Could you elaborate on how a paleo diet and lifestyle change reproduction? Thanks. -Rob in <lubbock >From: Robert Wolf <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Evolutionary Fitness Discussion List ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: [EVOLUTIONARY-FITNESS] Diet and thermogenesis >Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 21:00:51 -0500 > >This is my $0.02 on this touchy topic which I hope is helpfull and is MY >opinion. > One of the unique features of EF is its rejection of mechanistic high >volume activity as well as a nutrient poor carbohydrate rich diet. One can >think of few activities which destroy the power law more thouroughly than >does subsistence farming. High levels of activity conducted over extended >periods of time combined with a nutrinet poor diet produce a metabolic >state >which is prime for muscle loss and fat gain. A nuance of this situation >which is often over looked is the lack of chromium and essential fatty >acids >in the diet which enhance a hyperinsulinemic state. Body fat, whether on >men or women, is estrogenic particularly the fat deposited in the lower >stomach, hips and back (which is correlated with insulin resistence). An >increased estrogen level extends the time a woman is able to conceive which >is much of the reason why agriculturalists have such a higher birth rate >than do HG's. The Professors statement that it is "easy" to avoid needs to >be taken in proper context. Most first world countries have the rescources >and infrastructure to provide a diet consistent with that found in >preagricultural times. A shift towards this tyoe of diet combined with a >randomized active lifestyle WOULD make obesity as it is experienced >currently a rarity rather than the norm. In less developed countries >lacking the infrastructure to provide different food and living conditions >this will in fact be anything but "easy" but it is still consistent with >the >ideas of EF ( as I understand them). It is perhaps woth mentioning that we >and our prehuman ancestors had a very stable population for millions of >years prior to the advent of agriculture. We are very nearly to the point >of eating ourselves off this planet in only 10,000 years. >As to the venuses which were mentioned it is generally accepted that the >female form depected in these figures symbolized pregnancy, not obesity. >This point is supported by the state of current HG's who if they cary ectra >body fat it is distributed rather evenly throughout the body, not isolated >to the abdomen which, as mentioned above, is indicitive of an insulin >resistent state which in our past would have been virtually impossible to >attain. >Finally, perhaps the single greatest blow women have suffered in regards to >status and societal power was agriculture. Compared to modern societies >HG's had very little gender differences. Men played a central role in >child >rearing. Women hunted, granted less frequently than men, but in few >cultures was there a prohibition against it. Perhaps most importantly >women >had a level of reproductive freedom unknown for thousands of years as they >were less likely to have child after child. One of the most empowering >things a modern woman could do is eat and exercise in acordance with our >genetic heritage in such a way which makes birthcontrol a much more >controlable thing. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com