SupermealX, India’s Soylent
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SupermealX, India’s Soylent
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Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#2> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the rich that eventually “makes the world a better place,” to borrow an expression used by tech billionaires and comedians.
Jesus fucking christ.
1) Soylent didn't invent anything. Complete liquid meals have been around for many years.
2) No one credible suggest soylent is useful to end world hunger. It's too expensive; it has the wrong nutrient balance; it's made in the wrong place; it requires too much clean water; it's worse than the existing emergency food products in many different ways.
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#3> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
> It's too expensive; it has the wrong nutrient balance; it's made in the wrong place
These don't sound like dealbreakers. One assumes that it can be made more cheaply with scale; with adjusted nutrient profiles; and in places where it is not currently being made.
If existing products are better, then Soylent will presumably face some problems on this stage, given that world hunger is in fact still a problem. But I don't think they'll be those ones.
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#4> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
god, thank you! as an entrepreneur who has been bodybuilding for more than a decade, i have a really weird love-hate relationship with soylent. i really love the idea because its actually something i've done for myself (custom mixing meal replacement powder formulas) and considered marketing and selling, and i really hate that the soylent guy went ahead and just did it. the worst part for me is that this guy started way way behind myself (and many others who are obsessed with bodybuilding and fitness and nutrition) in terms of nutritional and dietary knowledge, which is evident from his early formulas, and yet he managed to drum up enouogh media attention that he is widely considered a pioneer in the space. i mean, meal replacement powders have existed in supplement shops for decades!
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#5> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
You are indeed right. Although I'm surprised HN hasn't ghost banned you for being negative anyway, lol
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#6> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
I think any Soylent thread would benefit from a summary of typical comments, to make way for new ideas. Pick yours.
1. Liquid diets aren't new
2. Cooking is easy and enjoyable, I don't see why people avoid it
3. Soylent is healthier than fast food even if it's inferior to well-made natural meals
4. It hasn't undergone rigorous, clinical testing
5. It's dystopic, dehumanizing
6. It's a dietary choice of others that makes me inexplicably angry
7. I've been trying it for 50-100% of my calories for X weeks and it's been great/terrible
8. It's based on outdated FDA recommended allowances
9. It ignores the social, cultural aspects of food
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#7> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
god, thank you! as an entrepreneur who has been bodybuilding for more than a decade, i have a really weird love-hate relationship with soylent. i really love the idea because its actually something i've done for myself (custom mixing meal replacement powder formulas) and considered marketing and selling, and i really hate that the soylent guy went ahead and just did it. the worst part for me is that this guy started…
Soylent is a mediocre product with great marketing. That is unfortunately the curse of capitalism - it isn't the best product that wins, rather the best _promoted_ product that is at least barely acceptable.
On the plus side, given Soylent is mediocre, I suspect that it can only expand the market for functional foods.
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#8> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
There's another thing people forget, too: you're made to chew things. Chewing helps break down food for digestion, and probably more importantly generates saliva, which is also very important for initial digestion as well as oral health.
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#9That idea that a selection of vitamins and minerals, et al. can replace traditional food has largely been debunked, for the current state of the art at least. Perhaps in the future, but based on our current knowledge base we can not yet replace traditional food with synthesized pills and powder for the majority of one's natural life. We still do not know all of the nutritional elements of some of the most basic fruits we pick up every day in our grocery store. If you don't believe me (I wouldn't, who am I?) check out the book below. The author has been in the field for decades, well published, studied both reductionist and wholistic approaches to nutrition.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/t-colin-campbell/whole-book-ex...
Re: SupermealX, India’s Soylent
#10> Ever since an American electrical engineer invented a food that abolishes the inconveniences of foraging and cooking, and contains all the nutrition a human body is known to require but is devoid of the substances that harm, there has been talk that it can end not only the problems of the overfed but also the underfed. After all, it is in the tradition of Silicon Valley-blessed projects to invent a solution for the…
I think any Soylent thread would benefit from a summary of typical comments, to make way for new ideas. Pick yours. 1. Liquid diets aren't new 2. Cooking is easy and enjoyable, I don't see why people avoid it 3. Soylent is healthier than fast food even if it's inferior to well-made natural meals 4. It hasn't undergone rigorous, clinical testing 5. It's dystopic, dehumanizing 6. It's a dietary choice of others that ma…
I pick #1. My biggest problem with Soylent is not what they are doing, but that they have an attitude that they invented the idea.