Why the Paleo diet is too simplistic

[firecat]

This article talks about how humans vary in how many copies we have of a gene that codes for a carbohydrate-processing enzyme. Humans who live in societies where starch is a major part of the diet tend to have more copies.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/12/11/amylase-and-human-evolution/

When I say the Paleo diet is too simplistic, I mean that this is evidence human digestion has evolved since the introduction of agriculture. If you are on the Paleo diet and feel happy and healthy, that's cool.

Comments

[shehasathree]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Because it leaves out the 2% insects.

[andrewducker]

Thank you, that was fascinating.

[laughingrat]

*nods* Yeah it probably works really well for some people, although I'm puzzled by the idea that grain is bad mmkay since humans probably foraged for greens and grains alongside hunting for meat. I mean, we developed a lot of those wild grasses into the grains we know today, yeah, but first we had to know them as potential food, and that happened because we'd been eating them. *laughs* Oh god that sounds so circular but you know what I mean, hopefully.