Tag: Indigenous food systems

Genetic studies suggest that nearly 100% of Native American populations were historically lactose intolerant, a key factor in their dietary practices prior to European contact. This absence of milk consumption was not a cultural choice based on lack of desire, but a biological reality tied to their ancestral heritage.

For millennia, Inuit have thrived in the Arctic on a diet primarily composed of hunted animals, a feat that has puzzled many outsiders. The answer to how do Inuit get nutrients reveals a deep understanding of animal anatomy and a reliance on specific preparation methods, such as consuming meat raw or frozen, to access vital vitamins often lost in cooking.

While Canada is a major agricultural producer, recent data shows that nearly 10 million Canadians struggle with food insecurity. The roots of this issue are complex, but awareness of widespread food insecurity as a contemporary problem in Canada largely emerged during the economic recession of the early 1980s.