Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynosure
Um, can a great part of the reason be, they're genetically a tough people? But allow these "ancient" tribe of people to breed with modern-day people (most of whom have some kind of severe allergies, among other genetic weaknesses), and their grandchildren will probably be needing those running shoes and protein bars and electrolyte-rich sports drinks, like the rest of us.
|
It could be that the weak went ahead and died as infants, unlike today's people.
If I remember correctly from anthropology class, the largest influence on life expectancy was surviving birth. If you made it to about the age of 10, then you were fairly certain to make it to 40. After that the immune system again gets weak and you are more likely to die from sickness. Although very old people were not unheard of in ancient civilizations.
There are some very good arguments about returning to a subset/aspects of the hunter/gatherer lifestyle, such as a more protein lower refined carb diet. You would have to be an idiot to throw the baby out with the bathwater and get rid of the positives that have come from modern life, such as medicine, which, sorry to tell Jenny McCarthur, included vaccines.