The Garden of Edén Issue #6 How Ancestral Food Practices Shaped Our Evolution.
Eating Our Way Through History
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The food we eat is an important part of our lives. It gives us the nutrients and energy we need to survive and thrive. Have you ever wondered why we eat the foods that we do? How did our ancestors decide what to eat, and how did these eating habits influence our evolution as a species? Let’s take a look at the history of ancestral food practices and how they influenced our diet and evolution.
Ancestral Food Practices:
Our ancestors were hunter-gatherers who lived off the land. They were adept at locating and gathering food in their surroundings. They ate a varied diet of plants, fruits, nuts, and meat. Their diet was influenced by their environment, season, and geography.
For example, those who lived near the sea ate seafood, while those who lived in the woods ate wild game and plants. They also learned how to preserve food by smoking, drying, and fermenting. These practices allowed them to store food for longer periods of time and ensured they had access to food all year.
Humans began to develop agriculture as they evolved. They domesticated animals and cultivated crops such as wheat, rice, and corn. This shift in food habits enabled them to settle in one location and build civilizations. The invention of the plow and irrigation systems made farming easier and resulted in a surplus of food.
The Surplus of Food:
Food surpluses resulted in population growth, which resulted in the development of cities and civilizations. It also contributed to the growth of trade, as people began to exchange goods and food. Food exchange resulted in the introduction of new foods and practices.
For instance, foods like potatoes, tomatoes, and corn were introduced to Europe as a result of the food trade between the old and new worlds. As a result of the introduction of these new foods, European eating habits changed.
The Industrial Revolution
Our food practices have undergone tremendous change as a result of the industrial revolution. Producing, storing, and moving food became simpler with the development of the steam engine, canning, refrigeration, and transportation networks.
Because of this, mass-produced foods were created, which decreased food quality. Food contamination resulted from the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals, and the usage of preservatives and additives resulted in a decline in the nutritional value of food.
The Modern Food System
In the modern world, food is easily accessible, and we have access to a wide variety of meals from around the globe. But the prevalence of chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease has increased as a result of the modern food system.
Consumption of whole foods including fruits, vegetables, and nuts has decreased as a result of a rise in the consumption of processed and fast food. This has caused our diets' nutritional content to diminish and our consumption of harmful fats, sugars, and salt to rise.
Our ancestors' eating habits have affected the evolution of the human diet. We have been able to live and flourish as a species because of our capacity to adapt to various habitats and food sources. Our ability to prepare food has also influenced how we eat and how we have evolved.
We can release nutrients from plant fibers and boost nutritional availability by cooking food. This has resulted in the growth of brains with more capacity for thought and communication.
Our relationship with food has changed over time, and it plays a significant role in our lives. Our diet and evolution have been affected by our ancestors' food habits, and changes in our health and well-being have been brought about by the current food system. In order to make wise decisions about the food we eat, it is crucial to comprehend the history of our agricultural methods.
Here is a Vita Nova Exilir to improve your health
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
1/8 cup of pomegranate juice
1/8 cup of ginger juice
Water
Add everything to a glass and stir!
With all our love
From Neurotrópico’s minds
Bogotá D.C., The Andes Range in Colombia!