Fishmonger theory

We are lazy, lazy and sick. Take advantage of the Fishmonger's theory to avoid this and achieve optimal health.

Hello! This is Gonzalo Ruiz Utrilla's newsletter, where I write weekly about topics that I discuss with my friends. If you like it, don't hesitate to subscribe.

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Idle, lazy, and sick

It's normal to be idle. Lazy. It's what our Homo Sapiens brain asks of us. But if we listen to it, we'll get sick.

We must understand that our brain is genetically that of a Homo Sapiens, a species that was the best adapted to the environment of 200,000 years ago. An environment full of dangers and scarcity. Caution was a value that helped us survive. We are descendants of the cautious. The idle, lazy ones who risked less, survived. The Homo "Adventureris" who said, "Let's go for a walk on the savannah at night to see what's there" died without offspring. We only took risks to survive. To be able to eat, save our lives or those of others, or something truly important.

Thanks to our capabilities, over these thousands of years, we have managed to modify the environment we live in to this day. Now there is abundance everywhere, and for the first time in history, we can live without making any effort. None. It doesn't matter if we don't work. It doesn't matter if we don't exercise. It doesn't matter if we eat poorly. It doesn't matter if we don't interact with people. We survive anyway.

However, we survive very sick. With diseases that never before existed in Homo Sapiens: Type II diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression, anxiety. How is this possible?

Antifragility, Hormesis, and the Fishmonger Theory

Marcos Vázquez and Nassim Taleb explain it very well. It's counterintuitive, but our body needs and benefits from certain stressors. It reaches its optimal health and greatest potential when in an environment more similar to the one that selected it as the best-adapted species 200,000 years ago. And in that environment, effort was required.

We shouldn't reject modern advances in medicine, technology, and science. We simply need to understand that genetically we are the same species and avoid stimuli that make us sick.

Those who do understand the functioning of the genes and the Homo Sapiens brain are the companies that sell you products or services.

These companies know your brain is lazy and seeks comfort. They don't care if that comfort makes you sick, because they only want to make money.

That's why they constantly advertise: Don't move! I'll bring you junk food home. Don't do anything! Don't make an effort!

And yet, we gain weight. Our legs swell. We have sarcopenia. We're depressed. How can this be? If we have immediate and accessible abundance!

The Fishmonger Theory

When I hear a friend wanting to order Glovo for dinner or Getir to avoid going to the supermarket, I try to convince them not to do it. When I hear a friend complain about cleaning, preparing food, or waiting in line, I invite them to do it.

We are Homo Sapiens, and until we can self-evolve by modifying our DNA and becoming another species, we have to understand how we function and what stimuli our "Wetware" expects to function optimally.

Our "system" expects and is strengthened by effort, frustration, planning, social relationships, movement, focus, and attention on nature, and unprocessed natural foods.

So, as much as possible, follow the "Fishmonger Theory" and receive stimuli that optimize your health.

Before dinner, plan that dinner. In this way, you will stop being on the PC or mobile screen. Wild fish is one of the best options due to its nutrient concentration. Moreover, we live in one of the best countries in the world to buy it at a good price anywhere. Sardines, hake, anchovies, mussels, cod... The options are varied and you will avoid processed foods that inflame your body and lack nutrients.

Walk to the supermarket. Movement is good for your body and brain. Wait in line at the fishmonger's. In a way, your Homo Sapiens system is prepared for waiting and frustration. Is there a long line? Even better. Things in the environment where we were better adapted than other species weren't obtained without patience. Sometimes the antelope escaped. Fish fled, or our collected fruits were stolen. Now we have everything and it's easy. We don't train our tolerance for frustration, which is natural and strengthens us.

Talk to the fishmonger. Ask about the best fish, the seas they inhabit, ways to cook... Social relationships are essential for our genes and our "sapiens system" expects and benefits from them.

Wait in line to pay. Patience again in the face of immediacy and whim. Effort vs. Laziness. When you achieve something by yourself, you strengthen. You have more self-esteem. Plus, you're exposing yourself to light, which may already be of the red spectrum and helps you better synchronize your circadian cycles than the blue