Could A “Good” Diet Be Bad?

People seem to have a very difficult time differentiating between the value of an idea in theory and its practical outcomes. For example, in some ways it would appear beneficial to focus on plant-based eating. In theory it makes sense. However, in practice, there are some undeniable issues. In a 55,000 person study over a long period, people who focused on plant-based eating had higher incidence of bone fracture: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/.../s12916-020-01815-3

The central problem, of course, is that MERELY insisting on plants for nutrition has no inherent biological benefit. It can carry huge benefit, especially when contrasted against the behavior of average Americans who would otherwise eat processed garbage. But there is absolutely nothing superior about the micronutrients or macronutrients inside plants from the perspective of chemistry. Moreover, we know that they lack specific human needs, are more difficult to break down and digest, and are rife for food allergies and sensitivities (which are mostly absent in animal based nutrition). Thus, in practice, it doesn’t work out well for many. It doesn’t mean it can’t. It just doesn’t.

Simpletons boil down complex systems into name-calling and dumbed-down summaries which are inherently inaccurate. We see it A LOT in politics. People call themselves capitalists but then want private companies to lose individual control (ie - communism). They say they support free market but never stop to think about how the centrally-controlled military has no element of free enterprise, competition, or capitalist market, price, or buyer controls (ie - socialism). And I see it a lot with regard to dieting.

Specifically, people have obsessed over the “goodness” of veganism. I did too. In theory, it is a good idea. I will never argue otherwise. For years I tried to make it work. But no matter how diligent I was with filling in the gaps, my system does not respond well to plant-based eating. I cannot get or stay lean. My inflammatory blood markers go up. I ache and feel old. The average person who goes from processed garbage to vegan WILL absolutely benefit, at least at the beginning. Other people who focus on high quality foods and nutrient dense eating won’t gain much benefit on average.

Now pause. I’m not saying anything is good or bad. One thing which works incredibly well for one individual doesn’t for another. There is theory. Then there is practical outcome. We must expand our thinking to stop with the heroes and villains narrative in every single facet of life evaluation.
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In stories, heroes and villains make the plot easy to follow. In real life, systems are much grander than that. Let us allow real life to show its grandeur.