As a society, we have, in the past few centuries, changed dramatically. In our distant past, our ancestors had no choice but to be productive or die. For the most part, there simply wasn't the luxury of feeding someone who, for any reason, did not help produce the necessities of their living group.
We take care of our sick and infirm in our society today. There is much debate about the extent to which we go in order to sustain those less fortunate members of our "clan". We establish shelters for those without homes, we, through charities or government programs, provide food and medical care. These are of great benefit to the recipients, to be sure.
An incontrovertible fact, however, is that, without the need or requirement to expend energy to obtain life's necessities, the body becomes weaker, the senses less sharp, and the psyche less motivated than those of our distant cousins who lived in caves or makeshift shelters and scrounged, scrambled, and fought for every morsel of food or meager possession.
Those of us who are fortunate enough to be employed don't fare much better, Food is ubiquitous, and living daily life in our time doesn't really require much expenditure of energy. As a thriving, inventive species, we have produced efficient ways of doing nearly everything that our distant ancestors who lived in the mists of time past had to to for themselves. We have to walk very little, maybe from the car to the store or work and back. Machines do our laundry, store our food, make our clothing, produce our shelter, give us heat in the winter and cooling in the summer, essentially serve our every whim.
Is it a wonder that we, as a people are so fat and riddled with the diseases of a sedentary lifestyle? High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, the list goes on. Unless we wise up, and begin to use our bodies as they were evolved to be used, modern medicine will be fighting a losing battle to offset those afflictions by putting chemicals into us. Many people I know take medications for those very diseases, nearly all of which are preventable in most cases, by a simple change in lifestyle. For many, maybe it is too late and they will have to continue the medications in order to sustain life. Many people, however, are not to that point. Any credible physician will suggest that one maintain a healthy weight, eat right, and get exercise, if the patient is otherwise able.
As I have said, if you are under the care of a physician, take their advice. Don't stop any medication against their advice. Nearly anyone, though, can be healthier by giving that hunter-gatherer body what it craves, lower caloric intake, naturally available foods, and plenty of exercise. I recently read that the best foods are those that don't require a label. Keep it natural, guys.................
