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It seems high carb diets go a long way towards reducing our overall hardiness as a species and as individuals.
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Over the course an evolutionary process spanning approximately two million years, human beings have genetically adapted to an isocaloric diet, meaning that energy from food corresponds to equal proportions of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids (30-35%). Traditionally, this was a “hunter-gatherer” diet (based on hunting meat and fish, and gathering vegetables and fruits). Around 6000 years ago, population increases prompted a change in human nomadic lifestyle patterns, which were replaced by a sedentary lifestyle and the “hunter-gatherer” diet gave way to an “agriculture-stockbreeding” diet [ 1 ]. For these people, the amount of carbohydrate in an average diet increased from very little, to about 30% of their dietary energy intake [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].
Since then, the human diet has changed drastically: protein intake has been reduced to 10-15%; glucid intake has increased to 50-60%; and mono and polyunsaturated fats (MUFA and PUFA) have been replaced by saturated and trans fats. Furthermore, carbohydrates consumed nowadays tend to have a high glycemic index because they are based on grains and refined sugars instead of vegetables and fruits. In such a short evolutionary period of time, human beings have been unable to adapt to this abrupt change in eating habits, and this has been a significant source of stress for our insulin metabolism [ 1 ]. The impossibility of genetically adapting to the new diet, in addition to other factors such as sedentarism and exposure to environmental toxic substances, are partially responsible for chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, essential hypertension, many forms of cancer, diabetes mellitus and obesity [ 7 ]. All these factors are very important but overeating is probably a primary factor that would have to be included.
The fact that the nutritional change from a hunter-gatherer diet to a carbohydrate-based diet has affected populations negatively has been revealed by archaeological findings in ancient Egyptian mummies, since tooth decay, cardiovascular disease and obesity were very frequent in those times [ 8 ]. More recently, this problem has also been reflected historically by the change in eating habits of Inuit peoples in Alaska. Traditionally, their diet contained 3-5% carbohydrates (since it was based on fish, marine mammals, moose and caribou), obesity was virtually nonexistent and type II diabetes was rare. Since 1961, a growing tendency in type II diabetes and obesity problems has been observed due to a progressive substitution of the traditional protein and fat-based diet by a diet with higher carbohydrate content. This increase has been so dramatic that in 1978, carbohydrates represented 50% of the total calorie contribution in their diet [ 9 ]. Another historical fact worth considering when analyzing the nutritional habits of American society is their increased consumption of carbohydrates, either through eating more food in general or by replacing fats with carbohydrates. This leads to an increase in obesity and atherogenic markers such as triglycerides and VLDL [ 10 ].
Most hunter–gatherers, for example, are not obese when they live their traditional lifestyle based on a low carbohydrate diet. Many hunter-gatherers consumed a predominantly plant-based diet, which was supplemented with meat when available, and others such as the Inuits consumed a high fat-protein diet. When such people are exposed to high, refined carbohydrate intake, however, they develop truncal obesity and a much higher risk of diabetes, up to 50% in some populations. This high waist-hip ratio and carbohydrate intolerance is shared by all hunter–gatherer populations throughout the world: Canadian Inuits, Native Americans, Mexican Indians, Pima Indians, South American Indians, Middle-Eastern Nomads, African Pygmies, Australian Aborigines, Maoris, South Sea Islanders, etc. [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].
Nevertheless, many factors are responsible for the health and metabolic disturbances currently experienced by modern hunter–gatherers like the Inuits. It is important to remember that millions of people worldwide from different countries have predominantly carbohydrate-based diets and the prevalence of obesity is very low in these countries. Hence other risk factor factors, such as sedentarism and high calorie intake, are clearly relevant in addition to the macronutrient composition of the diet.
Thus, all these data might suggest that it could be wrong to consider carbohydrates as the basis of the human diet.
It seems high carb diets go a long way towards reducing our overall hardiness as a species and as individuals.
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Over the course an evolutionary process spanning approximately two million years, human beings have genetically adapted to an isocaloric diet, meaning that energy from food corresponds to equal proportions of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids (30-35%). Traditionally, this was a “hunter-gatherer” diet (based on hunting meat and fish, and gathering vegetables and fruits). Around 6000 years ago, population increases prompted a change in human nomadic lifestyle patterns, which were replaced by a sedentary lifestyle and the “hunter-gatherer” diet gave way to an “agriculture-stockbreeding” diet [ 1 ]. For these people, the amount of carbohydrate in an average diet increased from very little, to about 30% of their dietary energy intake [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].
Since then, the human diet has changed drastically: protein intake has been reduced to 10-15%; glucid intake has increased to 50-60%; and mono and polyunsaturated fats (MUFA and PUFA) have been replaced by saturated and trans fats. Furthermore, carbohydrates consumed nowadays tend to have a high glycemic index because they are based on grains and refined sugars instead of vegetables and fruits. In such a short evolutionary period of time, human beings have been unable to adapt to this abrupt change in eating habits, and this has been a significant source of stress for our insulin metabolism [ 1 ]. The impossibility of genetically adapting to the new diet, in addition to other factors such as sedentarism and exposure to environmental toxic substances, are partially responsible for chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, essential hypertension, many forms of cancer, diabetes mellitus and obesity [ 7 ]. All these factors are very important but overeating is probably a primary factor that would have to be included.
The fact that the nutritional change from a hunter-gatherer diet to a carbohydrate-based diet has affected populations negatively has been revealed by archaeological findings in ancient Egyptian mummies, since tooth decay, cardiovascular disease and obesity were very frequent in those times [ 8 ]. More recently, this problem has also been reflected historically by the change in eating habits of Inuit peoples in Alaska. Traditionally, their diet contained 3-5% carbohydrates (since it was based on fish, marine mammals, moose and caribou), obesity was virtually nonexistent and type II diabetes was rare. Since 1961, a growing tendency in type II diabetes and obesity problems has been observed due to a progressive substitution of the traditional protein and fat-based diet by a diet with higher carbohydrate content. This increase has been so dramatic that in 1978, carbohydrates represented 50% of the total calorie contribution in their diet [ 9 ]. Another historical fact worth considering when analyzing the nutritional habits of American society is their increased consumption of carbohydrates, either through eating more food in general or by replacing fats with carbohydrates. This leads to an increase in obesity and atherogenic markers such as triglycerides and VLDL [ 10 ].
Most hunter–gatherers, for example, are not obese when they live their traditional lifestyle based on a low carbohydrate diet. Many hunter-gatherers consumed a predominantly plant-based diet, which was supplemented with meat when available, and others such as the Inuits consumed a high fat-protein diet. When such people are exposed to high, refined carbohydrate intake, however, they develop truncal obesity and a much higher risk of diabetes, up to 50% in some populations. This high waist-hip ratio and carbohydrate intolerance is shared by all hunter–gatherer populations throughout the world: Canadian Inuits, Native Americans, Mexican Indians, Pima Indians, South American Indians, Middle-Eastern Nomads, African Pygmies, Australian Aborigines, Maoris, South Sea Islanders, etc. [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].
Nevertheless, many factors are responsible for the health and metabolic disturbances currently experienced by modern hunter–gatherers like the Inuits. It is important to remember that millions of people worldwide from different countries have predominantly carbohydrate-based diets and the prevalence of obesity is very low in these countries. Hence other risk factor factors, such as sedentarism and high calorie intake, are clearly relevant in addition to the macronutrient composition of the diet.
Thus, all these data might suggest that it could be wrong to consider carbohydrates as the basis of the human diet.
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Re: Arguments In Favor Of Ketogenic Diets
Wed, February 20, 2008 - 1:15 PMstudies of indigenous peoples all over the world have verified this and proven time and time again that our modern diet is a killer and major source of unwellness. -
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Re: Arguments In Favor Of Ketogenic Diets
Fri, February 22, 2008 - 5:06 AMAncient humans ate a lot more fruits and vegetables and a loss less grains. Meat isnt something that was eaten 3 meals a day however, or even every single day in most ancient cultures. The exception to this is probably fishing communities. Its hard to make these kinds of generalizations though. Each population had its own diet. Cold northern regions were really heavy on red meat, while tropical regions probably had even higher sugar intake than we have now......the difference being that those sugars are from vitamin rich fruits off the tree rather than processed sugar. One population does not look like another.
There is no doubt however that our modern diet is crap. Grass fed cows are higher in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, while grain fed cows are higher in saturated fats.
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Re: Arguments In Favor Of Ketogenic Diets
Thu, February 28, 2008 - 2:14 AMSent, I think meat intake would be limited to availability.
If you kill something big, you need to pretty much eat what you can now and find a way to preserve the rest. For the time that you have a supply, meat will dominate your diet.
What you say about diet varying radically by population/geography, I am sure is true. I doubt that speaks to genetic differences as much as it does an inherent ability to adapt to whatever sources of nutrition are available. Of course, that adaptability would not extend beyond what is naturally available-- its the unnatural, adulterated foods that give us problems in our modern diet.
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Re: Arguments In Favor Of Ketogenic Diets
Thu, February 28, 2008 - 2:01 AMwww.naturalhealthyellowpages.com/h...df
Interesting little paper I found regarding fat quality and balancing intake of specific fat types.
I keep coming back to this because building up your health & hardiness NOW can mean the difference between life and death when shit finally does hit the fan sometime down the road.
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