Imagine an era where today’s common health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases were rare or nonexistent. This scenario, which sounds utopian today, was once a reality for much of human evolution. During that time, humans were naturally slim and healthy, fertile, enjoyed deep sleep, and lived to old age without neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or bone diseases like osteoporosis.
Today, many of these conditions, such as obesity and Alzheimer's, are considered normal. Yet, historically, these diseases are recent developments. For nearly 84,000 generations of human evolution, these so-called "modern diseases" were virtually absent.
But what has caused this dramatic change in our health? The answer lies in our modern lifestyle, especially in our diets. Major contributors to these health problems are foods that we now consume daily but that contain harmful elements. The biggest culprits are:
- Grains: Mainly processed flours.
- Omega-6 Industrial Oils: Such as corn and soybean oil.
- Sugar: Mainly in the form of high fructose corn syrup.
- Processed Soy: In various forms such as soy milk and soy proteins.
Each of these foods can lead to health problems if consumed in excess. The problem is that our current diet consists largely of these components, often in processed and industrial form.
The Impact of Grains and Industrial Oils Grains, such as wheat, corn, and rye, form the basis of many modern diets. However, the human digestive system is not optimally adapted to consuming large amounts of grains, especially in their processed form. This is also true of industrial oils, which are a recent addition to our diet and cause an imbalance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which can lead to a variety of health problems.
Sugar and Processed Soy: Hidden Dangers Sugar, especially in the form of high fructose corn syrup, is a common ingredient in processed foods. Consuming too much sugar can have serious health effects. Soy, often touted as healthy, can also have negative health effects in its processed form, especially if it makes up a large portion of the diet.
Towards a Healthier Future This article is not meant to be fear-mongering, but to raise awareness about the impact of our modern eating habits. By making more conscious choices about what we eat and limiting our intake of these potential “toxins,” we can take an important step towards a healthier future.
For further information and substantiation of these positions, please consult the following sources: