By Beverleigh H Piepers
It's been said that the meteoric rise of Type 2 diabetes and obesity in the US is largely due to a collision of ancient genes and our modern-day world. While nearly everyone notes "genetics" as a contributor to diabetes development, few know exactly what genes do to promote this disease.
According to a swell of recent science, our genes have been largely unchanged over the last 10 thousand years. By and large, your genetic makeup is identical to your ancient ancestor's whose hippest accessory was a new loincloth.
However, what has changed is our world? Food is plentiful and abundant in calories, the opposite of caveman times. Modern conveniences have allowed us to live fairly rich lives without leaving our chairs. And stressors of today... traffic, email, cell phones... weren't part of a caveman's daily life.
Our bodies were designed for a feast or famine environment. When food was plentiful, we'd store as much of it as possible in our guts, butts and thighs for a rainy day when no food was to be had. While this may have helped humans survive in the wild, it's now making us obese and sick. Research by Lund University's LC Group confirmed today's lifestyles are incongruous with our genes... leading to Type 2 diabetes.
Fortunately, you don't have to sell your house and start camping in the woods to prevent or reduce the impact of diabetes on your life. A few simple steps can allow you to enjoy modern conveniences without suffering from the potential downsides.
Eat Like a Caveman: If there's one thing that has changed the most since the Paleolithic era of humanity (besides fashion), it's food. Cavemen largely subsisted on a diet rich in meat, fruits, vegetables, and the occasional nut. Grains, sugar and Burger King drive-thru were most definitely not in the picture.
A study published in found that a caveman diet outperformed an American Diabetic Association carb counting diet for blood sugar management.
Get Moving: Even the simplest task for a caveman took gargantuan amounts of effort. Lacking electricity and modern technology, cavemen had to burn serious calories whilst building shelter, foraging for food and preparing meals.
While exercise... like jogging or going to the gym... is healthy, it's not the only way to burn off fat. Researchers are looking into the effect of small amounts of physical activity, like taking short walks or fidgeting, on weight loss. People who are physically active and get some intense exercise tend to weigh less than people who only exercise.
Chill Out: Yes, having to constantly worry about your next meal must have been stressful for the common caveman. However, studies on native tribe cultures in South America have found that they tend to work for only 4 or 5 hours per day. The rest of the time they are chatting, relaxing or having fun.
Stress contributes to high blood pressure and binge eating. Make some time for yourself to relax and chill and you'll be in better control of your blood sugar levels.
It's been said that the meteoric rise of Type 2 diabetes and obesity in the US is largely due to a collision of ancient genes and our modern-day world. While nearly everyone notes "genetics" as a contributor to diabetes development, few know exactly what genes do to promote this disease.
According to a swell of recent science, our genes have been largely unchanged over the last 10 thousand years. By and large, your genetic makeup is identical to your ancient ancestor's whose hippest accessory was a new loincloth.
However, what has changed is our world? Food is plentiful and abundant in calories, the opposite of caveman times. Modern conveniences have allowed us to live fairly rich lives without leaving our chairs. And stressors of today... traffic, email, cell phones... weren't part of a caveman's daily life.
Our bodies were designed for a feast or famine environment. When food was plentiful, we'd store as much of it as possible in our guts, butts and thighs for a rainy day when no food was to be had. While this may have helped humans survive in the wild, it's now making us obese and sick. Research by Lund University's LC Group confirmed today's lifestyles are incongruous with our genes... leading to Type 2 diabetes.
Fortunately, you don't have to sell your house and start camping in the woods to prevent or reduce the impact of diabetes on your life. A few simple steps can allow you to enjoy modern conveniences without suffering from the potential downsides.
Eat Like a Caveman: If there's one thing that has changed the most since the Paleolithic era of humanity (besides fashion), it's food. Cavemen largely subsisted on a diet rich in meat, fruits, vegetables, and the occasional nut. Grains, sugar and Burger King drive-thru were most definitely not in the picture.
A study published in found that a caveman diet outperformed an American Diabetic Association carb counting diet for blood sugar management.
Get Moving: Even the simplest task for a caveman took gargantuan amounts of effort. Lacking electricity and modern technology, cavemen had to burn serious calories whilst building shelter, foraging for food and preparing meals.
While exercise... like jogging or going to the gym... is healthy, it's not the only way to burn off fat. Researchers are looking into the effect of small amounts of physical activity, like taking short walks or fidgeting, on weight loss. People who are physically active and get some intense exercise tend to weigh less than people who only exercise.
Chill Out: Yes, having to constantly worry about your next meal must have been stressful for the common caveman. However, studies on native tribe cultures in South America have found that they tend to work for only 4 or 5 hours per day. The rest of the time they are chatting, relaxing or having fun.
Stress contributes to high blood pressure and binge eating. Make some time for yourself to relax and chill and you'll be in better control of your blood sugar levels.
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