Nas said we’re doing too much?
Hailing from opposite ends of Queens, New York, one might say that Nas and I have just this borough in common. However, his art of storytelling somehow always leaves me inspired to do the same.
There I was, listening to his thirteenth studio album…
“The definition of King’s Disease; Well, also known as rich man disease. You ain’t gotta be rich to get it. Just doing too much you’ll get it.”
As a nutritionist who’s still sharpening her toolkit, my go-to advice for those who ask is everything in moderation. But this got me thinking about all of the other aspects of life in which we might just be doin’ too much.
Speaking figuratively and literally, Nas describes the consequences that accompany too much of a good thing. “The disease of kings” or more commonly known as gout, was once only known to affect royalty. The overindulgence of meat and wine by European royalty was most likely to blame.
“Gout, uric acid levels up high”
Gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis, is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in joints. The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines, a substance naturally found in the body and in foods like meat, seafood, and alcohol (i.e the gluttonous diet staples of kings). In today’s world where eating like a king is readily accessible, gout and overindulgence are still prevalent.
For the average person, I could recommend eating from a balanced plate of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, fats, etc. This is because your plate needs a little bit of everything to provide the most optimal outcome in terms of health and performance. But Nas wasn’t necessarily trying to tell you to eat healthier. His definition of King’s Disease describes what happens when we tend to overindulge in ourselves.
Although we may not have all the money and power to get to our heads, we all can step back, take inventory, and really look at where we really might just be doin too much? — What’s been building up over time that may not have caused damage thus far but you know isn’t adding any positive value?
Is it ego? Complaining? Judgment? Hate? Greed? Or even certain relationships?
Perfection may no longer be the goal, but balance. How can you achieve balance to provide the most optimal version of yourself? Maybe for you, that does mean learning how to balance your plate out, or maybe it means catching yourself before you pass judgment, or maybe it’s just taking a step back and trying to figure out what balance means to you.
When it comes to nutrition, I’ve been taught to take a holistic approach; to look at all the different elements that make up an individual. I’ve also learned that it’s not always about what someone may be eating. Sometimes, it’s just that too much of something else in life is getting in the way.
