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Chapter 5 - Accelerated dietary and lifestyle changes have given rise to new illnesses. Unexpectedly adaptive for a living thing, the human body can acclimate to significant nutritional changes. However, doing so could take several generations. When food processing started to become commonplace, the lengthy duration of this procedure presented a challenge. With little time to adjust, humans were suddenly presented with a wide range of new diseases. For instance, among the wealthier inhabitants of East and Southeast Asia, beriberi, a terrifying disease, first appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century. Heart difficulties, mobility concerns, and mental bewilderment were among the symptoms the affected individuals displayed. In the end, it was determined that a severe B1 deficiency was to blame for the disease. Wealthier individuals were impacted as a result of their ability to purchase the "better" highly polished rice, which had lost much of its B1 content. Pellagra then spread like wildfire among the impoverished communities of the American South around 1900. These groups had been consuming industrially milled corn products, which are significantly deficient in vitamin B3 as compared to fresh corn. Embarrassing signs of the illness included red sores, weakness, and even dementia. Processed food is a concern, but it's not the only one. Our health might also be negatively impacted by other lifestyle changes. Just consider the rising rates of food allergies and asthma. Although there is considerable disagreement as to why lifestyle choices are probably at a fault. Remember, the majority of people spend a lot of time indoors. We don't get as much sun exposure as we should, which results in reduced amounts of vitamin D, sometimes known as the "sunshine vitamin." Human allergies, therefore, increase because pregnant women with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have allergic offspring. Think about the hygiene hypothesis if you don't agree with that theory. It suggests that modern children's allergies and asthma are brought on by their too-clean upbringing. The theory is that a child's immune system requires exposure to some germs to teach itself how to distinguish between benign proteins and dangerous bacteria and fight diseases effectively. Chapter 6 - Your weight isn't explained by your calorie consumption, and a few more pounds may not be such a terrible thing after all. Did you know that Americans consume 300 more calories per person on average than Japanese people? That seems good, but is it worthwhile to follow their lead? There are benefits and drawbacks to calorie restriction. For instance, just because Japanese people live longer than Americans does not imply that they have a superior lifestyle. You can lose attention if you consume too few calories since your brain won't have enough energy to function. Additionally, eating too little protein over time may weaken your muscles. Consequently, trade-offs must be made. For instance, many animals may restrict unnecessary biological activities, such as reproduction, at a time of food scarcity. Similarly, women who consume fewer calories than males will live longer but will also be less fertile and more irritable. It's not a good idea to watch every calorie, even if you're overweight. To begin with, being a little overweight is beneficial. For instance, those who are a few pounds larger than usual and those whose body mass index ranges from 25 to 30 live longer than individuals who are of ordinary weight. This could be a result of the fact that those who are bigger have more fat to shield them from toxins and more energy to make up for the weight lost when suffering from severe disease. However, even if a few additional pounds were unhealthy, there is less of a correlation between weight and calorie intake than you might think. In actuality, studies have shown that lean modern hunter-gatherers consume roughly the same number of calories as the typical modern American and participate in similar levels of physical activity. The main distinction is that their seasonal variations in calorie consumption are bigger. Simply said, not all variations in body weight may be attributed to calorie intake and physical activity. Finally, it is futile to focus on your overall calorie intake without taking into account the sort of food they are derived from. It doesn't matter how few calories you consume if they are all from junk food and soda. Chapter 7 - While everyone has different nutritional demands, eating can and should be a social activity. Consider a scenario where your friend invites you to a buffet lunch but you're trying to eat well. Are meatballs, a bowl of oats, or just a glass of Prosecco better options? It depends, is the response. After all, the majority of meals and drinks aren't either good or bad. Because each person is unique, it's important to take into account factors like age, ethnicity, and how much of a specific item you'll consume when deciding which foods are healthy for you. Take alcohol only. Your gut and brain will suffer if you consume too much alcohol. However, research has shown that moderate alcohol use in those over forty years of age aids in the prevention of coronary heart disease. However, many Asian Americans should exercise caution when drinking. That's because they naturally create less alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme required by your body to metabolize alcohol in your stomach. As a result, Asians consume more alcohol per drink than their Caucasian counterparts do, which results in them becoming drunker. Similar to how females who consume a lot of meat mature sexually earlier and are thus more susceptible to certain malignancies, as you discovered in the last chapter. Early puberty is unimportant for senior women, and consuming more meat will probably help them get stronger. Therefore, nutritional requirements differ greatly from person to person, but this does not imply that eating should be a private matter. Nowadays, eating may be a solitary activity. But keep in mind that in the past, our ancestors would go on collective hunts and share their food. This benefited the local economy and made sure that everyone received a fair share. We should make meals more social to enjoy these advantages. It might be as simple as encouraging pay-what-you-can restaurants or eating out more with friends. By implementing these steps, we may restore dining as a social activity where people care about one another. 100 Million Years of Food by Stephen Le Book Review Over the past several million years, human food has undergone a significant evolution. We may comprehend the elements that influence our current meals by following this evolutionary path. There isn't a universal diet that works for everyone, but there are certain recommendations that might lead to better health and enjoyment. To save your health, sell your automobile. Everyone is aware that leading an active lifestyle is healthful. But when given the option, we frequently choose to stay with what is familiar. Therefore, think about parting with your automobile and requiring yourself to adopt active transportation. If you're not sure if it's a good idea for your health, simply think about the people who live on certain hilly islands where it was difficult to construct roads. They never had roads, therefore it was never possible to travel by automobile. These island residents commute by foot and bicycle and, as a result, have longer, healthier lives than their counterparts on the mainland.