IN HER INSIGHTFUL book, The Ecology of Care, author Didi Pershouse draws an intriguing parallel between bacteria living in the mucosa that lines our human intestines, and flora living in the soil that covers the surface our Earth. Individual organisms recapitulate processes of a greater system.
BUGS “R” US
Human DNA relegates many of its functions to the genome of bacteria residing in and on our bodies. These bacteria aid in immune response and nutrient absorption, as well as serving many other important roles. Our gut microbiome also appears to communicate with our brains via chemical cues; and it appears likely that these organisms can even affect our mood and other thought processes.
Similar to the human microbiome, the biome of healthy soil is also very much alive; containing bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and much more. A wide menagerie of soil flora is vitally necessary to aid in nutrient absorption in plants, and to provide an interactive milieu within which vegetation can thrive. Plants need soil, not dirt.
Whether living in our human bodies or in our Earth’s soil, bacteria and other organisms are not just interlopers along for a free ride; rather they are crucial components of vibrant and interactive systems. Any chemical that we add to our soil, or to the food that we eat, may have a profound effect upon this biome; and therefore upon the integrity and health of our bodies and of our Earth.
Anyone eating non-organic food can consider themselves to be a willing test subject in an enormous and unregulated study. This experiment will eventually determine if ingesting genetically modified foods or synthetic pesticides is harmful to humans; either via untoward effects on beneficial gut bacteria, or more directly due to intestinal absorption into the bloodstream with subsequent injury or mutation to the cells of various human tissues.
This experiment will also test the limits of the recovery capacity of our soils, and the overall resiliency of our planet and all of its creatures.
IT’S COMPLICATED
It is perhaps both arrogant and absurd to think that humans can intervene in extremely complex natural systems without consequence. It is impossible to touch one part of a mobile in a child’s bedroom without making the other parts move. And, of course, our ecosystem is many orders of magnitude more complicated than a toy hanging from a ceiling.
Whatever your belief, via Divine intention or merely chance, our Earth has found a balance that works beautifully. If you think you can improve on it, you had better be exceptionally brilliant, remarkably humble, and uncompromisingly careful. Even then you are likely to gum up the works.
Also, bear in mind that an interrupted established natural pathway gone awry in our human body has an ultimately defined ending, which is our death, premature or otherwise. Interrupting the workings of an entire ecosystem (via indiscriminate use of GMO's and pesticides) may be much more far reaching, with limitless consequences, possibly extending to unknown thousands of future generations.
The Agricultural Revolution has forever changed the landscape of the Earth, and there is no turning back the evolutionary clock. Left unmanaged by humanity, the Earth may not be able to provide enough food for 7 billion or more people. Our numbers are far too great to simply hunt and gather.
But the Earth will not allow itself to be controlled indefinitely, and it will never bow before humankind. It fights back even now, creating stronger hurricanes and flooding, and new pathogens to battle.
Fighting Nature is an unwinnable war. At some point in time, equilibrium will again be restored. This will likely necessitate that humans populate the planet in fewer numbers than we do today.
Our only way forward is to align ourselves with Nature – adjusting our sails rather than cursing the wind.
_________________________________________
I hope that I have convinced you to make the extra effort to eat predominantly organic foods. The consequences of maintaining the status quo would likely eventually be quite severe. The problems related to the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and currently utilized genetically modified food crops have far too great of a negative impact on your personal health and happiness, as well as on the viability of the Earth to sustain future generations of happy and healthy citizens.
_______________________________________
A few final "Sustainable Nutrition" comments:
The ultimate goal of sustainable nutrition is to minimize any negative influence on the entire ecosystem of the Earth, while also being responsible for the smaller more personal charge that is your body.
You probably cannot get too carried away with attempts to protect the planet for the welfare of others, as well as for its own beauty and intrinsic worth. It is also quite appropriate to be very careful about what you put in or on your body.
You can however be overly concerned regarding your personal appearance. You are not your body. Your body is simply a home for you to inhabit for up to about a hundred years. Concern yourself more with the inside health of your body, and less with how you think it looks in a swimsuit. Do the best you can with the body you have and find a balance that works for you. You are beautiful; whether you live in a body that is a cottage or a mansion.
This concludes a series of posts on sustainable nutrition. The next few entries will continue on the theme of optimizing personal health, this time changing our focus to a discussion regarding the use of medications.
Next post: “MEDICATION IN OUR BODIES.”
If you wish to be notified of future blog posts by email you can subscribe at the bottom of this page. Thanks!