Could someone recover from this?

StormWarrior

Imagine if a teenager ate no fat and virtually no protein for 2 years. Let's say all they eat during that time is pasta, fruit, vegetables, baked beans and cornflakes. After 2 years of that, they switch back to eating normally. Do you think the lack of fat and protein during the time they are growing would cause permanent body/brain damage?

El_Dangeroso

Beans have protein

Honestly? No idea. I'm not sure you'd be able to get a volenteer too easily to try it out either

Depends on a myriad of factors, but check out this slide show of what people eat in a week around the world:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373680,00.html

That's pretty close to what you're describing, but with occasional meat.

That picture never ceases to shock me when you compare it to the abundance of the others. We have the luxury to discuss what foods we decide to eat/not eat, kinda puts it all in perspective.

Sapsorrow

Thas pretty much what I ate for 3 and a half years in boarding school. Cornflakes or rice cripsies for breakfast and white toast with margarine + jam. Lunch and dinner was usually chips with battered mushrooms, white pasat with tomato sauce etc or some crap like that for the veggies (never got eggs, beans or lentils or any other protein to compensate for being veggie). We also had desert every night to make it worse and usually snacked on crisps, chocolate, pot noodles and white bread toast :eek: Add to that the millions of cups of tea and coffee and the copius amount of cigarrettes I smoked. :rolleyes: I was anaemic for most of those years and on galfer for it. I have a small bone frame esp for my height but other than that I'm ok now (blood tests all come out good) and my health is great barr having IBS the last few years. I've a good muscle to fat ratio esp for someone who exercises very little etc..I think you can get away with a lot as long as you cop on big time in your twenties while your cell turnover rate is still very high, past 30 and you can recover less and less. The main thing is if you haven't reached peak bone mass as a teenager (like I obviously didn't) is to minimise the rate of bone mobilisation/loss for the rest of your life by avoiding sugar and taking calcium and vitamin D. I got into nutrition in a big way by aged 18 so I reckon my odds are alright, a genetic form of arthritis that affects the spine and really weakens the bone is in my family so I'll have to be carefull to preserve my bone health as much as possible. I haven't been tested for it but I assume I'm at high risk seeing as my mum has it and the doctor told her to warn us all about it.

EDIT: lol just saw the brain damage comment, jesus I walked straight into that one! Well I can't be too bad if I'm managing to pass my exams anyway but I suppose its open to debate

EileenG

I know someone who as a boy for ten years ate nothing but Burbon biscuits, toast and coke (drunk through a straw). He eventually started to eat more and now even eats fish and vegetables and stuff.

He's never going to win fitness competitions, but he's perfectly ordinary looking, normal height, normal (lack of) fitness, normal job. He's also a member of Mensa, so it didn't affect his IQ.

The human body is very resilient. Given half a chance, it can recover from a lot.

Darkginger

I used to know someone who had severe issues about food - he hated to be seen eating, and would only eat plain white bread, and chips. His physical appearance was - well, unfortunate - he was (and probably still is) about 5' 2", with a receding chin and an overall skinny look. He was in his twenties when I knew him, and holding down a very responsible government job. He went on to become the Chief Press Officer for a major institution, so I don't think his brain development suffered at all. His appearance could have been genetic, but I think his very limited diet may well have contributed. He did drink beer though!

Khannie

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Depends on a myriad of factors, but check out this slide show of what people eat in a week around the world:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373680,00.html

That's cool!

Thought the British or German family looked about the most sugary. Some of them looked delicious though.

El_Dangeroso

Khannie wrote: »

That's cool!

Thought the British or German family looked about the most sugary. Some of them looked delicious though.

Did you see all the beer in the German one?

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373764,00.html

At least they're honest!

I think the chinese one looked about the best.. the only one that didn't have copious amounts of packet food anyhow.. it's amazing to see how pervasive coca-cola has become.

cafecolour

I'm pretty sure I spent one year of uni eating nothing but peanut m&ms and pizza.

I'm not sure it did much damage to brain, though I doubt it was good for my arteries.

The copious binge drinking, now I'm pretty sure that had an effect.