In this blog, we’re exploring intriguing findings about early humans’ diet, uncovering how these ancestral eating patterns are not just a glimpse into our past, but key to understanding optimal health in the present.
The Foundation of Early Humans Diet: Opportunistic Meat Consumption
Early humans’ diet, a subject of profound importance to understanding our nutritional needs today, has been a topic of extensive research and debate. Prior to 2 million years ago (mya), our ancestors adopted an opportunistic approach to consuming meat. This period is crucial as it marks the initial stages of an evolutionary journey that would significantly shape human physiology and health.
Small and young animals were the primary source of meat, either through hunting or scavenging. The consumption of such meats, according to Larsen (2003), was not a matter of preference but of necessity and availability. This era underscores a fundamental aspect of the early human diet – the reliance on natural, unprocessed sources of nutrition. It reflects the philosophy that our bodies are optimized for whole, unmodified foods, aligning with the tenets of Organic Oasis.
The Evolution to Systematic Hunting: A Dietary Milestone
Post 2 mya, a pivotal shift occurred in the early humans diet. As Stanford & Bunn (2001) highlight, cooperative hunting allowed our ancestors to target larger game. This advancement was not merely a hunting strategy but a significant dietary evolution. Larger game meant more nutrient-dense meat, directly influencing human development – notably, increased stature and brain size.
This shift is a testament to the importance of natural, high-quality sources of protein in human evolution. It reinforces the preference for natural, organic meats like beef, which is nutrient-rich and aligns with our evolutionary dietary needs. The move from scavenging to systematic hunting underlines the evolutionary benefit of consuming meat, particularly for its role in brain development and physical growth.
The Impact of Agriculture: A Decline in Health
The advent of agriculture around 10,000 years ago marked another major transition in the early humans diet. Larsen (2003) notes a decrease in meat consumption and an increased reliance on domesticated grains. This shift had profound implications on human health, marked by increased morbidity and diseases linked to dietary changes.
This period echoes the pitfalls of moving away from a natural, meat-centered diet. The introduction of processed and domesticated foods led to a decline in overall health, reinforcing the philosophy that natural, unprocessed foods are essential for optimal health. It serves as a cautionary tale against the modern diet, which often includes processed grains and sugars that are far removed from what our ancestors thrived on.
The diet of early humans, from opportunistic meat consumption to systematic hunting, played a crucial role in our evolution. This historical dietary journey underscores the importance of natural, unprocessed, and meat-based nutrition for optimal health. As we reflect on the early humans diet, we are reminded of the need to align our modern dietary choices with our evolutionary past for better health and well-being. This early diet put is in states of ketosis for vast periods of time, to learn about the benefits of ketosis and how it can potentially prevent cancer, read this blog here. Organic food is readily available in stores like Riverford.