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Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

sciencedaily.com

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Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#91
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cats, being obligate carnivores and lacking a proper mechanism for extracting energy out of fatty acids (e.g. ketogenesis in humans), have actually very efficient kidneys to dispose of all the nitrogen coming from their protein-exclusive metabolism. Domestic cats are at risk, but that is more a result of domestication and improper feeding (carbohydrate) than evolution or genetics. Unless I am missing something, of co…

Whenever I see comments blaming carbohydrate intake for large swaths of problems I find it challenging because I agree and then feel that I am seen as a heretic or extremely gullible. Do you ever feel that way?

Yes.

I don't usually express my opinions on nutrition, metabolism and/or health in general in the open, because I know they go against what is currently mainstream and they would be met (as elsewhere in this submission) with extreme resistance. I can't blame the others, though, as I once was in their same position and know how it feels when deeply ingrained ideas are challenged from the outside.

I have learned to live without the need to be "right", or to educate others when they don't want to be. It is enough for me to apply what knowledge and intuition I have gained over the last years for my own health and well-being. If, at some point, someone wants me to share that knowledge, then I will gladly do it.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#92
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read somewhere that running very long distances is basically the only physical thing humans can do better than any other animal.

Pretty close. I heard that humans are second after dogs.

Depends on the weather. If it is hot, the sweaty human will win.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#93
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whenever I see comments blaming carbohydrate intake for large swaths of problems I find it challenging because I agree and then feel that I am seen as a heretic or extremely gullible. Do you ever feel that way?

I doubt anyone would think you a heretic for believing that about pure carnivores like cats.

I guess he was extrapolating and referring to the idea that carbohydrate consumption is the root cause of most, if not all, modern diseases. An idea held by many, including me.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read somewhere that running very long distances is basically the only physical thing humans can do better than any other animal.

There's a few others. We have phenomenal dexterity and throwing ability, for example. We're also very competitive in other areas that are arguable whether they're "physical" abilities, such as visual acuity and ability to make sounds.

Humans have pretty good visual acuity, but unfortunately birds of prey have us beat.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#95
post #35

> Atherosclerosis -- the clogging of arteries with fatty deposits What a way to start an article in a website with "science" in its name. Atheroma is an accumulation of white blood cells. White. Blood. Cells. Not fat. "Meat bad, saturated fat bad, eat your necessarily fortified grains and heart-healthy industrially extracted seed oils."

Would you please supply references, and perhaps some more context?

judging by the tone and wording, OP just seems like another defensive Keto advocate you find on every post that mentions anything about meat or fat being bad...

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#96
post #93
post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt anyone would think you a heretic for believing that about pure carnivores like cats.

I guess he was extrapolating and referring to the idea that carbohydrate consumption is the root cause of most, if not all, modern diseases. An idea held by many, including me.

To say even most modern disease has to do with carb intake ignores all the diseases that clearly aren't even diet related. You could probably get away with saying most diet related diseases are related to carb intake. I'd say that's a stretch, too, though I do suspect, as you do, that the type and quantity of carbs people eat is underappreciated as a factor in many illnesses.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#97
post #22
post #18

If this turns out to be true, I wonder if this is something CRISPR could fix...

Pets such as rabbits, hamsters, dogs are also prone to heart attacks. I think it has more to do with sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately for most pets, it's not by choice.

And foods. Pets don't get the choice to eat loads of sugar and processed carbohydrates. It's usually some form of meats or vegetables depending if carnivore or herbivore.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is one of the hardest systems effects to explain to people every time there is a deer cull; the population doesn't stabilize, it grows until the food runs out and then crashes with vast numbers of deer starving to death. That a fair number of people still believe that it's more "natural", and thus better, for the bulk of the herd to starve to death rather than a percentage of the herd being hunted is one of the…

> one of the more curious animal rights positions. It makes sense from the point of view of "stop messing with it for fuck's sake". Probably doesn't make the situation better one way or the other of course, deer population explosions are largely caused by humans having removed most of the top predators, and being significant stressors for the rest ( https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/07/humans-p... ). T…

Yeah, I also have that argument all the time ... "the wolves are not coming back to farm country, we need to deal with deer overpopulation since we're the only apex predator left"

Some people are deeply offended by the idea that we are an apex predator.

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, even if the crash is not an environmental cycle, a crash will generally occur because the glut of resources allows a population explosion which eventually consumes the available resource.

This is one of the hardest systems effects to explain to people every time there is a deer cull; the population doesn't stabilize, it grows until the food runs out and then crashes with vast numbers of deer starving to death. That a fair number of people still believe that it's more "natural", and thus better, for the bulk of the herd to starve to death rather than a percentage of the herd being hunted is one of the…

People struggle with certain Trolley Problem formulations as well, probably for the same reason(s).

Re: Evolutionary gene loss may explain why only humans are prone to heart attack

#100
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything I've ever read says fatty deposits. The NHS website calls fatty deposits "atheroma". You can find multiple definitions of atherosclerosis/atheroma in other places describing them the same way. Wikipedia says: "While the early stages, based on gross appearance, have traditionally been termed fatty streaks by pathologists, they are not composed of fat cells but of accumulations of white blood cells, especial…

I want to call attention to the "oxidized" part of "oxidized LDL" as that's what makes LDL so dangerous. While pathologies of LDL and fat hog the limelight, it's important to keep a close eye on the third villain in the fight against AS and that is immune system pathologies mainly chronic inflammation. Immune cells kill using peroxides, superoxides and other free radicals. Anyone with an over-active immune system tha…

Helpful comment. I have an overactive immune system and I'm always on the lookout for ways to get it to relax.

I've done elimination diets and had blood tests to determine foods I react to. I've also met with nutritionists to create meal plans. But over the long term I tend to gravitate back to foods that my family and friends tend to eat which includes stuff that jacks up my immune system (kid didn't finish her mac and cheese? I'm on it!...visit my Italian mom? pasta time!)

So how do you keep to what you know you should do when other people in your life are doing things to the contrary?

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