Too Much of a Good Thing

Resumen del libro

Famed cardiologist and public health specialist Lee Goldman is a professor at the Columbia University Medical Center. He is best known for having developed the Goldman Criteria, a tool for determining which cardiac patients should get priority treatment.

The human body, much like elderly individuals learning to navigate computers, struggles to adapt to rapid changes in the modern world. From the evolution of lighter skin to combat vitamin D deficiencies in less sunny regions to the Industrial Revolution’s drastic lifestyle shifts, our biology remains rooted in survival mechanisms that are now often counterproductive. Ancient instincts to store fat for energy, conserve water and salt, or react swiftly to threats once ensured survival but now contribute to obesity, hypertension, and anxiety in a world of abundance and safety. While individual willpower alone is insufficient to counter these challenges, collective efforts—such as government policies on nutrition and cultural practices like Japan’s waist measurement mandates—have shown promise. Advances in medicine and genetic research also offer hope, with breakthroughs like HIV-resistant gene therapies and optogenetics demonstrating the potential to address chronic illnesses and mental health issues. However, the pace of environmental and societal changes far outstrips our ability to naturally adapt, leaving us reliant on innovation and collective action to navigate these modern challenges.

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