Allostasis constitutes the physiological regulatory processes that balance the continual utilization and acquisition of biological resources required to support major organismic goals such as growth, reproduction and survival. Allostasis is the major task of a brain, and an optimally efficient brain anticipates changes in the world outside the body (and inside it), instead of merely reacting to them. An anticipating brain is also metabolically costly, expending resources in support of obtaining new resources such as glucose, oxygen, and water, in preparation for expected needs. These biological resources are what I will suggest that humans consider valuable. I will provide examples of allostatic physiological processes that support anticipated action, and how those may be reflected in measures of peripheral physiological function. Finally, I will propose that we need new paradigms and methods before we can fully comprehend the implications of this biologically-grounded view of what human brains deem valuable.