[ExI] Paleo/Primal health [Was: Re: Technology, specialization, and diebacks...Re: I love the world. =)]

[Max More]

Amara: You noted that the paleo diet was optimized for reproduction, 
but not necessarily longevity, and asked if had any data on that.

Good point, and no I don't know of data specifically on *maximum* 
life span. There is plenty of discussion of average life span of 
paleolithic and contemporary hunger-gatherers. For paleo people, 
obviously it's extremely hard to separate out the relative 
contribution of diet from the tendency to die of injury, infection, 
and so on. The evidence I've seen suggests that paleolithic people 
actually lived longer (and were larger and more muscular) than those 
who superceded them in early agricultural times.

http://www.thepaleodiet.com/faqs/
most deaths in hunter-gatherer societies were related to the 
accidents and trauma of a life spent living outdoors without modern 
medical care, as opposed to the chronic degenerative diseases that 
afflict modern societies. In most hunter-gatherer populations today, 
approximately 10-20% of the population is 60 years of age or older. 
These elderly people have been shown to be generally free of the 
signs and symptoms of chronic disease (obesity, high blood pressure, 
high cholesterol levels) that universally afflict the elderly in 
western societies. When these people adopt western diets, their 
health declines and they begin to exhibit signs and symptoms of 
"diseases of civilization."

I think you might find something on the longevity issue in the 
Michael Rose video.

It seems plausible that the paleo diet (and accompanying paleo-style 
exercise) would be good for adding years of healthy life, especially 
considering how it reduces markers of aging and improves health 
according to many measures. Gerontologists often point the finger at 
AGEs as one major contributing factor to aging, and there's no doubt 
that a paleo diet reduces production of AGEs.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is popular among paleo practitioners, and 
I've seen intriguing evidence that IF may produce similar life 
extending effects to caloric restriction.

Online pointers:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/life-expectancy-hunter-gatherer/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/hunter-gatherer-lifespan/

http://www.paleodiet.com/life-expectancy.htm

http://www.beyondveg.com/nicholson-w/angel-1984/angel-1984-1a.shtml

http://donmatesz.blogspot.com/2010/02/paleo-life-expectancy.html

Haven't more than glanced at this one:
http://donmatesz.blogspot.com/2010/04/practically-paleo-diet-reduces-markers.html

Max