Tag: Hunter gatherer

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.

Archaeological evidence from dental calculus reveals that Neanderthals ate a variety of plants, challenging the myth of a meat-only caveman diet. So, what was the diet of the distant ancestors, and how did it change over millions of years of human evolution?

An estimated 99% of human history was dominated by a hunter-gatherer diet, making the last 12,000 years of agricultural and industrial food production a drastic evolutionary change. The differences and comparisons between food habits of earliest people and modern people reveal how food availability, processing, and lifestyles have profoundly reshaped human nutrition and health.

The human brain has increased 300% in size over six million years, a dietary shift that included meat likely making this possible. This brings into focus the complex question: are humans omnivores or scavengers, and how did these roles shape our ancestors' lives?

Archaeological evidence from human skeletal remains shows a noticeable decline in overall health and stature following the transition to farming. The fundamental dietary shift that happened during the agricultural era involved a move away from the highly varied, protein-rich diet of hunter-gatherers toward a more monotonous, carbohydrate-heavy diet dominated by cereal grains. This change had profound, long-term consequences for human health and society.

Based on mimicking the diet of prehistoric hunter-gatherers, the average paleo diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods like meat, fish, and vegetables. This eating pattern omits grains, legumes, and dairy, emphasizing nutrition from ancestral food sources.

Contrary to the popular single 'caveman diet' idea, evidence shows that early human diets were incredibly diverse and varied significantly by geography, climate, and season. The question of what was the original diet leads to a complex tapestry of plant and animal foods consumed over millions of years.

First popularized in 2002 by Dr. Loren Cordain's book, the modern version of the paleo diet is based on the idea that human genetics have not fully adapted to the modern diet that emerged with farming. With a focus on eating like our ancestors, understanding what is a simple definition of a paleo diet is key for those considering this eating plan.

In a 1985 landmark study, researchers posited that many modern chronic diseases stem from a mismatch between our current food choices and what kind of diet did our ancestors have, particularly those from the Paleolithic era. The truth, however, reveals a complex picture of diverse and changing ancestral eating patterns that varied dramatically by region and time.

Historically, the pre-contact Native American diet was incredibly diverse and adapted to local ecosystems, featuring a wide array of foods from hunting, gathering, and sophisticated agricultural practices. It consisted of more complex carbohydrates, fewer fats, and a vast variety of wild and cultivated foods harvested sustainably from the land.