Tag: Evolutionary health

The human genome has changed very little over the past 10,000 years, even while our diets have been dramatically altered by agriculture and processed foods. This core evolutionary perspective is what informs the concept of primal diet, a lifestyle and eating plan designed to align modern humans with our ancestral past.

Before the agricultural revolution around 10,000 years ago, our ancestors' diets were diverse and unprocessed, in stark contrast to the modern Western diet. This historical difference prompts the key question: What did our ancestors eat to stay healthy? Their food choices, based on hunting and gathering, were pivotal for survival and vitality.

Over the past 10,000 years, the human diet has changed more rapidly than our genetics, a key idea driving the paleo diet. This rapid dietary shift, initiated by the agricultural revolution, has led to what proponents of the paleo diet refer to as an "evolutionary mismatch" between our ancient bodies and our modern food supply. The basic principle behind the paleo diet is therefore to consume only foods that would have been available to our Paleolithic ancestors, thereby avoiding modern, highly processed foods believed to contribute to poor health.

Did you know that prehistoric hunter-gatherers consumed a sodium-to-potassium ratio of approximately 1:16, a stark contrast to today's diet where sodium often outweighs potassium? This natural balance sheds light on the surprising places where did cavemen get electrolytes to stay healthy and active in their challenging environment.