Ask HN: The habit adopted in 2016 that had the greatest impact on your health?

Ketogenic diet + Intermittent fasting (23:1)

- Energy levels are stable

- Never hungry

- Need to sleep 1h less

- Feel better (less inflammation)

- Fewer migraines

- Weight loss

Somehow sweetened tea doesn't sound good to me, always left a bad feeling in my mouth which could lead to more cravings - I would not recommend it.

Half a year ago I tried to stop eating all candies suddenly. Was feeling little uncomfortable at times so then I realized it is better not to give your body such shocks. So I decided I would indulge in some sweet curd (and some plain black chocolate) in the afternoons. This worked quite well, I removed 90% of junk from my diet, got to eat more protein and fruits but still got the sugar gratification I needed. Getting rid of so much sugar surprisingly did not hurt as I had imagined. Perhaps drinking lots of water helped as well - it is surprising how refreshing a drink of chilly water can be. Unfortunately, then I got some other health issues, had to revert diet back and am back where I started.

> Only because you choose to define it that way. In reality, people have spiritual health that is just as important as mental health. There doesn't need to have any mysticism attached, just the recognition that religion and other practices give people senses of belonging and purpose, and those drives are important to ones overall health.

There is mental health, and physical health. There's no such concept as spiritual health because there's no scientifically proven concept of spirit. "Spiritual health" or "religious health" or whatever you want to call it is just some new age word for mental and/or physical health. But since the concept of spirit or spiritually is pseudo science at best, it is a worthless concept and therefore completely irrelevant unless you want to discuss it with those who believe in it. The keyword here is believe. I am an atheist, I can't prove God does not exist but I find it highly unlikely. So I am going to take it for granted there is no God. The same with "spirituality" and everything "spiritual".

> Well those are strong words, would you like to source that claim? IIRC the rates of psychosis among psychedelic users and the normal population is equivalent, meaning psychedelics absolutely do not cause psychosis.

Those are not at all strong words. All one has to do is read the dozens and dozens of trip reports on e.g. Erowid. I know from anecdotal experience that it is possible to even OD on cannabis which can trigger a psychosis (albeit relatively mild).

Heck, a trip is akin to a psychosis; just a 'positive' one. Bad trips happen. The reason mushrooms are illegal in my country (NL) is because of a young French tourist committing suicide on mushrooms. I also know of two separate stories from people I know who have jumped off a high building whole on LSD. Finally, I'm aware of research being done on cannabis which was triggering a schizophrenic episode quicker with those prone to schizophrenia. Not everyone knows they're prone to that; nobody in my direct family suffers from schizophrenia, for example, but elsewhere in the family tree? Yup.

Research like this is all around on the Internet. There's also research conducted in using psychedelic drugs to cure issues such as depression. However, those are administered under doctor supervision.

> Also noteworthy is the fact that meditation can trigger latent psychoses just the same as any drug or stressor would - so in both cases, exploring ones consciousness can be a dangerous pursuit best done working with experienced guides.

Sure, there is some chance, but there's also the chance a psychosis occurs from stress (which I know first hand). I really doubt the chance of the above occurring during meditation is the same as during a full dose of mushrooms or LSD. I can imagine the chance is higher when you follow a Vipassana course for 10 days because it is more intense, but that is one of the reasons its guided.

That does not sound healthy. Good diet needs variety. How about adding other veggies in with the potatoes ?

I had to stop surfing, so I started playing table tennis. Five times a week. This and playing Pokemon Go, i.e. walking a lot the extra mile.