Translation: It is all biochemistry
It is all biochemistry: What you do right gets translated as a good biochemical result (health), and what you do wrong gets translated as a bad biochemical result otherwise known as a disease. If you smoke cigarettes, eat meat, drink coffee/alcohol or cola's, have a bad attitude, don't exercise, use heroin or cocaine, don't wear your seat belt, drive after you drink, you know that all of these are recognized and obvious "bad or incorrect or dangerous" behaviors which can hurt you or someone else.
For instance, I think one pack of cigarettes is the biochemical equal of, or translates in your body as, 3 lines of cocaine. I think that meat-cheese-eggs when frequently eaten may be the equal of some "lines of cocaine" or is what translates medically in your body as if you had used some lines of cocaine with regard to the effect of those things damaging your health. It is only fair not to take an absolutist position, good or bad, on almost any position, including these.
Don't think I am going to justify the use of cocaine, even though there have been legitimate medical uses for cocaine, and certain South American Indians have chewed on cocoa leaves for generations with no apparent adverse effect on their behavior, health, or culture. You can argue for or against anything, even cocaine as I just have within limits. But, in general, all the "bads" go in one category, and all the "goods" go in another. In so far as very few people are behaviorally perfect, we must try to be reasonable and do as much "good" as possible, while limiting as much "bad" as possible - or truth is, we will suffer the consequences.
This thought process started while I was discussing with a patient the fact that I smoke 1-3 cigarettes/day - well, not really. He smoked 1 1/2 to 2 packs of cigarettes a day, and I do drink 1-3 cups of coffee per day. I then stated, "I guess I've already had 1-3 cigarettes today. So much coffee I drink "equals" or translates biologically in me as the equal of so many cigarettes I would smoke.
Even though no one is perfect, no bad, dangerous, or unhealthy practice should be viewed as acceptable, and the first step is to realize what is the equal of what or what "translates" as what. As implied above, all the "bads" go into one category, and all the "goods" into another. Keep them apart and clear in your head.
Be aware, be alert, minimize mistakes, maximize the good things, correct improper behaviors, add to good behaviors and have an attitude of "I can care better for myself, I'm going to do better...." That translates as just good common sense!
H. Robert Silverstein, MD
Hartford, CT