Monday, November 30, 2009
Another example of the anti-feedback orthodoxy
Via the Voice of Russia, a new study at Univ of Calif Davis.
Since every single layer and bit of our bodies uses negative feedback to maintain homeostasis, this really shouldn't be 'controversial'.
I'm pretty sure it's not controversial among biologists; only controversial for advocates like CSPI, which is reliably following the good old Lysenko / Skinner line: Nothing is innate, nothing is automatic, nothing is self-controlling. Everything depends on our "choices", thus we must "choose" to follow orders from authorities who "know" best. Humans are passive machines. ¶ 9:49 AM
In an article published in the latest issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology a team of University of California-Davis nutrition researchers maintain that humans naturally regulate their sodium intake. In the article David McCarron, an adjunct UC-Davis nutrition professor, says that the controversial conclusion is backed by sound data.
The study finds that the human body makes sure sodium levels remain within a certain range at all times, similar to bodily functions that are homeostatically maintained, such as body temperature.
"Our sodium intake is regulated by the brain, and your brain won't let you go very far outside of that boundary," McCarron said. "You may eat that whole bag of chips, but it just means that as you sit down you'll unconsciously go toward foods that are lower in sodium."
...
The study has angered nutrition policy advocates, with Michael Jacobson with the Center for Science in the Public Interest warning that to follow the report’s conclusions would be a disservice to the people.
Since every single layer and bit of our bodies uses negative feedback to maintain homeostasis, this really shouldn't be 'controversial'.
I'm pretty sure it's not controversial among biologists; only controversial for advocates like CSPI, which is reliably following the good old Lysenko / Skinner line: Nothing is innate, nothing is automatic, nothing is self-controlling. Everything depends on our "choices", thus we must "choose" to follow orders from authorities who "know" best. Humans are passive machines. ¶ 9:49 AM
