Women naturally carry more body fat than men, and they typically also have a harder time maintaining a lean frame. The very slim figure that’s displayed in some women’s magazines is difficult or impossible for most women to obtain. In some cultures, such a figure is considered to be the ideal female form. What’s important […]
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Paleolithic Nutrition: A Powerful Concept That Should Be Protected and Preserved
Not so long ago, it started becoming trendy to eat like a hunter-gatherer. A lot of people ditched grains, dairy products, and processed foods and stocked up on grass-fed meats, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables. As I see it, that’s a good thing. In the time that has passed since the public was first […]
Root Vegetables: A Viable & Healthy Alternative to Grains
In the time that has passed since the Agricultural Revolution first took hold in the Fertile Crescent some 12.000 years ago, the part of the human diet that consists of cereal grains has swelled dramatically. Today, most humans consume significant quantities of wheat, barley, rice, and/or other grains on a daily basis. Over the same […]
(R)evolutionary Medicine: 15 Quotes That’ll Stimulate Your Mind
If you’re a regular reader of Darwinian-Medicine.com, then you’ve probably noticed that there’s a section on the front page called Featured Quote, in which a quote that has to do with evolutionary nutrition, the human microbiome, or another related topic is displayed. I personally choose the quotes that are shown, most of which are statements […]
Ask Eirik: Should I Consume Fermented Vegetables?
Fermented vegetables are high on the list of things I’ve received the most questions about from readers of Darwinian-Medicine.com. That’s not particularly surprising, seeing as I have talked a lot about fermented vegetables in relation to gut health and microbiome restoration here on the site; was in charge of planning and conducting the first ever […]
The Unique Fatty Acid Profile of Coconuts
The nutritionists and professors who are responsible for designing dietary guidelines for the public are not fond of saturated fat. They have long argued that we would all be wise to limit our consumption of cheese, butter, ghee, bacon, sausages, and other foods that are very high in saturated fatty acids. I stand behind this […]
Odorous Microbes: How Your Microbiome Affects What You Smell Like
Human body odor formation is greatly affected by the structure and actions of human-associated microbial communities (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). In other words, the trillions of microorganisms that colonize your body greatly influence what you smell like. You have a unique body odor, in part because you have a unique microbiota, which is shaped […]
The Perfect Eyesight of Hunter-Gatherers
In modern, industrialized nations such as the United States and Norway, where I live, it’s the norm rather than the exception to have suboptimal eyesight. A lot of people are either near or farsighted, and many also develop cataracts and macular degeneration as they get older. These conditions are so common nowadays that having issues […]
Obesogenic Gut Bugs: How Bacteria Can Make Us Fat
The microbiome and the brain are the chief regulators of adiposity and eating behavior in humans. In many respects, the microbiome is even more important than the brain. Obviously, it’s the processes of the brain that ultimately shape our thoughts and behavior. What’s important to recognize though, is that these processes, in turn, are greatly […]
Ask Eirik: Can I Write for Darwinian-Medicine.com?
I’ve been getting lots of e-mails lately from people who are interested in writing for Darwinian-Medicine.com. Since this is something I’m regularly contacted about, I thought I’d address it here on the site, so that I can make my position known. As I see it, that’s a win both for me and for the people […]