Eat like your ancestors!

Alekha Akkapeddi

In a world inundated with modern dietary trends and processed foods, ancestral eating beckons us to embrace the nutritional traditions of our ancestors – a tapestry woven through centuries of wisdom and instinctive choices. As we embark on this culinary expedition, we rediscover the profound link between our well-being and the ancient knowledge that has sustained generations.

Introduction to Ancestral Eating

Although ancestral eating may seem like a foreign concept, the truth is that our modern Western diets are only relatively new. Only a few generations back were our ancestors still eating in ancestral ways, along with people who live in certain regions of the world. But what exactly is ancestral eating? Does it encompass the same diet for everyone? 

Ancestral eating merely refers to a diet that is limited in processed, refined food and emphasizes whole foods rich in healthy fats, protein, vegetables and unrefined grains. 

Different Regions, Different Flavors

It makes sense to eat the same foods from the land that your ancestors came from. For example, I am South Indian, so my ancestors mainly ate millet, ghee, regional fruits and vegetables, spices, pulses, and cereals. It is no surprise that when I stick to eating these foods, I feel my best. 

However, I would not recommend the diet I eat to every single person. If someone’s hailed from a different region of the world where meat and dairy was heavily present, it would be beneficial for them to eat similar foods. 

There is a popular show out about blue zones and how they have some of the healthiest population in the world. In this region of the world, the Mediterranean Diet is highly emphasized and foods such as olive oil, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, pulses, organic dairy and meat, are shown. 

On the contrary, there are areas of the world where high fat, high protein diets predominated. Some of these populations include the Inuit, Native American tribes, African tribes, Mongolian tribes, and other indigenous tribes. When studied these populations had lower incidences of chronic disease, contrary to what was thought. 

However, with this in mind, Mediterranean diets have increasing evidence to be the most ideal type of diet to follow in today’s climate with lower risks of CVD, stroke, cancer, improved gut health, improved cognitive function, and more.

Benefits of Ancestral Eating and Closing Thoughts

No matter which diet you choose to adhere to, the evidence is overwhelming that it is best to eat a diet that prioritizes whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, pulses, unrefined grains, organic meat and grass-fed dairy. These benefits range from improved gut health, lower inflammation, better mood, increased fitness and more. 

Certainly our ancestors and us are not biologically adapted for foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, artificial colors, rancid seed oils, preservatives, and whatever other toxins are being flooded in our food supply.