Trial And Error
“So right away I found out something about biology: it was very easy to find a question that was very interesting, and that nobody knew the answer to. In physics you had to go a little deeper before you could find an interesting question that people didn't know.”
- Richard Feynman (Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, 1985)
You can learn a lot about someone by understanding what questions fascinate them.
For some in Silicon Valley, it is what level of productivity gains will AI create for humanity, for others it may be how to get Democrats and Republicans to exhibit more empathy by having an honest and vulnerable conversation, for others it may be curing a specific type of cancer or mental illness.
What is my big question?
I am fascinated by the great mystery of the human body. My big question is: how can our physical and emotional systems empower us to live fulfilling lives? More specifically and technically speaking, what are the optimal daily inputs to get the desired outputs?
With so much of life attributable to luck, I find solace in my daily choices. They provide some small sense of control.
Science often underwhelms on conviction
I believe that most people do not have a solid understanding of why biology is so difficult – particularly relative to other hard sciences like aerodynamics or internal combustion engines. If our brightest minds got us to the moon in 1969, why is my doctor unable to easily diagnose my problem with a few tests?
Stemming from this lack of respect for what we don’t know, I sense that many people have an unrealistic expectation of conviction from science. People want answers and human nature is to be impatient. All this healthcare spending and they still can’t fix me?
As Alan Watts likes to say, nature is wiggly. It’s slippery, uneven, and extraordinarily complicated. Arguably the brightest mind of his day, Richard Feynman even tried his hand at biology during a sabbatical and botched an experiment1.
The whole point of science is to make an educated guess at some credible explanation (a hypothesis) and test it with experimental data. Every time a hypothesis is made, the expectation is that it will be replaced by a better guess down the road.
Why is trial and error still the best approach for nutrition?
The standard of care for most nutritionists is to instruct their new patients to eliminate many food groups initially. Over time, the patient selectively adds them back in phases to determine any sensitivities. Despite numerous biological tests and wearables available today, this is the primary tool we have to optimize our nutrition. The tool is essentially trial and error in a structured manner. After this type of major experiment, trial and error is also informative at a smaller scale.
Of course, there are a litany guidelines offered too. In Built to Move (2023), performance coaches Kelly and Juliet Starrett offer 2 simple guidelines: consume 1) at least 800 grams of fruits and vegetables per day and 2) ensure you’re targeting the appropriate level of protein consumption for your exercise level (0.7-1 gram per pound of bodyweight). I like this approach because it is simple and is focusing what to add versus subtract.
I firmly believe that if you add unequivocally high-quality items to your diet, it will crowd out the low-quality stuff over time.
Finding joy in fine tuning and food diversity
As I discussed in Taste is Personal, we each have different inclinations to trying new products and experiences. And we should respect that some people highly identify with their existing choices. However, what bothers me is when someone raises their hand to make a change and just wants the “answer”. It is sometimes positioned as: what exactly works for you? Well, what works for me probably won’t work as well for you.
If a change is desired, then embrace the journey of trialing and erring. Consistent and daily tweaks are easier to maintain than sweeping changes. Keto and vegan diets have become hot button words primarily because compliance is so hard and the realized long-term benefits vary widely. While their definitions can shift, the diets are too extreme for most. That said, they are underpinned by some solid tenets related to healthy fats, more stable blood sugar levels, and the increased consumption and fruits / vegetables / fiber.
Within the guidelines offered above by the Starretts, there are countless permutations to try. It can be a fun challenge to prepare high-quality foods in a new manner that is tasty. For example, I recently started adding some milk and protein powder to my daily dessert of yogurt, nuts, and berries. Canned coconut cream plus store-bought sauce makes for an easy curry at home of sweet potato, cauliflower, chard plus your protein of choice.
Whether it is in the kitchen or a workplace, embracing trial and error is a reliable way to explore our inner creativity and curiosity.
See chapter titled “A Map of the Cat“ in Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman (Feynman, 1985)