Abstract
This research explores the critical link between nutrition and lifestyle disease, focusing on obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and cardiovascular disease, which disproportionately impact low-income communities and people of color. Rooted in personal experiences and broader societal trends, this research investigates how dietary choices, particularly protein consumption, contribute to these prevalent health issues. The analysis begins with a paleoanthropological perspective, challenging the notion that animal protein is solely responsible for increases in brain size and highlighting the dietary practices of early hominins. It transitions to examining the correlation between animal protein intake and the incidence of lifestyle diseases, drawing on compelling data from regions with low animal protein consumption, such as rural China, where these diseases are rare. The final section critiques the Standard American Diet, emphasizing the demographics most affected by fast and processed foods, ultimately linking this dietary pattern to obesity and type-2 diabetes. Utilizing a comprehensive range of scholarly sources, including The China Study and Fast Food Nation, the paper concludes that while a universally ideal diet remains debated, a plant-centric diet with limited animal protein can significantly reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases. This research underscores the importance of nutrition in public health discourse, advocating for dietary change as a preventative measure to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases within vulnerable populations.
Author Information
Rheagan Humphrey, Southern Methodist University, United States
Paper Information
Conference: IICAH2025
Stream: Humanities - Science
This paper is part of the IICAH2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
Full Paper
View / Download the full paper in a new tab/window
To cite this article:
Humphrey R. (2025) Evolution of the Human Diet: Nutrition and Lifestyle Diseases ISSN: 2432-4604 – The IAFOR International Conference on Arts & Humanities – Hawaii 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 383-393) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2025.32
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2025.32
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress