Tiers of health concern

This is intended to be a list of things to worry about, in order, based on prevailing scientific evidence of hazard. The idea is that you shouldn't be too concerned with things two levels down if you're not meeting one of these ideals on a given level. To make informed choices we need perspective on the amount of harm we cause ourselves, not just qualitative ideas that a given behavior can cause harm.

0th tier: Avoiding morbid obesity and starvation

1st tier: Roughly normal body weight achieved by adjusting calorie balance Exercise (if insulin-dependent diabetes) blood sugar management Avoiding dysfunctionally addictive drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth A minimally balanced diet

2nd tier: Not too extreme macronutrient balance (if moderate/mild diabetes) blood sugar management Avoiding prolonged sitting and refraining from sedentary lifestyle Minimal levels of common nutrients, avoiding gross deficiencies using a balanced diet or extensive supplementation Normal blood pressure achieved by adjusting salt:water intake ratio Avoiding tobacco and alcohol

3rd tier: Fat, protein, and starch type fiber, flora, and gastrointestinal function normal range of common nutrients, achieved by specific supplementation fixing obvious gaps in a balanced diet Recreational substance toxicity high-dose nutrient toxicity from things eaten in excess on special diets pesticides in improperly consumed foods (orange peel)

4th tier: pesticides in properly consumed food common food toxins common food preparation toxins nutrient balance in common and rare nutrients, achieved by extensive supplementation and blood testing