The Biophysics of Food: Understanding Seasonal Signals for Optimal Health

How Seasonal Eating Aligns with Light-Encoded Nutrients to Optimize Health through Animal Produce, Vegetables, and Fruits

Our dietary philosophy for longevity is rooted in choosing seasonal, wild, line-caught, and snap-frozen seafood; organically grown, grass-fed/finished, and low-deuterium foods. We emphasize limiting inflammation, minimizing omega-6-rich food intake, reducing fructose and carbohydrates, and prioritizing omega-3-rich protein sources, while avoiding foods that deplete nutrients in the gut. Instead of focusing solely on nutrient profiles, we believe in selecting foods that naturally grow or are raised in your environment, letting this principle guide your nutrition to align with nature’s rhythms and support optimal health.

The Significance of Diet:

Food fundamentally represents stored light and water. This concept can be elucidated through the process of photosynthesis, wherein plants utilize chlorophyll containing magnesium to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into sugars, fats, and oxygen. These products are then consumed by animals and humans. Humans engage in a reverse process, metabolizing sugars, fats, and proteins, and inhaling oxygen. Through carbon and iron-based components like hemoglobin, melanin, and mitochondria, humans produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP). This interplay between humans/animals and plants forms a symbiotic system. For example, covering an orange tree with a tarp or depriving it of water will lead to its demise. The most abundant substance in both the Earth and human bodies is H2O, and the Sun is the primary source of energy. The interaction between light and water within biological systems is crucial for understanding energy and information storage.

Furthermore, the chemical structures of chlorophyll in plants and hemoglobin in human blood are almost identical, differing only in the metallic element used – magnesium in plants and iron in humans. This similarity underscores the intricate connections in nature. When we consume food, it is broken down to its subatomic particles – electrons and protons, which then fuel our cells' mitochondria to produce energy and water. This process, known as Electron Transport, highlights the fundamental role of electrons and their interaction with light, as per Albert Einstein's theories.

The significance of this process extends to our circadian rhythms, which dictate our sleep patterns based on light exposure. Disrupting these rhythms, for example by exposing ourselves to light after sunset, can adversely affect our health and longevity. This concept also applies to food consumption, suggesting that eating during the day aligns with our natural circadian rhythms.

Moreover, plants are geographically fixed and their fruits bear the unique light and water signature of their location, offering optimized instructions for longevity in that specific environment. Consuming food from a different geographic location can lead to a circadian mismatch, potentially causing inflammation, allergies, digestive issues, and chronic diseases. For instance, eating a banana grown in Brazil while living in Wisconsin creates a conflict between the environmental signals received by the skin and eyes and those processed by the stomach and gut, leading to various health issues.

When considering dietary advice or nutritional recommendations, it is important to understand the light and water context of the food. Local and seasonally appropriate food, ideally obtained from nearby farmers' markets, tends to be more in harmony with our biological systems. Understanding the relationship between light, water, and food is key to maintaining a healthy gut and overall well-being.

Nature’s design holds unparalleled wisdom, exemplified by the intricate relationship between plants, light, and human health. Fruits and vegetables embody an elegant fusion of biophysics and biochemistry, where the colors they reflect and absorb reveal powerful insights into their nutritional and energetic properties. Understanding the biophysical nature of these foods and aligning our diet with seasonal produce is essential for optimizing health and maintaining coherence with our environmental light signals.

The Genius of Nature and the Light-Coded Wisdom of Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are remarkable in how they reflect and absorb specific wavelengths of light due to their photopigments. These pigments—such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins—serve more than protective and metabolic roles; they act as indicators of the type and intensity of light the plant has absorbed during its growth cycle and the presence of anthocyanins help with temperature protection, especially in winter.

1. Pigments as Light Indicators:

• Summer produce like tomatoes, bell peppers, and peaches are abundant in carotenoids, pigments that reflect yellow, orange, and red wavelengths. These colors signal that the plant has absorbed the stronger blue light prevalent in stronger summer sunlight. The carotenoids not only protect the plant from intense light exposure but also offer humans potent antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lycopene.

• Winter produce such as kale, broccoli, and purple cabbage are rich in chlorophyll and anthocyanins, which absorb light in different spectrums, including yellow and red. These pigments equip these plants to thrive under lower-light, cooler conditions. Anthocyanins, found in dark berries and purple vegetables are present when the light environment of late fall and winter when sunlight is less intense and more diffuse and the cold stress is approaching.

2. Seasonal Eating as a Guide to Light Absorption

• Observing the color of fruits and vegetables provides insight into their photonic history. When selecting food, choosing in-season produce ensures that you are consuming light-coded nutrients compatible with your environment. For example:

• Berries such as blueberries, rich in anthocyanins, indicate an adaptation to absorb and utilize blue light and act as antioxidants. This aligns with fall conditions, suggesting a natural readiness for colder months.

• Citrus fruits like mandarins and grapefruit can be bright yellow and orange reflecting the light they absorbed in late summer and fall, and ripening in late fall, mirroring the sunlight's angle and intensity during those season, and signaling the need for specific nutrients like vitamin C for immune support over the winter.

The Role of Structured Water and Light in Fruits and Vegetables

The water within fruits and vegetables is not just ordinary water; it is structured water, also known as exclusion zone (EZ) water. This structured water forms due to the unique interaction between water molecules and the biophotonic energy generated through light exposure during the plant's growth. The structured water in plants helps maintain cellular health, energy transfer, and nutrient delivery.

Once a fruit or vegetable is harvested, its connection to chlorophyll, its light energy generator, is severed, initiating a gradual breakdown of this structured water. This degradation process can lead to oxidation and nutrient loss. This is why consuming fresh, locally-sourced, and seasonal produce is critical for obtaining the maximum benefits from structured water and maintaining the integrity of its light-encoded energy.

Eating with the Light Cycle: Daylight Hours Only

Consuming food in alignment with the body's natural circadian rhythms enhances metabolic efficiency. The human body is designed to receive nutrients and light signals during daylight hours, when cellular processes for digestion, energy production, and repair are most active. This synchronization ensures that the light-encoded information in fruits and vegetables is utilized optimally and supports metabolic coherence.

Eating outside of daylight hours disrupts this rhythm, potentially leading to metabolic stress and suboptimal nutrient utilization. By eating in accordance with daylight cycles, we reinforce the natural interplay between environmental light cues and biological function, promoting energy balance and overall health.

The Wisdom of Seasonal Light and Food Choices

Nature’s seasonal cycle reflects a perfect balance between light availability and plant nutrient profiles. Summer produce, with its vivid, warm colors, embodies the strength of high-energy sunlight, preparing the body for energy-intensive activities and protection against oxidative stress. In contrast, winter produce offers deep greens and purples, supporting immune function and adaptation to colder, darker conditions.

This biophysical connection means that by simply observing the color of seasonal fruits and vegetables, one can deduce the type of light they contain and their alignment with current environmental conditions. For example, the strong reds and oranges of summer foods indicate high levels of carotenoids adapted to intense sunlight, while the deep blues and greens of winter foods signify adaptation to cooler, less intense light.

Summary of Plant Products

The biophysics of fruits and vegetables reveals the profound intelligence of nature and its synergy with human health. Eating seasonally not only provides the body with the correct nutritional profile but also ensures that the light signals encoded in our food match the light signals in our environment. This coherence supports optimal cellular function and metabolic health. By eating foods during daylight hours and selecting seasonal produce, we harness nature’s wisdom, aligning our dietary habits with the powerful rhythms of light and life.

What about animal produce?

Animal produce, such as beef, lamb, pork, and fish, can also be chosen with a focus on seasonality and local proximity, reflecting nature's innate wisdom. The diet and life cycle of these animals are influenced by the availability of seasonal vegetation, temperature, and climate conditions. For example, cattle and sheep grazing on lush pastures in the spring and summer months absorb nutrients from vibrant, chlorophyll-rich vegetation, resulting in meat that is naturally richer in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants during these periods. This nutrient profile aligns with human health needs in preparation for the colder months when more energy and immune support are required.

Similarly, fish adhere to seasonal patterns, with their nutritional content often peaking during their natural breeding and migratory cycles. Cold-water fish such as salmon are especially beneficial when consumed in alignment with their spawning season, as their omega-3 content supports anti-inflammatory processes and heart health—critical as humans transition into winter months that place more stress on the body. Snap-freezing fish immediately after being caught helps preserve these nutrients and the structured water within their tissues. This method of preservation maintains the light-encoded energy and cellular integrity better than fish that have been transported for a day or more, making snap-frozen fish a highly nutritious option for those who do not have immediate access to fresh seafood.

Pork and other meats harvested in the fall or early winter are traditionally used to sustain energy levels during colder months. This meat typically has a higher fat content, providing essential energy for warmth and cellular function during a time when metabolic demands shift. Choosing local game meats such as venison or wild boar, which thrive seasonally, aligns dietary intake with the nutrient profile required to meet environmental challenges.

An intriguing aspect of seasonal animal produce is the deuterium content found in different foods. Summer animal produce tends to have slightly higher levels of deuterium compared to winter foods. Deuterium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen, can impact cellular and mitochondrial function when present in excess. The higher deuterium content in summer foods aligns with the body's increased energy demands and longer daylight exposure, while lower deuterium levels in winter produce support more efficient cellular processes during shorter days with reduced light exposure. This highlights the importance of adopting stricter dietary habits in winter to maintain optimal metabolic health, as the body is naturally adapted to process lower deuterium content during colder seasons.

By choosing animal produce in line with the season and local environment, we align ourselves with the nutrient cycles that nature provides. This practice enhances the consumption of foods that mirror the light environment and nutrient profile appropriate for each season. Understanding these principles helps us optimize our diet for the changing demands of the body and environment, maintaining balance and resilience through the year.

References

1. Seasonal Eating and Nutrient Density:

• "The Benefits of Seasonal Eating: Fresh, Nutrient-Dense, and Budget-Friendly" Home & Garden Information Center

• "The Health Benefits of Seasonal Eating, According to Dietitians" Verywell Health

2. Pigments in Fruits and Vegetables and Their Health Benefits:

• "The ripe stuff: Why seasonal eating can be a healthy delight" American Heart Association

• "What to Know About Seasonal Eating: Health Benefits And More" WebMD

3. Structured Water in Plants:

• "Structured Water: Definition, Benefits, Research, and More" Healthline

• "Structured Water: Definition, Research & Facts"  Zazen Alkaline Water

4. Circadian Rhythms and Meal Timing:

• "Optimize Your Diet: Adapting Your Eating with the Seasons"  Ask The Scientists

These resources provide insights into the importance of seasonal eating, the role of pigments in fruits and vegetables, the concept of structured water in plants, and the significance of aligning meal timing with circadian rhythms.

5. Seasonal Variation in Nutritional Composition of Meat:

• Seasonal Variation of Nutritional Constituents in Fish of South Asian Countries: A Review:

1. This review discusses how the nutritional composition of fish varies with seasons, influenced by factors like diet and environmental conditions.

2. https://www.academia.edu/50097806/Seasonal_variation_of_nutritional_constituents_in_fish_of_South_Asian_Countries_A_review

6. Impact of Seasonality on Meat Quality:

• Seasonal Variations in Lipid Content, Fatty Acid Composition and Nutritional Profiles of Five Freshwater Fish from the Amazon Basin:

1. This study examines how seasonal changes affect the lipid content and fatty acid composition in fish, highlighting the importance of seasonality on meat quality.

2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11746-016-2884-8

7. Deuterium Content in Food and Its Biological Implications:

• Deuterium and Its Impact on Living Organisms:

1. This article explores the presence of deuterium in biological systems and its effects on metabolic processes, providing context for understanding deuterium content in seasonal foods.

2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12223-019-00740-0

8. Benefits of Snap-Freezing Fish:

• Fish of the Day: Why Does Seafood Seasonality Matter?:

1. This article discusses the advantages of consuming seafood in season and the role of preservation methods like snap-freezing in maintaining nutritional quality.

2. https://nereusprogram.org/works/fish-of-the-day-why-does-seafood-seasonality-matter/

9. Structured Water in Biological Systems:

• Deuterium Excess in Precipitation and Its Climatological Significance:

1. This study delves into the concept of deuterium excess and its relevance in understanding water structure in biological entities, including plants and animals.

2. https://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~jjgibson/mypdfs/dexcess_JGR_wfigures.pdf

These references provide a scientific foundation for the discussion on the importance of selecting animal produce based on seasonality and local sourcing, the implications of deuterium content, and the benefits of preservation methods like snap-freezing.