One definition of moderation is the avoidance of excess or extremes, especially in one's behavior or political opinions. With regard to eating one dietitian tweeted, ““Moderation is eating less than you’d like of the foods you like!”.

An article in Psychology Today titled “Moderation Is the Key to Life: Health, well-being, and success rest on one principle: In all things moderation” calls attention to the fact that we don’t naturally moderate ourselves. Our culture pushes us to extremes – extremes in amusements, entertainment, eating, exercise, work, etc..

However, an article in NDTV Food asks “Is Everything in Moderation the Right Advice to Follow?” That article makes it clear that some things we naturally like or have cultivated a liking for are not good for us in any amounts. “Some foods that are high in trans-fat, fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils are bad for you in any given quantity, so even if you are following the moderate rule, it is not helping you in a good way.

There are some behaviors that are learned that are destructive of health. For example, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. It would be good if our children never touched these things. It would also be good if they were never introduced to candies or sodas. Once experienced it is exceedingly difficult to train the taste to enjoy more natural flavors, for example pure water.

When we are tempted to go to extremes in any area it would be well to ask the question, “Am I simply doing this so that I can brag about my accomplishments?” Ever notice how people who eat spicey hot foods sometimes brag about their capacity to down some extremely hot pepper? Marathons, triathlons in this author’s opinion are manifestations of our propensity to carry a good thing to extremes.

Bottom line. Embrace the good in moderation shun the harmful.