Geek's Corner - Food and Humanity
Tuesday 19 June 2007 by Dr Maytel
"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are"
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste, 1825
French gourmet & lawyer (1755 - 1826)
A while ago, when I was writing my thesis proposal (so a very long time ago) I read a great book called "The Rice Economies" by a woman called Francesca Bray. It explained that many people have failed to understand Asian agriculture and therefore culture because they try to understand it and continue to compare it with western agriculture. The book explains the fundamental properties of the rice plant, how as a plant the highest yields are traditionally achieved by labour intensification as opposed to capital extensification like wheat. Think of the traditional image of small bunded rice paddies with peasants hunched over in the sun versus enourmous wheat fields with combine harvesters rolling off into the horizon. This is what she means. Rice also produces more tonnes per hectare of food than wheat thereby supporting larger populations, which in turn can add to labour intensification. Rice also typically, not always, requires complex large-scale water management systems if one is to get the most out of the crop. While disputed, Karl Wittfogel claimed in his book Oriental Depotism, that this requirement led many Asian societies to develop what he termed hydraulic civilisations based on the control of water through authoritarian managerial regimes.
Anyway, the point is when you study food systems you usually arrive not too long into at culture systems.....so I thought the geeks among you may enjoy reading this small thesis entitled "Human societies are defined by their food". The final sections present, what I consider to be some pretty humdrum, standard lefty comments at the end, but the initial sections are useful.
"All evolution is ultimately geared towards genetic reproduction, but to achieve that end, evolution works on two broad goals: the reproduction of life, and the maintenance of life (at least until reproduction has been achieved). These can be reduced with little violence to the truth to the essential drives for food, and sex. Most of the necessities humans require could be served by any social group. Any mixing of males and females will invariably lead to sexual relationships and the successful rearing of children. Protection from the elements is gained easily through any number of methods. That leaves food as the factor which society must spend most of its effort procuring. Not only is food a requirement which is needed on a much more regular basis than sex or protection from the elements, it is also a much riskier prospect than the others. Minimally, only a single sexual liason may result in offspring, and a single shelter can protect several individuals from the elements for an extended period of time--but most people must eat several times a day. In any social group with both males and females, sexual relationships will form, and protection from the elements can be easily attained in any environment--but famines often afflict whole bioregions for lengthy periods of time, and hunger and starvation can even become endemic to an entire population. Any form of society would suffice for our other basic needs. Culture develops primarily as a means of procuring food, and everything in a given culture serves that end."
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste, 1825
French gourmet & lawyer (1755 - 1826)
A while ago, when I was writing my thesis proposal (so a very long time ago) I read a great book called "The Rice Economies" by a woman called Francesca Bray. It explained that many people have failed to understand Asian agriculture and therefore culture because they try to understand it and continue to compare it with western agriculture. The book explains the fundamental properties of the rice plant, how as a plant the highest yields are traditionally achieved by labour intensification as opposed to capital extensification like wheat. Think of the traditional image of small bunded rice paddies with peasants hunched over in the sun versus enourmous wheat fields with combine harvesters rolling off into the horizon. This is what she means. Rice also produces more tonnes per hectare of food than wheat thereby supporting larger populations, which in turn can add to labour intensification. Rice also typically, not always, requires complex large-scale water management systems if one is to get the most out of the crop. While disputed, Karl Wittfogel claimed in his book Oriental Depotism, that this requirement led many Asian societies to develop what he termed hydraulic civilisations based on the control of water through authoritarian managerial regimes.
Anyway, the point is when you study food systems you usually arrive not too long into at culture systems.....so I thought the geeks among you may enjoy reading this small thesis entitled "Human societies are defined by their food". The final sections present, what I consider to be some pretty humdrum, standard lefty comments at the end, but the initial sections are useful.
"All evolution is ultimately geared towards genetic reproduction, but to achieve that end, evolution works on two broad goals: the reproduction of life, and the maintenance of life (at least until reproduction has been achieved). These can be reduced with little violence to the truth to the essential drives for food, and sex. Most of the necessities humans require could be served by any social group. Any mixing of males and females will invariably lead to sexual relationships and the successful rearing of children. Protection from the elements is gained easily through any number of methods. That leaves food as the factor which society must spend most of its effort procuring. Not only is food a requirement which is needed on a much more regular basis than sex or protection from the elements, it is also a much riskier prospect than the others. Minimally, only a single sexual liason may result in offspring, and a single shelter can protect several individuals from the elements for an extended period of time--but most people must eat several times a day. In any social group with both males and females, sexual relationships will form, and protection from the elements can be easily attained in any environment--but famines often afflict whole bioregions for lengthy periods of time, and hunger and starvation can even become endemic to an entire population. Any form of society would suffice for our other basic needs. Culture develops primarily as a means of procuring food, and everything in a given culture serves that end."
Side note: I found it quite interesting a few years back when the 'Eat Right for Your Blood Type' book made claims that the various blood types were descended from foragers, hunter/gatherers/ horticulturalists etc.
For example it posited that O-types were descended from hunter gatherers and therefore were predisposed to be suited to a high protein low carb diet.
Some aspects of the supposed 'O type' rang true with me (the suggested foods to eat or avoid at the time really made sense, also the susceptability to scarlet fever - which I had as a child)
anyway, a fascinating idea, this blood typed nutrition requirements fantasy (who doesn't want to imagine themself as a prehistoric spear-throwing hunter or a mild leaf-chewing pastoral nomad or whatever?), but clearly a load of rubbish....
as repudiated at the following link:
http://www.acu-cell.com/btd.html
Blood Type : O
The Hunter : strong, self reliant, leader
Hardy digestive tract
Strong immune system
Natural defenses against infections
System designed for efficient metabolism and preservation of nutrients
Intolerant to new dietary, environment conditions
Immune system can be overactive and attack itself
Blood clotting disorders
Inflammatory diseases eg. arthritis
Low thyroid production
Ulcers
Allergies
High protein : meat eaters meat, fish, vegetables, fruit
Limited : grains, beans, legumes
Avoid : wheat, corn, navy beans, kidney beans, lentils, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, mustard greens
Aids : kelp, seafood, salt, liver, red meat, spinach, kale, broccoli
Vitamin B
Vitamin K
Calcium
Iodine,
Licorice
Kelp
Intense physical exercise, such as :
aerobics
martial arts
contact sports
Blood Type : A
The Cultivator : settled, co-operative, orderly
Adapts well to dietary and environmental changes
Immune system preserves and metabolises nutrients more easily
Sensitive digestive tract
Vulnerable immune system, open to microbial invasion
Heart disease
Cancer
Anemia
Liver and gallbladder disorders
Type I diabetes
Vegetarian
Vegetables, tofu, seafood, grains, beans, legumes, fruit
Avoid : meat, dairy, kidney beans, lima beans, wheat
Aids : vegetable oil, soy foods, vegetables, pineapple
Vitamin B12
Folic acid
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Hawthorn
Echinancea
Quercitin
Milk Thistle
Calming, centering exercises eg. Yoga, tai chi
Blood Type : B
The Nomad : balanced, flexible, creative
Strong immune system
Versatile adaptation to dietary and environmental changes
Balanced nervous system
No natural weaknesses, but imbalance causes tendency toward autoimmune breakdowns and rare viruses
Type I diabetes
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Autoimmune disorders - Lou Gehrig's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis
Balanced omnivore : meat (no chicken) dairy, grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, fruit Avoid : corn, lentils, peanuts, sesame seeds, buckwheat
Aids : greens, eggs, venison, liver, licorice, tea
Magnesium
Licorice
Gingko
Lecithin
Moderate physical, with mental balance, such as : hiking, cycling, tennis, swimming
Blood Type : AB
The Enigma : rare, charismatic, mysterious
Designed for modern conditions
Highly tolerant immune system
Combines benfits of Type A and Type B
Sensitive digestive tract
Tendency for over-tolerant immune system, allowing microbial invasion
Reacts negatively to A-like and B-like conditions
Heart disease
Cancer
Anemia
Mixed diet in moderation : Meat, seafood, dairy, tofu, beans, legumes, grains, vegetables, fruit Avoid : red meat, kidney beans, lima beans, seeds, corn, buckwheat
Aids : tofu, seafood, dairy, greens, kelp, pineapple
Vitamin C, hawthorn, echinacea, valerian, quercitin, milk thistle Calming, centering exercises eg. Yoga, tai chi
Combined with : Moderate physical, with mental balance, such as : hiking, cycling, tennis, swimming
Weird huh??