Stephan J. Guyenet, PhD

The science of body weight and health

In a stunning reversal, archaeologists report that Paleolithic humans ate nothing but animal fat

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April fools post!

A new study released today in the journal Nature upends our beliefs about Paleolithic peoples, suggesting that their diets may have been based solely on animal fat.

Previous research examining food particles in tooth plaque suggested that Paleolithic Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis consumed a wide variety of plant and animal foods, leading to the belief that humans are natural omnivores. Yet new research suggests that while our ancestors may have chewed these foods, they probably didn’t swallow them.

Using the ratio of bismuth-84 to molybdenum-43 in six partially fossilized knee caps recovered from three European caves, a research team led by Nathan Hayes of the University of Pennsylvania was able to determine that the prehistoric humans ate no carbohydrate or protein at all, implying that their diet consisted entirely of fat.  Based on bones and tools found in the same strata, the researchers believe these populations harvested the fat of large mammals such as aurochs, mammoths, elk, and wooly rhinoceroses, leaving the meat to rot.

“We are very confident in our conclusions”, said Hayes.  “These people ate nothing but animal fat.”

The research community is stunned.  Liu Zhang, a Yale biochemist, remarked “The implications of this finding go far beyond nutrition.  It seems humans have a greater capacity to synthesize amino acids from fat than we thought.”

Hayes and his team believe the hunting grounds of Paleolithic humans in Europe were rich enough that they had no need to bother with inferior foods like plants and muscle tissue.  Herds of mammoths were so thick during this time that it was almost impossible to throw a spear without hitting one in the carotid artery.  Grains, legumes, fruit, and other plant foods were chewed for pleasure and to clean the teeth, but spat out rather than swallowed due to their inferior nutritional value.

Examining the kneecaps further, Hayes noted that the attachment points of their tendons were extremely robust.  “These guys were ripped”, exclaimed Hays.  “They definitely didn’t skip leg day.  Or maybe it was all the fat they ate.”

April Fools!!

Comments

  4. Stephan,

    I just picked up your book from the library after I saw your debate with Gary. It is a fascinating read and I’m really enjoying it. Its certainly the first book in a long-time where I couldn’t put down the book. Anyhow, I thought I would hunt down your blog and read up and this is the first thing I see… You got me haha.

    – David

  7. The title of this made my eyes pop wide in surprise.

    “Yet new research suggests that while our ancestors may have chewed these foods, they probably didn’t swallow them.” Ahaha this is great.

  8. Stephan,

    How do comments work on this website? Do they get disabled after some time?

    I really wanted to correct the appalling misunderstanding Jane Karlsson wrote in a previous post (“Quickly assessing the credibility of public experts”), just so any readers aren’t completely misled, but there is no field for new comments there.

    • Hi Anton,

      Yes, the comments are disabled after a period of time. Sorry for the inconvenience.

  9. It’s nice to see you again. I am following you from the blogspot blog. I just read the article now so it’s not April Fool. hahaha

  10. Even though you said it was an April’s fools joke and I was prepared for something funny, I laughed out loud at the chewing for pleasure! Good one

  11. Could you do a follow up post on copper and health? You made an excellent post on the link between copper deficiency and heart disease; now there is new research on the possible link between copper and fat loss:

    Copper-dependent amino oxidase 3 governs selection of metabolic fuels in adipocytes, PLoS Biol. 2018 Sept 10; 16(9) e2006519. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006519.

    Copper regulates cyclic-AMP-dependent lipolysis, Nat Chem Biol. 2016 Aug;12(8):586-92. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.2098.