Phytochemicals as Evolutionary Mediators of Human Nutritional Physiology

Abstract

The roles of phytochemicals as mediators of chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease have an evolutionary basis. The omnivorous ancestors of modern humans ingested non-nutrients as well as nutrients from plants, and phytochemicals are a normal component of human dietary physiology. However, humans have a preference for animal fat and protein. Contemporary populations living a traditional subsistence life-style ingest phytochemicals as part of the diet but also from herbal medicines, beverages, food additives, tooth brushes and masticants. Maasai pastoralists who occupy African savannahs with similar ecological conditions experienced by hominids in the Pleistocene derive the majority of their calories from animal products. Their patterns of plant consumption offer insight into how human ancestors in such environments could have thrived as hunters and scavengers without suffering the ill-effects often associated with a high fat diet. Acacia goetzii Harms, Albizia anthelmintica Brongn., Aloe volkensii Engl., Castanospermum australe Cunn., Commiphora africana (A. Rich) Engl., Commiphora mukul Hook. ex Stock, Homo sapiens, Myrsine africana L., Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray, Prosopis spp. tial nutrients reflects the dietary patterns of our anPharmaceutical Biology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan on 08/24/15 For personal use only. Pharmaceutical Biology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan on 08/24/15 For personal use only.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Property of Leaf Extracts ofVitex donianaandMucuna pruriens

“…Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds found in plants that work with nutrients and dietary fibre to protect against diseases. They are nonnutritive compounds (secondary metabolites) that contribute to flavour colour [ 4 , 5 ]. Many phytochemicals have antioxidant activity and reduce the risk of many diseases, for example, alkyl sulfide (found in onions and garlic), carotenoids (from carrots), and flavonoids (present in fruits and vegetables) [ 5 ].…”

High content of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in red blood cells of Kenyan Maasai despite low dietary intake

“…During the 1960s and 1970s, various reports described the Maasai as subsisting on a diet of excessive amounts of milk and meat and thereby ingesting large quantities of fat and cholesterol [ 1 , 2 ]. Even today, this image of the Maasai diet, including the consumption of cattle blood, prevails (e.g., [ 3 , 4 ]).…”

Predicting Grass Growth for Sustainable Dairy Farming: A CBR System Using Bayesian Case-Exclusion and Post-Hoc, Personalized Explanation-by-Example (XAI)

“…The pasture-based proposal has the potential to be sustainable, in part, by using grass as a carbon sink and extending the grazing season (which reduces polluting slurry emissions) [32]. Furthermore, humans have a limited capacity to digest grass, as it is a non-edible protein, so it is not consuming a food that people could eat [28]. However, these initiatives depend on precision technologies, using AI, for monitoring variables such as soil, climate, and grass growth.…”