In response to my question -- why would an intelligent species eat itself to death? -- I might have received many good answers. For instance, food tastes good. It provides pleasure. It relieves stress. It is marketed to us. It is constantly available. The foods that are the worst for us are the tastiest, least extensive, and most convenient. And so on. These, and many more, would be good answers. (Click here to find more reasons why you really eat.)
But there is one answer to this question that in my view trumps them all. We eat ourselves to death when, and because, we can. Here's what I mean.
Throughout human history, and for that matter throughout the history of every omnivorous species on the planet, getting enough palatable, non-toxic food to meet needs has always been a challenge. As a species, Homo sapiens has no native defenses against caloric excess -- since until the modern era, we never needed them before.
Similarly, we have no native defenses against the lure of the couch. Animals in nature run after stuff they want to eat, and away from stuff that wants to eat them. Other than that, not a whole lot of superfluous energy expenditure. 'Exercise' is only necessary in a world where mere survival does not require physical exertion. (What's your exercise personality? Take the quiz here.)
In essence, we have gone from a world in which calories were scarce and hard to get and physical activity unavoidable, to a world where physical activity is scarce and hard to get, andcalories are unavoidable. So much for the mystery of over-eating; creatures adapted to the former circumstances are clearly mal-adapted to the latter.
As for the Western Diet, rich in sugar, salt, and all the wrong kind of fats: it calls out to primal cravings. Throughout human history, sugar, salt, and dietary fat have been scarce, and valuable. Sugar was a quick source of energy. Fat was a concentrated source of energy. Salt was an essential nutrient available in very limited supply. So cravings for these nutrients and flavors evolved at a time when such cravings fostered survival. Couple these Stone Age cravings with a modern diet that serves up all we crave in abundance, and you have the perfect formula for dietary excess -- and the recently reported excess of heart attacks into the bargain. (See a list of heart-smart foods here.)
Here is the good news. We do, in fact, have one native defense against primal, dietary debauchery: great big Homo sapien brains. If we understand the origins of our vulnerability, we can devise strategies, policies, and programs to defend against it. Our taste buds are malleable, and can be conditioned to love food that will love us back. It's not trivial, but we can get there from here.
Regardless of taste, few things are more savory, or more worth savoring, than good health.
Maintain good health! 3 eat-smart tips:
Test your portion control smarts
Fiber up to slim down
