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Good arguments for metabolic adaptability
https://x.com/SamaHoole/status/1993767185320190420
(1) Sama Hoole on X: "Arctic expeditions had to choose provisions carefully. Wrong choice = death. 1845 Franklin Expedition: 129 men. Provisions: Canned lean meats, hardtack, minimal fat. Result: All dead within 3 years. Scurvy. Starvation. Despite adequate calories. 1903-1906 Roald Amundsen: https://t.co/c4TVBbSme0" / X
Sama Hoole
@SamaHoole
Arctic expeditions had to choose provisions carefully. Wrong choice = death.
1845 Franklin Expedition: 129 men. Provisions: Canned lean meats, hardtack, minimal fat.
Result: All dead within 3 years. Scurvy. Starvation. Despite adequate calories.
1903-1906 Roald Amundsen: Learned from Inuit. Provisions: Pemmican (50% fat), seal blubber, fatty meat.
Result: All survived. Good health. Success.
The difference: Fat content.
Franklin's men had calories. They didn't have fat. They died.
Amundsen's men had fat. They thrived.
Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic: Relied on seal and penguin (both high-fat).
Survived 2 years stranded. Zero scurvy despite no vegetables.
Pattern is consistent:
Expeditions that prioritised fat: Survived
Expeditions that didn't: Dead
Animal fat kept explorers alive in the harshest environments on Earth.
But you're told to avoid it in your climate-controlled flat because it might raise your cholesterol.
The explorers would think you're insane.
Gosh it's a good point, and you know, I really do crave fat when meals are all dry.
I remember way back there was a diabetes writer and she thought every meal should have all the macros. Schwarzbein, wasn't it?
And it is kind of strange that it seems the second diet that you talk about would be higher in VA.
I've been reading about Lewis and Clark lately. I was reading how one of the things they brought was mercury. For the STD's. So many STD's on these expeditions. Seriously. When you look back at history, it's the odd person who didn't acquire one. And the cure was as bad as the disease. I don't think I was factoring that in as much as I should have for ending lives early in past history.