>From:    Todd Moody <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Programmed to gain fat? (addendum)

>Some have argued that insulin resistance is in fact an
>*adaptation* whereby fat is readily stored during the short
>seasons of carb abundance typical of an ice age.  This would
>allow people to gorge during this season and quickly gain fat
>that would help to get them through the longer winter.  IR would
>become a disadvantage when lots of carbs become available
>year-round.

I think that evolution very possibly followed a course of: a) millions of
years of "frutarian"/insectevore mammals, b)development of more humanoid
types, c) continued development, use of some tools, possible use of fire,
d) more development, probable use of fire, then the ice ages came, e)
during the ice ages technology continued to develop slowly, and some
relatively rapid physical adaptations occured, brought on by severe
environmental conditions.  Throughout, you have a primate that continues
to develop mentally, as the brain gets bigger, and speech develops.
Speech is what really sets us apart from the rest of the primates, BTW
(probably other things too).

So, the big question is, how much change did that last bit of evolution
make and what is left of our previous physiologies?  I think it is
entirely possible that the IR Todd mentions above was a great patch to
get us over the ice age periods.  Combined with our intellect, and
increased hunting skills (bow and arrow as early as ~30 yrs?) we
survived.  I would also like to point out that it is this intellect that
spurred us on during the Neolithic era to use grains as population
exploded (plus alot of other things occuring).

So, today, we are not in an ice age, and we have the genes left over from
millions of years of evolution.  This is just about the biggest question
people argue over on this list:  do we take the relatively recent "big
hunter" past as our "ideal" diet, or more towards the earlier stages of
development, which lasted much longer, but are further away
chronologically.  I actually think a good balance is in order, but in the
end we all need to decide for ourselves, after we have weighed all the
data we can (BTW - weighing the data and seeking more info is a process
that should never cease, IMO).  Open minds are very beneficial to their
owners.

I also agree that everyone is programmed to store fat, in the sense that
you mentioned earlier, Todd.  I just needed a little clarification.

James Crocker
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"Beautiful are the things we see.
More beautiful those we understand.
Much the most beautiful those we do
not comprehend."
Niels Steensen, 1638-1686
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