The Human Diet: In Evolutionary Context Flashcards
The Evolved Human Diet
Extreme Omnivory
Benefits of Omnivory
-Generalist subsistence
-Wide resource base
-wide range of options
-provides a buffer against environmental change
-Hyperomnivory
-if its not poisonous, its edible
Risks of Omnivory
-But what if it is poisonous?
-Neophobia: advance of novel and potentially hazardous resources –> presents an obstacle to successful Omnivory
-Might still be edible
-Getting Sufficient Nutrients
-No such thing as “wisdom of the body”
Human Omnivory
*Extreme even among omnivores
>Almost entirely learned
-recap to Life History Theory: Socialization and Encultration during key periods of brain development
-Mediated by our brains and metabolism, but not determined by them
Mechanisms of Human Food Choice: Taste
> Sweet
Salty
Bitter
Sour
Umami (Glutamate)
Fat
Mechanisms of Human Food Choice: Fetal Food Learning
-Fetal electrolyte depletion: intense pregnancy sickness –> offspring affinity for salt
-Fetal undernutrition
-Fetal programming–> leptin resistnace, insulin resistance: risk of obesity & diabetes
-Leptin hormone
-Feeding regulation & energy balance
-Flavor volatiles
-in amniotic fluid
-learning taste preferences
Mechanisms of Human Food Choice: Infant Flavor Learning
-Same volatiles in breastmilk as amniotic fluid
-Imitation of adults & peers
-Parental/ peer exposure
-Neophobia & Exploratory learning
Mechanisms of Human Food Choice: Preferences vs. Aversions
Preferences:
>some innate
>mostly learned
Aversions:
>rapidly imprinted
>lasting
>prevent ingestion of toxins
Mechanisms of Human Food Choice: Lifelong Learning
-Food Socialization
1. What is food
2. What is not food
-Food Culture
1. Rules
2. Techniques
3. Recipes
Food is Culturally Determined…
-Eating Earth (ex. Clays, soils)
-some West Africans, some African-Americans
-Orginally written off as pica
-Helpful in pregnancy
-Absorbent for GI upset
-Provides mineral nutrients
-Processing
-baking kills soil-borne parasites
