The Moderation Myth: Why Our Hardwired Intelligence Has Been Hijacked
The Great Deception: How “Everything in Moderation” Became Humanity’s Health Downfall
After 16 years of living a plant-based raw food lifestyle, I’ve witnessed something deeply troubling: humanity’s surrender of its most basic survival instinct. We’ve traded our hardwired intelligence for a convenient lie wrapped in the seemingly reasonable phrase “everything in moderation.”
But here’s the truth that makes people uncomfortable: moderation of poison is still poison.
Why Your First Reaction is Resistance (And Why That’s Exactly the Problem)
When I tell people that processed foods, cooked foods, dairy, oil, and sugar are toxic slow poisons destroying their mental and physical health, I see the same predictable response pattern:
Stage 1: Immediate Rejection
- “That’s too extreme”
- “I could never give up [favorite toxic food]”
- “Humans have been cooking for thousands of years”
- “I need my protein/calcium/energy”
Stage 2: The Moderation Bargain
- “Everything in moderation is fine”
- “A little bit won’t hurt”
- “Life is meant to be enjoyed”
- “Balance is key”
This resistance isn’t personal weakness—it’s biochemical addiction combined with cultural programming. Your body is literally fighting against the withdrawal from substances it’s been conditioned to crave.
The Four Pillars of Modern Dietary Destruction
1. Processed Foods: The Frankenstein of Nutrition
What they are: Anything that comes in a package with ingredients your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize.
Why they’re toxic:
- Stripped of natural enzymes and life force
- Loaded with preservatives that kill beneficial gut bacteria
- Engineered to trigger addictive eating patterns
- Devoid of bioavailable nutrients your cells can actually use
The moderation myth: “A few processed snacks won’t hurt.” Reality: Each processed meal is training your taste buds to reject real food while feeding harmful bacteria in your gut.
2. Cooked Foods: Destroying Life Force Through Heat
The uncomfortable truth: Cooking food above 118°F destroys enzymes, alters molecular structures, and creates toxic compounds.
What cooking does to your food:
- Destroys heat-sensitive vitamins (especially C and B vitamins)
- Creates acrylamides and other carcinogenic compounds
- Denatures proteins, making them harder to digest
- Transforms healthy fats into trans fats and free radicals
The moderation myth: “Cooked vegetables are still healthy.” Reality: You’re consuming nutritionally depleted food that requires more energy to digest than it provides.
3. Dairy: The Mucus-Forming, Inflammation-Triggering Deception
The biological reality: Humans are the only species that drinks another species’ milk past weaning.
Why dairy devastates your system:
- Creates excessive mucus production, clogging your elimination pathways
- Contains casein, a protein that acts like an opiate in your brain
- Loaded with hormones and antibiotics from factory farming
- Linked to autoimmune conditions, allergies, and digestive disorders
The moderation myth: “A little cheese or yogurt is fine.” Reality: Even small amounts trigger inflammatory cascades that can last for days.
4. Refined Oils and Sugar: The Silent Cellular Assassins
Refined oils: These processed fats cause cellular inflammation, disrupt hormonal balance, and contribute to every chronic disease.
Refined sugar: The white death that feeds cancer cells, disrupts brain function, and creates a roller coaster of energy crashes.
The moderation myth: “Natural sugars and good oils are okay.” Reality: Your cells don’t need added oils or refined sugars—ever. Whole fruits and nuts provide everything your body requires.
What Happened to Our Hardwired Intelligence?
The Historical Perspective
For millions of years, humans thrived on raw plant foods. Our ancestors had:
- Perfect dental health without toothbrushes
- No chronic diseases
- Intuitive eating patterns
- Natural detoxification systems
The Modern Hijacking
In just 150 years, we’ve:
- Industrialized our food supply
- Created addiction-designed processed foods
- Normalized chronic illness as “aging”
- Medicated symptoms instead of addressing root causes
Your hardwired intelligence is still there—it’s just been overridden by artificial stimuli.
The Step-by-Step Path Back to Your Natural Intelligence
Phase 1: Recognition (Days 1-7)
- Document your current symptoms: Energy levels, digestion, mood, sleep, skin condition
- Track your cravings: Notice when you want processed foods vs. natural foods
- Observe your resistance: What excuses does your mind create?
- Begin with one meal: Make breakfast 100% raw (fresh fruits, greens, nuts)
Phase 2: Gradual Elimination (Weeks 2-4)
- Week 2: Remove all processed foods and refined sugars
- Week 3: Eliminate dairy and eggs
- Week 4: Reduce cooked foods to one meal per day
- Throughout: Increase raw fruits and vegetables at every meal
Phase 3: Raw Transition (Weeks 5-8)
- Focus on hydrating foods: Water-rich fruits and vegetables
- Master food combining: Eat fruits alone, don’t mix proteins with starches
- Eat seasonally: Choose foods that grow in your climate during current season
- Listen to your body: True hunger vs. habit/emotional eating
Phase 4: Thriving (Weeks 9-12 and beyond)
- Develop intuitive eating: Your body will tell you exactly what it needs
- Experience true energy: No more afternoon crashes or morning fatigue
- Mental clarity returns: Brain fog lifts, creativity soars
- Natural detoxification: Your body heals decades of accumulated toxins
What to Expect: The Truth About Transformation
Week 1-2: The Storm
- Intense cravings for old foods
- Possible headaches as your body detoxifies
- Emotional resistance and social pressure
- Energy fluctuations
Week 3-4: The Shift
- Cravings begin to subside
- Sleep quality improves
- Digestion becomes more efficient
- Mental clarity increases
Month 2-3: The Awakening
- Natural foods taste incredibly sweet and satisfying
- Energy levels stabilize at higher baseline
- Chronic symptoms begin resolving
- Intuitive eating patterns emerge
Month 4-6: The Revolution
- Complete transformation of taste preferences
- Effortless weight optimization
- Emotional stability improves dramatically
- Physical performance enhances naturally
Breaking Free from the Moderation Prison
The moderation mindset keeps you trapped because:
- It maintains your addiction to harmful substances
- It prevents your taste buds from adapting to natural foods
- It gives your ego permission to stay comfortable
- It stops you from experiencing your true potential
Real freedom comes from elimination, not moderation.
Addressing the Common Objections
“But I need protein!”
Every plant contains amino acids. Leafy greens are 45% protein by calorie. You’ve never seen a protein-deficient vegetarian in nature.
“What about social situations?”
Bring your own food, eat before you go, or focus on the social connection rather than the food. True friends support your health journey.
“It’s too expensive!”
Chronic disease is expensive. Fruits and vegetables are the most economical foods per nutrient. Calculate the cost of your current health problems.
“I don’t have time!”
Raw food requires no cooking time. Grab an apple versus preparing a processed meal. Which is actually faster?
The Ripple Effect: How Your Transformation Impacts Everything
When you reclaim your natural dietary intelligence:
- Your mental clarity becomes razor-sharp
- Your emotional resilience skyrockets
- Your physical energy becomes boundless
- Your spiritual connection deepens
- You become an inspiration to others
Your Hardwired Intelligence is Calling
After 16 years of raw living, I can tell you this: your body knows exactly what it needs. The problem isn’t lack of willpower—it’s that your natural signals have been hijacked by artificial substances designed to override your biological wisdom.
The moderation myth isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous. It keeps humanity sick, confused, and disconnected from our most basic survival instincts.
Your hardwired intelligence is still there, waiting beneath the layers of conditioning and addiction. The question isn’t whether you can hear it—the question is whether you’re brave enough to listen.
The Choice is Yours
You can continue believing the comfortable lie that slow poison in moderation is acceptable, or you can reclaim the vibrant health that is your birthright.
The path isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Your future self is waiting.
After 16 years of raw food living, I’ve seen thousands of people transform their health by abandoning the moderation myth and embracing their natural dietary intelligence. The question isn’t whether this works—the question is whether you’re ready to stop making excuses and start living.
–Axay Shah
Raw Food Guru
IN NATURE WE TRUST