| MadSci Network: Evolution |
12-10-00 Dear David, Thank you for the question. I believe that you have somewhat answered your own question in what you stated. We modern humans have drastically changed culturally since the advent of "civilization," but our evolutionary biological adaptations have not significantly changed since our gatherer-hunter days. As biologically, we are virtually still gatherer-hunters, we are still bound physically to the principles of that very old human tradition. Natural selection favored individuals who selected better (healthier & non-poisonous foods) over worse (more unhealthy and more dangerous foods) for consumption. In course, those individuals who chose the healthier foods survived to produce offspring more ofetn than those who did not. Therefore, humans and other animals developed favorable perceptions through smell, taste etc. for healthier foods in accordance with the environment faced by gatherer-hunters. Without going into detail here, numerous problems have arisen with the cultural changes that have outpaced our biological evolution. Today, we are faced with this contrast everyday. As a reference, you might first look at a book entitled "The Paleolithic Prescription" by S, Boyd Eaton et al. Dr. Smerken
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