The truth about truth: no one knows anything

Remember when eggs were killing us?

Then they weren't.

Then they were again.

Then, they became a superfood.

This isn't just about eggs.

Think about everything "true" you've been told:

• Cigarettes were good for digestion

• Sleep was for the lazy

• Milk built strong bones

• Salt was poison

• Cardio was the only way

• Sugar was just... sugar

Now think about how many of these "truths" have flipped:

• Coffee: From devil's drink to antioxidant hero

• Fat: From public enemy to brain fuel (hello, avocado)

• Sunlight: From cancer risk to vitamin D king

• Carbs: From food pyramid foundation to ketogenic villain #1

It gets more enjoyable when you look globally at the shifting status of foods across cultures and time:

• White bread: From a status symbol of the wealthy to a processed food villain

• Lobster: From poverty food in colonial America to luxury seafood

• Sushi in America: From exotic and suspicious to mainstream luxury

• Oats: From horse feed in England to premium health food

• Tomatoes: From feared poison to essential ingredient

• Potatoes: From suspicious exotic tuber to European staple

Look at these fascinating food transformations:

• In ancient Rome, oysters were so common that shells were used as pavement

• Caviar was served free in American bars (like peanuts) in the 1800s

• Kale was primarily used as a decorative garnish in Pizza Hut salad bars until the 2010s"

The flip-flopping isn't just about food.

Look at how our "truths" about technology keep changing:

• From: "Screen time will rot your brain"

• To: "Coding should be taught in kindergarten"

• From: "Social media connects the world"

• To: "Maybe we need a digital detox"

• From: "Remote work doesn't work"

• To: "The office might be optional"

• From: "The Internet is a fad"

• To: "Try surviving without it"

Our perspective on lifestyle and mental health has done similar somersaults:

• Therapy: From family shame to vulnerability flex

• Meditation: From hippie nonsense to corporate perk

• Work-life balance: From lazy excuse to hiring requirement

• Stress: From success badge to silent killer

The pattern is clear: What we "know" is mostly what we're told to know.

This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's just how knowledge evolves. Science learns new things.

Culture shifts.

And then marketing works its magic.

By the way, we’re still at it:

But this fascinates me: while modern society flip-flops between extremes, ancient wisdom consistently whispers the same mantra: "Nothing in excess. Everything in balance."

The Greeks called it "Pan Metron Ariston" (everything in moderation).

The Chinese called it "Zhong Yong" (the middle way).

The Arabs had "Al-Wasatiyyah" (the balanced path).

Different words. Same truth.

Maybe that's our only absolute truth: Moderation is the only path that makes sense when no one knows anything.

Because excess of anything—even truth—creates chaos.

So next time someone tells you they've found THE truth about anything:

• The perfect diet

• The ideal workout

• The best lifestyle

• The ultimate system

Remember: the truth comes in cycles.

Stay curious. Stay skeptical.

Stay moderate.