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Yes, it is SP2. I think that the idea that eating "organic" is the only way to avoid cancer or other diseases is well meaning, but simplistic.

I'm a big fan of the PBS science shows. I've watched many shows devoted to eating "healthy"/ avoiding cancer/ etc. A lot of good stuff but as of yet, not one all conclusive method of staying healthy or avoiding illness/cancers.

Something's are obvious. We were meant to move. Looking at a human skeleton/muscular system from an "engineering" perspective, and nature/God designed us to move, not sit which is what many of us do too much and to our detriment. Carrying to heavy a "load" for the frame is just as damaging be it the bed of a trailer/pick-up, or you knees/back of a human "frame".

Eating as close to what nature provided rather than processed foods is or should be a no-brainer as well. We have "mechanical" systems designed to chew/break down tough fibrous items and a complex digestive systems to process them.

Other things are not so obvious. Why do some people live long and healthy and do everything "wrong" according to modern science? Why do some cultures eat high fat foods and have lower incidents of heart disease and cancers associate with there consumption than we do?

Some scientists believe we all have the cancer "genes" in out bodies. Why do some people get it and some don't? Many think "stress", especially long term chronic stress is the "key' to triggering the cancer genes to mutate and start the disease process?

Lots of questions, not as many answers. I saw a PBS show where one of the cutting edge cancer researchers now believes that we'll never cure cancer becasue it's virus based and will always mutate new strains that resist the cure. He believes that cancer will wind up like HIV/AIDS, something that can be managed and controlled?

A good friend of mine and one of the smarted people I've ever met, is working on his PHD in Chinese medicine/Acupuncture. The Chinese believe that ALL health problems stem from the inner conflicts of the mind and that the disease is just the symptom of the inner conflict. They treat the symptoms, but believe the "cure" lies in finding why the person has that inner conflict and fixing that.

I had a very interesting conversation with him recently. As part of his PHD program they brought in a noted Western trained heart specialist to talk about cholesterol and heart issues. We all know/hear non-stop about good/bad cholesterol. Other cultures have diets that put their people on the high end of bad cholesterol levels, yet their overall rate of heart problems is still way lower than ours?

Anyway, the Chinese believe that "heat" their name for infection/inflammation is what triggers that plaque to clump together and cause the blockages in the artery walls that starts the heart attack/stroke.
They believe it's the stress caused by mental conflict that you might not even know about or admit too, that triggers the event, not the cholesterol levels? Completely against the common belief we all hear about from our doctors.

Well it seems this doctor said to my friends amazement that cutting edge research is leading many Western trained doctors to believe the ancient Chinese beliefs are not so crazy after all and that there is a growing body of research that is starting to show that stress, causes "heat", which starts the process of disease/cancers.

It will be a long road to change conventional Western thinking, but if you think about the people you know I bet you'll notice that high strung/worriers tend to be ill a lot more than easy going people, all other things being equal.

Do the obvious things, a little exercise/keep you "load" under your frames limits and eat as close to natural as you can. Don't obsess over things and do all in moderation.

I do believe stress is the key and managing it in a healthy way instead of a self destructive way is the key to keeping yourself as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

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Jon,

I hope you take this in the way it's intended, but with all respect, there's a difference between being fit and healthy and there not always inclusive. Eating as healthy as possible isn't a bad thing, but being obsessed with it or anything for that matter isn't healthy either.

From you previous post I know your an Ultra Marathoner. Endurance athletes, especially the ones that are into the long distance events are like the Ferrari's of the sports world. Like a high-tech sports car that's finely tuned, it doesn't take much to put them in the "garage".

My friend that is going for his PHD in Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture is in business with 2 other guys that do "body" work like he does. They do different modalities than he does. One of his partners is an ex-pro rugby player, and the other is an Canadian track athlete who competed on the International/Commonwealth game level. They work with elite jocks to help them recover better and increase their performance.

One of their clients is currently training to make the Summer Olympics as a sprinter. He was on a previous team as well.

My buddy, is the guy pictured next to the Olympic sprinter with the needles in his thigh.
I'll send you a link in a PM, as I don't think it's appropriate to do so on the open forum.

Anyway, he has told me that working with world level endurance athletes, he has found that becasue the push their bodies to the extreme and have very low body fat levels, that one of their biggest problems is that they often are getting sick with every little illness that they come into contact with.

Body fat is the right percentage plays a huge part in keeping your immune system strong. Get to low and like that Ferrari your performance suffers and over extended time, you can actually damage your health long term.

I'm not knocking exercise, I do it in moderation myself, but when you say your a "fanatic" about it, then that sends up a red flag IMHO.
Training and peaking at race time is one thing, trying to ride that level of fitness for extended periods of time isn't the best for you long term.

Being fitter than most is great, but what about after your competing days are over?
Being fanatical about anything is a game that you can't win at least not long term.

For those interested in what we eat and how that has been manipulated by the food industry, both Big Agriculture and especially the food processing industry, might want to read Michael Pollen's "The Omnivore's Dilemna."  This is a book of incredible insight and is extremely well written (i.e., a good read.)  Pollen debunks a lot of myths and is, himself, skeptical of the implications of the "organic" sobriquet.  Organic farming is increasingly becoming Big Agriculture and as Pollen points out, monoculture agriculture, whether organic or conventional, is problematic.  Growing 500 acres of organic lettuce is not fundamentally different from growing 500 acres of lettuce grown conventionally - it might be chemical free and that's a good thing but the issues run far deeper, as Pollen points out.  His chapters on corn and how cheap, empty calories have come to shape the eating habits of our culture (and the obesity, diabetes and heart disease that come with it) are eye opening to say the least.  No matter what your stance on food, I would say this book is a thought provoking must read and I highly recommend it.

That was a very honest and interesting post, Jon.  Thanks for sharing that information, as it made everything you have said make a lot more sense.  I salute your good choices, and your enthusiasm for them.   

Happy paddling.