Why do foods cause stress?

Humanity is dissolving... not evolving!

He followed the burbling stream down the hillside to the lake. He drank the cool clear water and nibbled on berries and leaves along the route that he followed every morning. It was his routine or habit and he would pass it on to his children someday. A rustle in the undergrowth drew his attention, but he did not smell a tiger so he was not alarmed. Meanwhile hunger urged him on to the pools at the edge of the lake where as usual he found small fish and shellfish. He gathered them greedily, impatiently eating some raw. Wrapped in large leaves, he carried as much fish as he could and returned by the stream path to his shelter in a cave.

His mate was tending a small fire and looked up with pleasure at the bundle in his large hairy hands. He dumped the fish into the fire and in a few minutes they ate hungrily. They relaxed for a while after the meal. He reasoned there was plenty of time to seek out the small animal he'd heard by the path. It would make a fine evening meal with some roots.

That is what I imagine it was like 3.5 million years ago in the Rift Valley of Central Africa where scientists figure the Neanderthal ancestor of Homo-sapiens lived, prospered and evolved. From the plant life and cold-lake fish diet they ate, they developed physically and mentally so they became erect, developed a brain and began to invent tools and explore the world. Scientists have determined that Neanderthal man ate 75% more calories daily, ate uncontaminated food and had far more activity than we do in our modern 21st century. They conclude that the reason he developed in Africa was because of the plentiful food, especially the fishy Omega-3 component of his diet which feeds the brain (60% fat).

Soothing music from his clock-radio woke him from his familiar nightmare and he thought about the nerve-racking tasks of the day to come. He shaved, showered and washed down an energy bar with a cup of coffee. In 20 minutes, he was driving down the hill to the water and over the bridge to the mountain of office buildings. The commuter traffic was horrendous and it was difficult to get parked if you were late. A guy cut in front of him and he gave him a digit. Someday he'd buy a big truck and give the likes of him more that that! He walked through the pool of secretaries to his cave-like cubicle and set to work. At noon he washed down a ham sandwich with a diet cola and kept working at his computer until 5 p.m. The he drove back up the hill to a TV dinner and hockey on the tube. The game helped him forget the hassling from his boss and the put-downs from his rival at work. He was tired. How could that be? He had been sitting all day. The hockey game was interrupted by a news bulletin - another shooting at an office by some poor slob. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea, he thought. After the game he swallowed his anti-depressant prescription pill and went to bed.

What's wrong with this picture? How did Neanderthal Ned become today's Ted? Aren't we supposed to be superior to our Neanderthal ancestor?

If you're worried about global warming, shift your focus. Forget about the glaciers breaking off huge chunks, they'll grow again. I've got something far worse for you to worry about. Don't be like the little old lady (I love l.o.l. stories) who went to her doctor because she didn't have anything to worry about any more.

If you're worried about the environment (now there's a lot to worry about) I sympathize and want to clean it up, too, but this is really what you should worry about. Are you ready?

Healthy Fats | Why do foods cause stress | Trans Fats vs Healthy Fats | Butter Stresses Not Thy Body | Essential Fats Lost their Balance | What are Essential Fats? | Balancing the Omega Fats | Essential Fish Advice | Fish oil 'makes you happier' | Eggsactly! | Do all you can | Bibliography