Would You Use the Wrong Fuel in Your Car?

It's a simple question, really. Almost nobody would intentionally put the wrong type of fuel in their cars. If you own an electric vehicle, you wouldn't fill it with gasoline. If your car runs on gasoline, you certainly wouldn't use diesel. Similarly, for diesel and CNG vehicles, you stick to their specific fuels. It seems straightforward enough, right?

Recently, I had a revelation. We take great care to use the correct fuel for our vehicles, yet we often neglect to apply the same caution to our bodies by consuming improper food. This makes me wonder: do we value our cars more than our own health?

This thought brought back a memory from my youth. One day, I borrowed my brother-in-law's car to drop off my mother. On the way back, I noticed the fuel gauge was low, so I stopped at a gas station. Without realizing I was driving a diesel car, I asked the attendant to fill it with gasoline. He followed my instructions, and I didn't notice any immediate issues. However, after driving a short distance, I saw that the fuel gauge had barely moved despite having paid a substantial amount. Confused, I returned to the station and confronted the attendant. It turned out he had filled the tank with gasoline instead of diesel, as I had mistakenly instructed.

Realizing the potential damage to the engine, I parked the car and sought help. Fortunately, the gas station had a mechanic on hand who used a siphon to remove the incorrect fuel. Once the tank was emptied, we refilled it with diesel.

Imagine this: we almost never make the mistake of putting the wrong fuel in our car. But if we did and noticed it, we'd promptly correct our error. We'd drain the wrong fuel to the last drop and refill the tank with the right kind. We're so careful because, God forbid, the wrong fuel could damage the engine or disrupt the functioning of the car. That's exactly what I did after my mishap; the car was fine afterward and ran smoothly for a long time because we addressed the problem quickly.

Now, let's apply the same logic to our bodies. Unlike with our cars, we often put the wrong type of energy—incorrect foods—into our bodies, not just once or twice in our lifetimes but almost daily. And unlike with our cars, when we realize our mistake, we don't take immediate action to correct it. We don’t flush out the bad input; instead, we allow it to circulate through our system, impacting every part of our 'engine'—from our stomach and intestines to our bloodstream and organs.

This ongoing negligence suggests something alarming: we may actually value our cars more than our bodies. If we truly valued our health, wouldn't we take care of it as diligently as we do our cars? It's that simple.

Some time ago, I read Dr. Michael Greger's book, "How Not to Die," which provides profound insights. I greatly appreciate his research, particularly his advocacy for a plant-based, whole-food diet and his discussion on the detrimental effects of meat, dairy, and sugary foods, which he identifies as poor sources of energy.

In a Netflix documentary I watched, Dr. Greger made a statement that resonated deeply with me: "The most important decision you make every day is what you put in your mouth." This struck me because, in our daily lives, we face numerous decisions—from what time to wake up, what to do, who to meet, what to eat and drink, when to sleep, which tasks to tackle, and how to allocate our time, energy, and money.

Yet, according to Dr. Greger, the most critical of all these decisions is what we choose to eat. While other decisions—like our work, social interactions, exercise, and rest—are undeniably important, if I had to prioritize, the most crucial decision is indeed what we put in our mouths.

And here, I am updating his statement to reflect an equally important aspect: "The most important decision you make every day is what you put in your mouth and what you feed your brain." So, we find ourselves not only realizing the importance of the food we consume but also the material we feed our brains. What kind of content are we absorbing? This is just as crucial. We must consider both aspects to truly nurture our well-being.

Are you fueling your body correctly? If the fuel is wrong, the consequences can be dire, causing irreversible, permanent damage. Imagine if I had continued to drive my car with the wrong type of fuel. The engine would struggle, becoming less efficient and ultimately failing much sooner than expected. Similarly, our bodies might not show immediate effects, but the damage is ongoing internally.

I often wish we could see inside our bodies as clearly as we wish to see our car engines. Wouldn’t it be enlightening to visualize the condition of our internal organs, to see the plaque and fat surrounding them, or to check the health of our tissues? If we could watch how food moves through our digestive system, see if it encounters obstructions from accumulated plaque, it might make us think twice about our diet.

Imagine being able to see the effects of a 64-ounce soda moving through your body, or the path of a greasy, cheesy burger. If we could witness the damage firsthand, perhaps we would be more cautious the next time.

Just as we would never intentionally use the wrong fuel in our cars, we should avoid doing so with our bodies. The most crucial daily decision should be about what we consume—both the food that enters our mouths and the content that feeds our minds. This decision should take precedence over all others, whether it concerns meetings, tasks, or any other daily obligations.

We must focus on what we consume each day, not just plan for a month from now. It’s a daily consideration—what we feed our body and brain is paramount.

So what should we feed our body? This topic warrants a separate discussion, where we will explore optimal food choices. Generally speaking, a plant-based, whole-food diet is optimal. It has been tested across various regions, ages, and demographics worldwide and has proven to be the most beneficial and health-promoting diet. This diet includes minimal consumption of meat, poultry, processed foods, and dairy. It also advocates for the absolute minimum intake of added or artificial sugars. Natural sugars found in fruits are acceptable.

In addition to this, it's advisable to consume organic foods to minimize our intake of hormones, antibiotics, and other medications and pollutants that animals absorb and that can be transferred to us. Similarly, we should avoid plants that are chemically or genetically enhanced and treated with pesticides, opting instead for organic options.

The plant-based, whole-food diet is the remedy for many issues. The plan is simple, and the logic is straightforward. We know what our bodies need and the source of our fuel. We understand the detrimental effects of choosing the wrong fuel. We recognize that the most important decision in our lives is what we consume.

Let’s make that decision wisely on a daily basis. Choose the right food, consume it at the right times, and make a firm decision once about your diet, then adhere to it daily. It's equally crucial to consider the information and content we feed our brains, as this nourishes our mental well-being just as food does our physical health. I hope we can all lead a healthy, prosperous life by consistently following and consuming nutritious, organic, plant-based, whole foods.