Eirik G
arn
as
SHOULD YOU
EXERCISE LIKE A
HUNTER-GATHERER?
Is the human species excelling, or are we deteriorating?
This is the question many paleontologists, researchers and
others interested in the evolutionary basis of human health are
asking. Although life in the industrialized world has its upsides,
it’s becoming increasingly clear that many of the things we value
about our way of life come with significant costs.
In terms of average life expectancy, there’s no doubt that
modern medicine has helped us overcome a wide range of
infectious diseases and significantly decrease infant mortality.
However, even though most people would probably call increased
life expectancy a good thing, whether eliminating these selective
pressures that have been a natural part of human evolution is a
good thing is certainly up for debate.
What we do know is that many of the modern degenerative
diseases—such as cancer, acne vulgaris, type 2 diabetes and
cardiovascular disease—have rapidly increased in prevalence
over the last century. These so-called diseases of civilization are
now a part of life in the modern world; most everybody is afflicted
sometime during their lifetime, and very few of us die of old age.
However, as people involved in the ancestral health community
know, it hasn’t always been like this. It’s believed that our
Paleolithic ancestors didn’t experience the chronic health
disorders that run rampant in the modern world. This idea of a
strong, fit, healthy human ancestor is supported by studies of
contemporary hunter-gatherer populations, which show these
societies to be virtually free from diseases of civilization. (1, 2)
While average life expectancy in the Stone Age (and among
contemporary isolated primitive cultures) was generally lower
12 October 2014 eNewsletter
than modern standards, this shorter lifespan is thought to result
from high rates of infant mortality, accidental deaths, lack of
pharmaceutical assistance, and other factors associated with a
“harsher” existence. (3) So, is it possible hunter-gatherers were
virtually free from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other major
modern killers because they didn’t live long enough to fall prey to
these conditions? No. Studies of indigenous populations such as
the Inuit and the Kitavans have shown that these disorders are
absent even in the elderly. (2)
Most people will likely agree that there are many aspects
of the Stone Age lifestyle that don’t seem very appealing.
However, the fact is that humans have been hunter-gatherers
for most of our evolutionary history, and even though we now
live in a world far removed from that of our ancient ancestors,
our physiology is largely the same. Our genes were selected
for in the ancestral natural environment, and although there
have been some minor adaptations since then, we still remain
genetically adapted to the ancient evolutionary milieu. When
we diverge too far from this “default” ecological niche, as we
have done in the modern industrialized world, maladaptation
manifests itself as chronic disease.
Most of us are clearly not going to move into the wild and
adopt a forager existence. However, by combining the best of
the hunter-gatherer way of life and the modern world, we can get
many of the same health benefits as our prehistoric ancestors
without having to sacrifice the convenience and comfort of life in
the 21st century.