You’ve all heard of the Paleo Diet, practiced by celebs like Jessica Biel and Megan Fox, in which 21st-century humans emulate the food eaten by cavemen and womenfrom 2.6 million years ago. But if you’ve considered undertaking this culinary overhaul, you may have wondered whether, whileeating like a hunter-gatherer and getting that celebrity skin you’ve always wanted, you can still partake of your favorite co*cktail.
The answer depends on whom you get your caveman diet advice from. On one hand, you’ve gotPaleo Magazine, a publication dedicated to all things Paleo Diet (not all things Paleolithic,to be clear).Paleo Magazine puts a hard “no” on alcohol. In fact, the magazine writes that “if a food comes in a box or a bag, then it’s probably not very good for you.”
On the other side of the debate, you haveLoren Cordain, the founder of the Paleo movement, who believes that moderate alcohol consumption is fair game, despite the fact that, as Cordain writes, “virtually all humans living as hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic era likely did not consume alcohol.”
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But whether or not Paleolithic man drank alcoholis actually a scientifically debated topic, with many believing that our early ancestors actually did enjoy alcohol as the occasional drink.As Patrick McGovern observesin Scientific American, “our ancestral early hominids were probably already making wines, beers, meads and mixed fermented beverages from wild fruits, chewed roots and grains, honey, and all manner of herbs and spices culled from their environments.” But this has wider implications than just your diet. Making fruit into alcohol “ushered in humankind’s first biotechnology, based on empirical observation,” McGovern writes. He goes on: “It is quite possible that much of what we consider uniquely human — music, dance, theater, religious storytelling and worship, language, and a thought process that would eventually become science — were stimulated by the creation and consumption of alcoholic beverages during the Paleolithic period.”
And hom*o sapiens aren’t alone here. The earliest primates evolved to down alcohol as well, like the Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrew that drinks the equivalent of nine glasses of wine a night without getting drunk. Talk about tolerance.
“Most modern primates have diets consisting of roughly three-quarters fruit,” McGovern writes, “and they are known to consume as much fermented fruit or drink as possible when the opportunity presents itself. Such considerations have been summed up in the ‘Paleolithic’ or ‘drunken monkey’ hypotheses, which posit that drinking is in our genes, whether for good or evil.”
“Living Paleo for Dummies” gets it. “Our hunter-gatherer ancestors occasionally let their hair down when they were exposed to alcohol by eating fermented grapes,” Melissa Joulwan and Kellyann Petrucci write. Paleo-alcohol under the “Dummies” guide includes potatovodka, wine, rum, and tequila. Not by themselves,though; apparently cavemen “didn’t sit around the fire doing shots.”
Maybe not shots, but they did drink. Go ahead Paleo followers, get sloshed.
Published: December 9, 2016
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the realms of evolutionary biology, anthropology, and nutritional science, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. My expertise extends to the Paleolithic era, the evolution of human dietary patterns, and the cultural and biological implications of food consumption throughout history.
The article in question delves into the intriguing intersection of the Paleo Diet and alcohol consumption, presenting a dichotomy within the Paleo community itself. Drawing upon my comprehensive understanding of evolutionary history, I can shed light on the contrasting views expressed by Paleo Magazine and Loren Cordain regarding the inclusion of alcohol in a diet mimicking that of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
Paleo Magazine staunchly asserts a "no" to alcohol, emphasizing a purist approach that rejects any processed or packaged foods. This stance reflects a common belief within the Paleo community that if a food did not exist in the Paleolithic era, it's likely not suitable for consumption in the modern context.
Contrastingly, Loren Cordain, a key figure in the Paleo movement, takes a more permissive stance, allowing for moderate alcohol consumption. Cordain acknowledges the historical context, recognizing that while alcohol might not have been a staple in the diet of Paleolithic humans, it could still be incorporated within certain limits.
The article introduces an element of scientific debate surrounding the historical consumption of alcohol by early humans. Drawing upon my knowledge, I can affirm that this debate is indeed legitimate. Patrick McGovern's observations, as cited in Scientific American, suggest that our early hominid ancestors may have indulged in alcoholic beverages made from a variety of natural sources like fruits, roots, grains, honey, herbs, and spices.
McGovern's broader implications about the role of alcohol in human evolution are intriguing. He posits that the advent of fermented beverages may have played a pivotal role in shaping aspects of human culture and cognition, giving rise to activities such as music, dance, theater, storytelling, worship, language, and even early forms of scientific thought.
The article also touches upon the evolutionary perspective beyond hom*o sapiens, noting that early primates, like the Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrew, exhibited a remarkable tolerance for alcohol consumption. This aligns with the 'Paleolithic' or 'drunken monkey' hypotheses, suggesting that a predisposition for consuming fermented fruits or drinks might be ingrained in our genetic makeup.
Finally, the mention of "Living Paleo for Dummies" provides a practical perspective on incorporating alcohol into a Paleo lifestyle. The authors acknowledge that our ancestors might have enjoyed fermented grapes, and they suggest options such as potato vodka, wine, rum, and tequila as Paleo-friendly alcoholic choices.
In conclusion, the article not only navigates the intricacies of the Paleo Diet and alcohol but also delves into the historical and evolutionary aspects of alcohol consumption, revealing the fascinating interplay between diet, culture, and human evolution.
