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Paleolithic Diet

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In early history of humans, geography was the chief driver of the nutritional diet. During this early period, called the Paleolithic Era, humans were labeled as “hunter-gathers” and did primarily what their named implied. Later, in the Neolithic Era, the hunter-gathers transitioned into early famers, left the nomadic life and settled into a stationary area. Both of these groups were limited to rudimentary technology and their diet was mostly dependent on what the land and nature allowed them to eat. This is not the case now as other factors other than nature affect diet. In the modern human diet, several factors affect the dietary choices of individuals, which is chiefly driven by the culture of society and the institutions that control it; …show more content…

The USDA has roles not only to promote and regulate the food industry, but to encourage American’s health thorough dietary policy. At times, these multiple roles of the USDA can conflict, which is seen by the its support of the milk and dairy industry for consumption by all Americans, in spite of its ill health effects on many Americans who cannot digest milk properly (Bock, 2015, lecture 6). In the US, milk and dairy products are generally seen as a food staple, and those who have “lactase persistent”, or produce the enzyme to digest milk sugar, can use it for a good source of nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D. According to the USDA and the US Department of Health and Human Services “Dietary Guidelines for Americans: 2010” regarding dairy consumption, the “recommended amounts are 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products for adults.” (USDA & USDHHS, 2010). The consumption of milk is portrayed as a norm for a healthy American diet and the many Americans that lack the enzyme to digest milk properly, or “lactase impersistent”, are seemly regarded as abnormal. To which can be asked, “But what about the 30 to 50 million Americans who are lactase impersistent?” (Wiley & Allen, 2013, pg. 109) Those Americans will suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms, possibly causing negative health effects if they drink milk, which is championed by the USDA. There seems to be an apparent disconnect between the policy of the USDA to encourage a healthy diet for all Americans, and it’s downplay of the negative health effects of dairy consumption to those millions of Americans that are lactase impersistent. (Bock, 2015, lecture 6) The government has a major influence on Americans diet, as the consumption of milk and dairy continues to be ubiquitous and widely consumed, possibly even by those who may suffer ill health

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