One of my favorite mental models for health I picked up from @dranthonygustin
I'll call it "The Deficiency Question"
Basically before you add anything to your body, ask yourself:
Do I have a deficiency in this thing?
I'll call it "The Deficiency Question"
Basically before you add anything to your body, ask yourself:
Do I have a deficiency in this thing?
For example, Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a supplement everyone can, and probably should, take, because Vitamin D is something most of us are painfully deficient in.
Being deficient in it causes all sorts of terrible health outcomes, so that supplement seems like a good thing.
Vitamin D is a supplement everyone can, and probably should, take, because Vitamin D is something most of us are painfully deficient in.
Being deficient in it causes all sorts of terrible health outcomes, so that supplement seems like a good thing.
But what about something like skin moisturizer.
Does your body have a "moisturizer deficiency"?
No, that's silly. You're probably just making other lifestyle choices leading to dry skin that you should address instead.
Does your body have a "moisturizer deficiency"?
No, that's silly. You're probably just making other lifestyle choices leading to dry skin that you should address instead.
I love this question because it helps us do a better job of getting to the root of our problems instead of just treating the symptoms.
It's so tempting to just address symptoms, but solving the underlying problem is usually healthier & longer lasting.
It's so tempting to just address symptoms, but solving the underlying problem is usually healthier & longer lasting.
One reason I like bone broth is I know I have a marrow and organ deficiency. Making bone broth is a good way to get some of those nutrients back in my system.
So far the examples are pretty tame, but we can get into interesting territory pretty fast:
So far the examples are pretty tame, but we can get into interesting territory pretty fast:
Do you have a sunscreen deficiency?
No, our bodies just aren't able to handle the sun exposure we're getting at irregular intervals.
Once I started spending more time in the sun more regularly, I stopped needing sunscreen 98% of the time.
No, our bodies just aren't able to handle the sun exposure we're getting at irregular intervals.
Once I started spending more time in the sun more regularly, I stopped needing sunscreen 98% of the time.
What about an ADHD med deficiency?
Anti-depressant deficiency?
Ambien deficiency?
Diet pill deficiency?
Aspirin deficiency?
Anti-depressant deficiency?
Ambien deficiency?
Diet pill deficiency?
Aspirin deficiency?
How many problems are we trying to solve through adding some novel drug or process, vs. fixing the underlying issue that's actually creating them in the first place?
Now obviously there are tons of places where this thinking doesn't apply and you have to figure out when to use it and when not to.
But I suspect if you start using it, you'll find some areas of your life where you're just treating the symptoms instead of the underlying problem.
But I suspect if you start using it, you'll find some areas of your life where you're just treating the symptoms instead of the underlying problem.
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