Tag: Ancient humans

Multiple studies using different methods have largely concluded that Neanderthals required significantly higher daily energy, potentially hundreds of calories more than early modern humans. So, did Neanderthals need more calories than humans? The scientific consensus points to yes, and the reasons are deeply rooted in their evolutionary biology and lifestyle.

Despite the popular image of early humans consuming one large meal after a hunt, mounting evidence suggests this is a myth. A more accurate picture of Paleolithic eating patterns reveals a complex, opportunistic, and varied diet dictated by environment and season. Our ancestors likely snacked on foraged food throughout the day, supplementing with larger meals when a big kill was made.

Our modern habit of eating three square meals a day is a relatively recent phenomenon, influenced by the agricultural and industrial revolutions. So, how many times did caveman eat a day, when their schedules were dictated by nature rather than the clock?

According to bioarchaeological studies, the examination of human skeletal remains provides crucial insights into the dietary habits of past populations. The most significant technique for this is stable isotope analysis, alongside other valuable methods like examining dental wear and analyzing archaeological residues.

For millions of years before modern food processing and agriculture, humans and our ancestors successfully met their sodium needs from a variety of natural and often unconventional sources. The biological craving for salt is a powerful instinct, ensuring that early humans sourced this vital mineral for essential bodily functions.

Genetic analysis has revealed that our ability to digest carbohydrates through increased salivary amylase production predates the agricultural revolution, emerging as early as 800,000 years ago. This evidence strongly indicates that humans did, in fact, evolve to eat carbs, challenging the notion of a strictly meat-based ancestral diet.

While modern diets rely on animal products or fortified foods for this essential nutrient, the question of **how did ancient humans get B12** reveals a fascinating reliance on a much broader and more primitive array of sources. Our ancestors adapted to find cobalamin in ways that would be unsafe or culturally taboo today.