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How the Western Diet Has Derailed Our Evolution - Issue 30: Identity - Nautilus
A Stronger Immunity
Westerners who grew up in villages, in farms, living among livestock at a ranch, or are exposed to certain infections at an early age, tend to have a lower risk of autoimmune diseases.
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Key Ideas
Paleo concept
Humans evolved on a diet very different from today's eating habits. To be healthier, leaner, stronger and fitter, we must re-think our diet and remove some of the food groups we ...
What to eat
- Animals (especially a "whole animal" approach, including organs, bone marrow, cartilage, and organs).
- Animal products (such as eggs or honey).
- Vegetables and fruits.
- Raw nuts and seeds.
- Added fats (like coconut oil, avocado, butter, ghee).
What to avoid
- Grains, although research suggests eating whole grains improve our health and appear to be neutral when it comes to inflammation.
- Heavily processed oils, such as canola and soybean oil.
- Legumes, although research suggests the benefits of legumes outweigh their anti-nutrient content. Cooking eliminates most anti-nutrient effects. Some anti-nutrients may even be good.
- Dairy.
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Key Ideas
Fiber gap
Only 5 percent of people in the US meet the Institute of Medicine’s recommended daily target of 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. That amounts to a population-wide deficiency.
Benefits of a fiber-rich diet
Eating a fiber-rich diet is associated with better gastrointestinal health and a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, even some cancers. Fiber slows the absorption of glucose — which evens out our blood sugar levels — and also lowers cholesterol and inflammation.
Fiber doesn’t just help us poop better — it also nourishes our gut microbiome.
Processed foods and fiber
Instead of munching on fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, more than half of the calories Americans consume come from ultra-processed foods. On any given day, nearly 40 percent of Americans eat fast food. These prepared and processed meals tend to be low in fiber, or even fiber free.
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Key Ideas
You are a Superorganism
We have always thought of ourselves as an organism. New studies point towards us being Superorganisms, with many organisms teaming up to become what we define as 'us'.
Th...
Our Microbiome Affects Our Mood
Our state of mind gets affected by our gut bacteria, which is part of our Microbiome.
Probiotics are live bacterial supplements and Prebiotics are the dietary fiber that promotes bacterial growth. In various experiments, scientists have been able to alter our stress response, anxiety levels and reduce mental health problems by administering Probiotics/Prebiotics in our stomach.
Psychobiotics
Psychobiotics is an upcoming class of medicines geared towards promoting psychological health through the alteration of your microbiota (Gut Bacteria).
Doctors have known since long that certain mental health problems do have their origin in the gut, like inflammation, but a detailed study on mice is now being done, with large-scale studies on humans in the offing.