Ancestral Health: An Alternative Approach

Don Matesz, M.A., M.S.

Figure 1: Big PictureFigure 1: Big PictureEvolution and Diet of HominoidsEvolution and Diet of Hominoids

0

5

10

15

20Millions of years ago

•Plant-based diet

Gibbons•high fiber•Plant-based diet

Orang-utan•high fiber•Plant-based diet

Gorilla•high fiber•Plant-based diet

Chimpanzee•high fiber•Plant-based diet

Human•Meat-based diet?

firestone weapons

Modified from a lecture by David Jenkins

HomeodynamicsFor any essential nutrient X:

If the CONTEXT limits availability or increases losses of X, the organism has to develop mechanisms to increase synthesis, intake, and accumulation to prevent deficiency.

If the CONTEXT supplies excess X, the organism has to develop mechanisms to antidote, or increase expenditure and excretion, to prevent poisoning.

Management of homeodynamics in a specific CONTEXT(niche) drives biological and behavioral adaptation.

Plants & Animals

Plant Foods Animal Foods Less like us

More like us

Lower energy density Lower bioavailability “Antinutrients”

Higher energy density Higher bioavailability “Hypernutrients”

More hypolipidemic P & F More hyperlipidemic P & F

More K and Mg

More Na and Fe

Antioxidants Anti-inflammatories Anti-coagulants

Pro-oxidants Pro-inflammatories Pro-coagulants

Draining Congesting

Plants & Animals

Plant Foods Animal Foods Less like us

More like us

Lower energy density Lower bioavailability “Antinutrients”

Higher energy density Higher bioavailability “Hypernutrients”

More hypolipidemic P & F More hyperlipidemic P & F

More K and Mg

More Na and Fe

Antioxidants Anti-inflammatories Anti-coagulants

Pro-oxidants Pro-inflammatories Pro-coagulants

Draining Congesting

Exemplary evidence of human adaptation to plant-based diet Feature Adapta tion Color vis ion

For id entifying ripe plants

Swee t tast e receptors

Iden tify carb ohydrate -rich foods

Sour taste rece ptors

Iden tify e dible fruits

Bitter taste rec eptors

Iden tify plant toxins

Vitamin B12 rec ycling Conser ve B12 with minimal intake of dietary a nima l food

= Homeo-dynamic adaptation

Exemplary evidence of human adaptation to plant-based diet Feature Adaptation CNS pr e ferenc e for glucos e Glucose -rich ancestr a l diet

Glycogen stor age Temporar y stor age for excess

die tary glucos e ; ensu re continuous su pply of glucose for CNS, RBCs, work capacit y

Carote ne con vers ion Vitamin A product ion

Pre fer caro tene complexion Iden tify hea lthy, fer tile mate

Endogenous choleste rol synthesis and bile aci d rec ycling

Minimal die tary cho lestero l, high intake of hypoch olester olemic phytoch emica ls

Endogenous SFA synthes is Minimal die tary S FA

Exemplary evidence of human adaptation to plant-based diet Feature Adaptation No ascorba te synthesis

Low fa t diet; increases uric acid levels to facilitate fructose con version to fat

Fructose con version to fat under low ascorbate conditions

Low fa t, high fructose diet

Uricase knoc k out , e levated uric acid levels

Low fa t fruit-rich diet / ura te faci litates synthesis and blocks oxida tion of fat Low Na diet / urat e raises BP

Avid die tary fat sto rage Ver y low fat diet

Avid Na conser va tion, K wasta ge Ver y low Na, h igh K diet

Avid iron s torage Low iron ava ilability

All predate meat-based diets by tens of millions of years.

The Primate Diet

5.5 kg food in

1.0+ kg feces out

1g bile acids lostFrom a lecture by David Jenkins

Daily Intakes of Vegetable Protein, Fiber, Phytosterols & Nuts

NCEP Step 2

High-Fiber

Starch-Based

High-Fiber

Vegetable-Based Simian

Vegetable Protein (g/d)

28

64

93

Total Dietary Fiber (g/d)

26

46

143

Phytosterols (g/d) Nuts (g/d)

0.3

0

0.5

0

1.0

30

Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW et al. Metabolism;(2001)From a lecture by David Jenkins

Intake +Synthesis +Recycling

Outflow +Expenditure

DiseasesDeficienciesUsual context: Poverty

ExcessesUsual context: Affluence

Underweight, hypofunction, hypo-oxidation, hypo-immunity, hypothermia, weakness, fatigue, pallor

Ex: Anemia

Overweight, hyper-X-emia, hyperoxidation, hyperinflammation, hypercoagulation, hyperimmunity, congestion & stagnation

Hypo- development & retarded ageing

Hyper- development & Accelerated ageing

Hunter-Gatherer Potential PaleodieterLifelong caloric restriction Lifelong caloric excess

Baseline low body fat Baseline high body fat

Low food availability High food availability

High energy expense Low energy expense

High lifetime/ concurrent ‘antinutrient’ intake

Low lifetime/concurrent ‘antinutrient’ Intake

Parasites No parasites

Tendency to deficient condition Plagued with excess conditions

Lean wild meat Fatty domestic meats

Meat acts as medicine Excess meat acts as poison

QUALITY + QUANTITY + CONTEXT = EFFECTS

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Every nutrient becomes toxic at some level.

The more nutrients in excess, the more disorder.

Excess caloric intake increases the toxicity of individual macronutrients.

Low caloric intake reduces or abolishes toxicity of Individual macronutrients.

Acute extreme excess acute toxicityLesser but chronic excess slow-to-manifest toxicity

&

Provide draining phytochemicals that balance the potentially congesting effects of a animal-based diet.

Humans universally use culinary and medicinal herbs and gums.

Animals evolved another way to improve in/out balance:Non-nutritive ingestive behaviors

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The Masaai• Use 28 herbs and 25

gums• Meat always consumed

with a bitter herb soup• A dozen herbs added to

milk.• The Masaai state that a

person would not maintain health without using these additives.

Affluent BalanceCongesting Draining

Antidotes

Excess meat, milkExcess P, F, C Refined P, F, CVT&Min supplementsHormone supplementsHigh sodiumOvernutrition

Coffee, tea, alcohol, fiber supplements, red yeastAspirin, statins, coumadin, antihistamines, amphetamines, diuretics, etc.Caloric restriction

Extreme exercisePhlebotomy, surgery

The drug antidotes are plant-derived or phytochem mimics.

Humans retain basic physiologic mechanisms maladapted to diets rich in meat and fat.

By homeo-dynamic drive we evolved use of plants or mimics to reduce accumulation and congestion.

Similarly we use meat and animal derivatives(e.g. hormones) to correct deficiencies.

We became capable of animal-BASED diets primarilyby route of technology, not biology.

QualityQuantity& Context

Anything can be poison or medicine.

Your Primal Wisdom ConstantlySeeks Balance

It all depends on:

Do I have excessor deficiency?

Listen to it.

Ask yourself:

Eat accordingly.

Homeodynamics

synthesis+

intake >expenditure

+elimination

= accumulation & congestion

expenditure

+elimination

>synthesis

+intake

=Reduction &decongestion

Applies to P, F, C, VT, MIN, Everything.