A recent study conducted by Norwegian researchers has revealed that the popular Paleo diet, which is based on the presumed eating habits of our Stone Age ancestors, may not be as healthy as many diet guides suggest. In fact, the study shows that the Stone Age diet was often toxic and unhealthy. Archaeologists also question the validity of the Paleo diet, as evidence suggests that there was no typical Stone Age diet. Instead, it is believed that our ancestors simply adapted their diets to local and seasonal resources. Recent archaeological finds in South Africa, for example, indicate that starchy plant sprouts were already part of the human diet 170,000 years ago, contradicting many Paleo diet books.
The Norwegian researchers, led by Hans Peter Blankholm from the Arctic University of Norway, published their findings in the journal Quaternary International. They analyzed food remains from the Norwegian Arctic and found that they contained high levels of toxic heavy metals. For example, the remains of codfish showed extremely high levels of cadmium, exceeding the upper limits set by the European Food Safety Authority by more than twenty times. The researchers also found high levels of lead and mercury, not only in fish but also in seal meat. The long-term consumption of such contaminated food would have been highly detrimental to the health of the Arctic inhabitants at that time. However, it is unclear how much of the contaminated food was consumed and whether it was consumed long enough to cause related illnesses. Further analysis of human remains from that time period may provide answers to these questions.
The researchers suspect that the unusually high levels of heavy metal contamination were caused by climate change, which is currently affecting the Arctic region. As the ice and permafrost melt, they release stored metals into the environment. Rising sea levels then transport these metals from land to water. The study highlights the importance of considering the environmental impact on food sources and the potential health risks associated with consuming contaminated food.
Paleo-Diät
