Related Experiment Videos
Animal source foods and human health during evolution
1Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Larsen.53@osu.edu
The Journal of Nutrition
|December 16, 2003
Summary
Human dietary patterns evolved significantly, shifting from opportunistic meat acquisition to grain-based diets, impacting health. Modern diets high in fat contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Nutritional Science
- Human Evolution
Background:
- Animal source foods (ASF) have been integral to human diets throughout evolution.
- Dietary patterns shifted dramatically, from early opportunistic meat acquisition to cooperative hunting of large game.
- The agricultural revolution led to a narrowed diet, reduced meat consumption, and increased reliance on grains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolutionary changes in human dietary patterns.
- To correlate dietary shifts with changes in human health and physical development.
- To understand the long-term health consequences of modern dietary habits.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of archaeological human remains worldwide.
- Review of anthropological and historical dietary data.
- Correlation of dietary shifts with evidence of morbidity and physical changes.
Main Results:
- Increased human height between 2.0 and 1.7 million years ago possibly linked to efficient meat acquisition.
- The shift to agriculture around 10,000 years ago correlated with declines in health, including dental issues and anemia.
- Modern diets, particularly high-fat animal source foods combined with sedentary lifestyles, are linked to increased chronic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary dietary changes profoundly impacted human health and development.
- The transition to agriculture negatively affected population health compared to hunter-gatherer diets.
- Contemporary sedentary lifestyles and high-fat diets promote diseases of civilization, necessitating dietary reevaluation.