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The principle of the golden mean.

 

The principle of the golden mean. The tendency to swing to extremes in the search for truth has long been recognized by people. Buddha explained this using the metaphor of a musical instrument, asking, “Tell me, will music sound if the string is too loose?” — “No, teacher.” “And will we hear music if the string is pulled so tight it’s about to snap?” — “No, teacher.” 
 
Buddha continued, “The music you wish to draw from yourself will only emerge when the strings are neither too loose nor too tight but perfectly balanced in the middle. Know that excessive tension leads to excess, while too much relaxation results in weakness. Find your balance — only then can you achieve your goals.”
 
This principle applies to improving your health as well. There is always a golden mean, optimal performance or resilience point, and the lowest mortality risk. The golden mean may differ among individuals depending on their genetics and lifestyle. It can be determined empirically by calculating the optimal load that yields the most significant benefit. Here are a few examples:
 
 
✅1. Dopamine. Low dopamine is associated with apathy, low mood, abulia, and reduced physical activity. High dopamine, conversely, manifests as mania — hyperexcitability, euphoria, and inappropriateness. In the first case, increase dopamine to reach an optimal level; in the latter, reduce it.
 
✅2. Iron. Low iron stores ( too low ferritin) reduce endurance, slow growth, cause hair loss, impair tissue repa
ir, and lead to other issues. Excess iron in the body (too high ferritin) increases oxidative stress and elevates the risk of dementia and cardiovascular disease. In the first case, iron supplements are used; in the second, blood donations are used.
 
✅3. Green tea. Even one cup of green tea daily provides benefits, containing about 100 mg of epigallocatechin. It might seem like more is better, but consuming 800 mg or more of epigallocatechin can damage the liver and raise liver enzyme levels.
 
✅4. Ultraviolet light. Lack of ultraviolet exposure can lead to vitamin D deficiency, increasing the risk of several diseases and raising blood pressure. Excessive ultraviolet exposure accelerates skin photoaging and increases the risk of skin cancer and melanoma.
 
How do you define the middle way? Is it easy to find balance?

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