-
John Anthony Alvan Nichols
a rough-cut book bubble about
Nutrition and Science
Health, Fitness & Dieting
Author Insight
The Mismatch Theory
There is a mismatch between our stone-age genetic legacy and the modern environment. Apart from the nutritional problems explained in this excerpt, there are issues of pollution, work stress and chemical exposure. Food has been adulterated intentionally or unintentionally for hundreds of years and modern processed food is by no means free of this risk. Until recently trans fatty acids were added to various foods to make them tastier and to improve shelf life. Now we know that they were one of the main reasons for an epidemic of mid-life heart attacks and most governments are working to reduce trans fatty acids in food to a minimum. However, mismatch problems continue to haunt us and there is no easy route back to a stone-age lifestyle and diet.
Book Excerpt
Nutrition and Science
Because our modern diet is energy dense and, compared with the Stone Age diet, short on minerals and vitamins, there is a very real risk of health problems associated with “empty calories”. We have already considered the implications for reproductive health in Chapter 3. The developing embryo is particularly vulnerable to borderline low levels of mineral and vitamin intake and the developing fetus and newborn infant, though not quite as vulnerable, may also be affected. The mature adult is less vulnerable, but a persistently poor diet has been shown to play a major role in the development of many cancers and cardiovascular disease. I must remind the reader, yet again, that many of us who are on a poor diet genuinely believe that our diet is good and this probably includes most vegetarians. A really good vegetarian diet has many health benefits, but it is not easy to attain.
Click Follow to receive emails when this author adds content on Bublish
Comment on this Bubble
Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed.