Originally posted by Rhapsody:

Dodging, footwork, root harnesk, bonemass power and frost weapons exist. If you're doing two stamina foods, you should not be trying to parry each blow from high rank mobs in mistlands. The choice is yours.

I do know how to fight enemies without blocking, surviving in mistlands is not a problem but knowing how to fight enemies despite flawed mechanics doesn't change the fact that the mechanics are flawed.
When using 2 stamina foods I don't mind losing most of my health from a single failed parry because then it is my fault, but I do mind losing almost all of my health despite doing a perfect parry with the best buckler in the game and a decent blocking skill just because I ate different food. As I said in the initial post, it makes no sense that staggering depends on health only.