When we understand that we have evolved very little from our hunter-gatherer ancestors genetically then we have a foundation of knowledge and context for examining optimal lifestyle behaviors. Essentially because nature and civilization has eliminated the two main selection pressure of our ancestors—starvation and predator danger—in many parts of the industrialized world, we have left, the genes that resulted from environmental selection pressure placed upon our species for the past 2.5 million years.
From a simplified Darwinian perspective, we adapted to and evolved from environmental selection pressures by mutation and natural selection of those with the genetic attribute suited to survive and thrive in the environment. Individual genetic mutations randomly occur in a species that happen to provide a survival or reproductive advantage. This random mutation process and selection by nature stands in contrast to a conventional misunderstanding of survival and evolution: that our lifestyle behaviors might directly influence the genes we deliver to offspring. What actually happens occurs as the genetically fortunate pass their unique traits onto offspring, and eventually the advantage proliferates in the gene pool over ensuing generations, while mutations that compromised survival or reproductive ability quickly eliminated from the gene pool.
Living an optimal and long life will require some different choices and practices on our part.
Yes, today, we can mismanage ourselves through diet and lifestyle and still reproduce, suffering no penalty in the evolutionary sense, because evolution stands concerned only with the most basic of human success: surviving long enough to reach reproductive age, which stands under 20 years of age.
Ultimately, in the absence of selection pressure in the modern world, we tend to neglect or abuse our potential to live long and optimally. Living an optimal and long life will require some different choices and practices on our part. Perhaps the time has come to return to our hunter-gatherer roots for lifestyle behaviors that promoted our survival and flourishing. Following a balanced way and primal blueprint can assist us with this task. See my earlier blog for 10 ways to optimize your health and join my mailing list for my free-ebook to get started.
A better world starts with us cultivating our better selves – a self-aware agent of change guided by self-compassion, self-determination, empathy for others, and moral conscience. Join my mailing list for my free ebook: 3 Movements for Energy, Calm and Immunity
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