How much food do we actually need?

[Lamont D]

How much food do we actually need to be relatively healthy?
The confusing information across the internet and what you are told to be a healthy diet for you. Is wide and varied, we are told to eat healthy, a well balanced diet, this many calories, five of this, five of that, all the labels that give us the total numbers of this and that, but from various other claims, our diet is no where near healthy because of the way food is processed, and treated by the food industry, even fresh food can have all sorts of pesticides and fertilizers, never mind what the animals eat before slaughter.
I have read that it is recommended to eat no more than 8000 kcal a day.
But surely depending on how this is achieved, one type of food that gets that high is too much?
I've been fasting, intermittently and had a few days without food and I seem to be surprisingly feeling better on these days than when I have a few meals a day.
I rarely hit that target recommended and again sustain that I am actually better off not eating half of that amount.
I work manually full time, do a lot of walking and do the chores, shopping etc. Barely get time to myself.
But because of my lifestyle, my food intake is low. How do I maintain my health being in ketosis and certainly not eating enough?
There are many examples of soldiers and people on rations and being still in very good health.
Could rationing your food intake, fasting, be actually good for you?
Do you think that you still eat too much?
Could you eat less and maintain your health?
Do you eat because you should, or when you feel hungry?

A lot of questions, food for thought, your opinion greatly appreciated.

 

[douglas99]

8000 kcal a day?

I'd die.

 

[Indy51]

I guess you mean kjoules, @Lamont D ?

 

[psignathus]

That's about four days worth of food. a sumo wrestler eats about 10,000 a day.

 

[noblehead]

Do you think that you still eat too much?

Occasionally yes, ate a bit too much over the festive period

Could you eat less and maintain your health?

Possibly yes but not by a great deal, I'd rather get my nutritional needs from food rather than resort to vitamins for example.

Do you eat because you should, or when you feel hungry?

Not because I should, my view is the body needs fuel to function properly and without the correct nutrition you could be storing up problems for the future, but hunger is good sign that it is time to eat.

Above all else food is to be enjoyed, it's one of life's little pleasures @Lamont D

 

[Resurgam]

Energy requirements can be very variable - when I eat low carb I don't restrict the amounts I eat, and so I have energy to spare, I sit around in a tee shirt in winter, wear sandals year round and shock people with the warmth of my hands. Last year on a diet intended to lower cholesterol levels I was wearing three layers and still shivering.

 

[douglas99]

Energy requirements can be very variable - when I eat low carb I don't restrict the amounts I eat, and so I have energy to spare, I sit around in a tee shirt in winter, wear sandals year round and shock people with the warmth of my hands. Last year on a diet intended to lower cholesterol levels I was wearing three layers and still shivering.

Wow, I felt cold after my weight loss, that must have been massive!
My body fat was a good insulator.