Applying the 150 year rule to your diet

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Good morning, 66.1ers.

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An exercise for us this morning. I talked on Wednesday about how Sourdough bread can be healthy. I suggested following the 150-year rule to guide your healthy eating. But I’m realizing that many people still struggle to make the 150 year rule work for them. So we’ll run through a few examples that should help. 

150 years ago. 1875. The Industrial Revolution was getting started. Seed oils and processed sugars were rare. Whole foods were the norm. Let’s run a few “healthy” food options from 2025 through the test: 

1. Beyond Burgers
   If you’ve read this newsletter for a while, you know I’m not a fan of fake meat. 

   Soy as a base, bound together with oils (whether they’re healthy or not) really doesn’t sound like human food.
   And it certainly didn’t exist 150 years ago.
   

2. Sandwich shops
   Subway tries to market themselves as healthy.
   Quizno’s, Jimmy John’s, etc. are often seen as a “healthier” alternative to other lunch options like Burger King and McDonald’s.
   But are the healthy?
   Or just less unhealthy?
   Deli meat tends to have nitrates and nitrites in it.
   Mayonnaise has seed oils.
   And most sandwich bread has added sugar.
   Passes the 150 year rule?
   Nope.
   If you can find a mom and pop shop with only clean ingredients, then we’re good to go.
   

3. Coffee
   Did you great-great grandmother drink a Starbucks Frappucino?
   No. 

   Lots of processed sugar.
   Would’ve been very hard to come by 150 years ago.
   But you know what was around 150 years ago?
   Straight black coffee.
   If you hate black coffee, add a splash of milk.
   It’s a wise idea to wean yourself off the sugar, though. 

At this point, I’m willing to bet you’ve got a question of your own. A food you’re wondering about. Does it follow the 150 year rule? Or maybe you have your own rule you follow to aid with clean eating? Send it in a reply here–I’ll answer it in this month’s Q&A.

Continuing on… 

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