Waubonsee Community College

100 million years of food, what our ancestors ate and why it matters today, Stephen Le

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-294) and index

index present

non fiction

100 million years of food

bibliography

915774890

Stephen Le

what our ancestors ate and why it matters today

There are few areas of modern life that are burdened by as much information and advice, often contradictory, as our diet and health: eat a lot of meat, eat no meat; whole-grains are healthy, whole-grains are a disaster; eat everything in moderation; eat only certain foods -- and on and on. In One Hundred Million Years of Food, biological anthropologist Stephen Le explains how cuisines of different cultures are a result of centuries of evolution, finely tuned to our biology and surroundings. Today many cultures have strayed from their ancestral diets, relying instead on mass-produced food often made with chemicals that may be contributing to a rise in so-called "Western diseases," such as cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Traveling around the world to places as far-flung as Vietnam, Kenya, India, and the U.S., Stephen Le introduces us to people who are growing, cooking, and eating food using both traditional and modern methods, striving for a sustainable, healthy diet. In arguments based on scientific research, Le contends that our ancestral diets provide the best first line of defense in protecting our health and providing a balanced diet. Fast-food diets, as well as strict regimens like paleo or vegan, in effect highjack our biology and ignore the complex nature of our bodies. Le takes us on a guided tour of evolution, demonstrating how our diets are the result of millions of years of history, and how we can return to a sustainable, healthier way of eating

Introduction: What should we eat and how should we live? -- The irony of insects -- The games fruits play -- The temptation of meat -- The paradox of fish -- The empire of starches -- Elixirs -- A truce among thieves -- The calorie conundrum -- The future of food -- Afterword: Rules to eat and live by

One hundred million years of food