not "celibate"!) with R.H. and conducts or advises others with Weddings, Civil Unions, Remembrance Ceremonies (both people and pets), Adoption and Naming Ceremonies; and conducts "Garden" Parties for Rational Hedonists throughout the United States. Archives
March 2014
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