Primal Primer 12 (Nutrition)
Agriculture and plant domestication plays pivotal role in the evolution of our species; fundamentally altering biology, culture, and social structure.
Dietary Shifts – Transition from hunter gatherer to agricultural leads to significant changes in the sapien’s diet. Early humans consumed diverse ranges of wild plants and animals, then shifting to domesticated crops like wheat, rice, and maize; resulting in changes to human physiology and psychology.
Population Growth – Agriculture supports larger more sedentary populations; leading to denser communities and evolutionary pressures related to disease resistance and innovation of societal structure and specialization.
Social Hierarchy – Advent of agriculture leads to food surpluses; engendering specialized roles and social structure based on classes, wealth, and land ownership.
Technological Innovation – Specialization of labor facilitates experts in tool development, spurring further social and economic layering of civilization.
Cognitive Changes – Complexity of agricultural life (planning, storing, and managing resources) favors cognitive abilities related to problem solving memory, and social interaction; indelibly changing the human brain.
Cultural Evolution – Agriculture allows for the accumulation of material wealth and knowledge leading to unprecedented pace of cultural evolution. The development of written language, mathematics, philosophy, government, and science is closely linked to original needs of agricultural societies.
Remember Your Ancestors
Despite many benefits and advancements in transitioning from hunter and gatherer to agriculture based civilizations, catastrophes of change linger. Remember your ancestors when hunting and gathering in modernity. Reframe yourself in tribal settings of east Africa in search of resources. The goal is to source the least processed, plastic laden, and chemical exposed foods and goods. Eat like the kings we once were and will be again. Ask yourself what your ancestors would hunt and gather from careful stalking of game and pickings of fruit and vegetable.
~Cave Implementation~
In the image of our ancestors, be critical when foraging or in pursuit of meat. Do not gather goods tainted by the gloved hands of industrial chemicals or mass production of processed nutrition. Scale through the tenets of practicality; dependent on the individual’s financial means or ability to home source.
Modern Hunting & Gathering Best Practices (F.O.L.I.)
Fresh & Local – Provides fresher and naturally within season options, while supporting immediate community business.
Organic & Verified – Certification of organic provides assurance of genetic modification absence and use of harsh pesticides.
Labeled With Minimum Ingredients – Listings with 8 or less ingredients are king.
Informed & Ethical – Grass fed animals are better aligned with natural diets, resulting in less inflamed, stressed, and anti-biotic consuming protein.
Eat What Our Ancestors Would Hunt & Gather From Careful Stalking Of Game & Seasonal Pickings Of Plant.
