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Health Overview of the day Food Exercise Sleep and rest Infectious Diseases “Old wives tales” Health and evolution For 99% of the time humans have been on earth, they were hunter-gathers 1.2 million years ago to about 10,000 years ago: Hunter-gatherers: 10,000 years ago: Agriculture 200 years ago: Industrial revolution 80 years ago: Modern medicine Our bodies are adapted to living as huntergatherers Mismatch hypothesis The stone age way of life to which our biological and psychological make-up is still adapted is very different from the modern, western environment. Therefore, we are mismatched-psychologically and biologically--to the modern environment. Food HG diet: 22% fat, 41% carbohydrates, 37 protein We are adapted to crave: fats, sweets, salt Scarce and hard to get in the EEA Modern diet: 42% fat, 46% carbohydrates, 12% protein Abundant and easy to get The modern diet Too much fat, sugar, and salt Cravings remain the same Easy to get Concentrated forms Dense calories Diet Niches: The case of spice usage Why do spices taste good? They are good for us, they have antimicrobial properties--they kill harmful bacteria Where are spices most widely used? Hot climates (where bacteria in foods are more likely to occur) In what type of foods are spices most widely used? Meat dishes (more likely to spoil than vegetable dishes) Exercise Hunter-gatherers: Were fit They engaged in frequent aerobic exercise Had low % of body fat Had frequent rest days Most modern humans Are out of shape (only 10-15% get regular exercise) Sleep Sleep deprivation has reached epidemic proportions in the US and other modern societies Evolved sleep needs: 8-9 hours per night 20 minutes of a mid-afternoon nap Current sleep patterns: about 6-7 hours (or less) per night, and no naps Why we don’t get enough sleep Technologies not available in EEA Electric lights TV, movies, Web Industrialized methods of production New cultural patterns and values shift-work mass education negative attitudes toward sleeping Problems associated with a lack of sleep Mental: Impaired mental functioning decreased problem-solving capacity less alert (because cortisol is produced during sleep) Biological obesity and diabetes lack of sleep inhibits the production of human growth hormone (which controls fat and muscle production), leptin (a hormone that makes you feel full when you are), and insulin (which regulates glucose absorption) Lack of sleep... Increases risk of infection lack of sleep lowers white blood cell count Decreases testosterone levels in men Affects estrogen levels in women too little sleep (in darkness) inhibits secretion of melatonin melatonin regulates estrogen (too little melatonin means too much estrogen) Evolutionary approaches to proper sleep in the modern world Throw away your TV (or at least turn it, and your computer, off by 9:30 p.m.) If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so only in moderation; do not drink before bedtime Go to bed early Take a 20 minute nap in the afternoon Adjust work and education schedules according to biological sleep realities (e.g., Minnesota high schools) Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep Protein plus exercise plus rest builds muscle Carbohydrates give you energy to exercise Exercise helps to prevent weight gain grows muscles (which burn more calories than fat) makes you tired (and want to sleep) Adaptive Reactions to Infectious Diseases Coughs, sneezes, and runny nose expel, and spread, bacteria, viruses Fever kills bacteria Our aversion to meat and eggs when we are ill (blood-letting reduces iron) bacteria thrive on iron Vomiting and diarrhea (expel, and spread, toxins) Old Wives’ tales How might evolutionary theory explain old wives tales? Guess what chicken soup contains? Sugar and honey can effectively treat deep puncture wounds Dog saliva and surface wounds Eating clay Summary Mismatch hypothesis Food Exercise Sleep and rest Infectious Diseases “Old wives tales