Tag: Evolutionary nutrition

According to the World Health Organization and FAO, humans should consume four to five servings of green leafy vegetables daily. But looking beyond modern dietary guidelines, one might wonder: are humans supposed to eat leafy greens from an evolutionary standpoint? The answer lies deep within our dietary past.

For over two million years, early humans lived as hunter-gatherers, shaping our biology to thrive on a highly diverse, omnivorous diet. The shift to an agricultural, and later, an industrial food system represents a minute fraction of human history, raising questions about what our bodies are truly built to consume.

Genetic studies reveal that humans are highly adaptable omnivores, capable of obtaining nutrients from a diverse range of plant and animal sources. This incredible dietary flexibility, shaped by millions of years of evolution, is central to understanding what human bodies are designed to eat.

Based on extensive archaeological and biological evidence, humans are evolutionarily adapted to be opportunistic omnivores, capable of thriving on a highly diverse diet of both plants and animals. This inherent adaptability has allowed our species to survive and flourish across vastly different ecosystems and climates throughout history.

Genetic research has shown that dietary patterns significantly shaped human evolution, influencing modern health outcomes. Discovering how to find your ancestral diet offers a personalized path to wellness by exploring your unique genetic and cultural food history.

Research consistently shows a strong correlation between a more diverse diet and a more diverse, healthier gut microbiome. This critical connection is a core reason why do humans need such a diverse diet, a fundamental requirement rooted in our biology and evolution.

For nearly 2.5 million years, early humans lived as hunter-gatherers, consuming a diet that was highly dependent on their environment. This makes the variable prehistoric eating pattern, rather than a single fixed regimen, the foundation for what is often considered the oldest diet plan.

Contrary to the popular image of the 'caveman' as a carnivorous meat-eater, early hominins and their direct predecessors consumed a much more diverse, omnivorous diet. This biological flexibility is a key aspect of human survival, and it raises the compelling question: what were humans supposed to eat naturally?

According to the World Health Organization, an unhealthy diet is one of the leading global risks to health. The question of what diet are humans supposed to follow, therefore, becomes critical for preventing diseases and achieving optimal wellness.

The human diet has evolved significantly over millions of years, far more complex than many modern fad diets suggest. The question of what did humans mostly eat has a dynamic answer, shifting drastically with geographical location, climate, and technological advances like cooking and agriculture.