Civilizational diseases

(often called lifestyle diseases)

It is increasingly recognized that certain fundamental changes in diet and lifestyle that occurred after the Neolithic
Revolution, and especially after the Industrial Revolution and the Modern Age, are too recent, on an evolutionary
timescale, for the human genome to have completely adapted. This mismatch between our ancient physiology and the
western diet and lifestyle underlies many so-called diseases of civilization, including coronary heart disease, obesity,
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, epithelial cell cancers, autoimmune disease, and osteoporosis, which are rare or virtually
absent in hunter-gatherers and other non-westernized populations. It is therefore proposed that the adoption of diet and
lifestyle that mimic the beneficial characteristics of the preagricultural environment is an effective strategy to reduce the
risk of chronic degenerative diseases.
Here are some examples of our non-healthy lifestyle, these habits can often cause serious diseases If we are not careful
enough:
Lack of physical activity
A pattern of physical activity which involves some short periods of vigorous muscular activity and longer periods of
medium (and varied) muscular activity, but also frequent periods of rest. However, nowadays people often work hours
long in the office and don't have enough time for physical activities. A wide range of labour-saving devices is now
available to assist with household chores and work. This has been positive as it has reduced the physical demands of
such work, and associated injury and disability. At the same time, it has reduced levels of physical activity at the
population level. The lack of physical activity is associated with a wide range of diseases and other health problems –
obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression.

Unnatural diet
The food culture in some modern societies has become a fast-food culture. Increasing numbers of people use
convenience foods to minimalise the time required to source and prepare food and to maximise the time available for
work and leisure. These convenience foods are often high in fat and salt. Furthermore, snack foods are no longer
considered a treat by many people. They are now part of the daily diet. Many people, especially in high- and middle-
consumption countries, have ready access to these unnatural and unhealthy foods. It can require extra effort for people
in such places to source a natural diet. This unnatural diet is contributing to a wide range of diseases and other health
problems—including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and depression. There remains potential for
micro-nutrient deficiencies if there is not a sufficient quantity of a diverse range of different foods of plant origin and
lean meat. Many people, especially in high- and middle- consumption countries, have ready access to these unnatural
and unhealthy foods. It can require extra effort for people in such places to source a natural diet. This unnatural diet is
contributing to a wide range of diseases and other health problems—including obesity, high blood pressure, heart
disease, diabetes and depression. There remains potential for micro-nutrient deficiencies if there is not a sufficient
quantity of a diverse range of different foods of plant origin and lean meat.
Unclean air (tobacco smoking and other sources of air pollution)
A third universal health need is clean air to breathe:
Clean air (not contaminated with hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides, lead etc.)
Tobacco smoking (purposefully) pollutes the air breathed in by the smoker and anyone else in the immediate vicinity.
In some parts of the world, urban centres have poor air quality. Motor vehicle emissions are an important source of air
pollution in cities where the motor car is a primary mode of transport. Residents in such places are exposed to a range of
air pollutants, including fine particles, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds,
ozone and lead.
Industrial air pollution is an important health issue in many middle-income countries. The health risks depend on the
nature of the industry. Smoke from forest fires is currently an important source of air pollution in South-East Asia and
other parts of the world where large-scale land clearing is underway.
Unclean air – from tobacco smoking and air pollution – is an important cause of chronic respiratory disease, heart
disease and cancers.
In addition to these three un-met universal physical health needs, there are some un-met universal psychosocial needs,
associated with consumer culture, and alcohol and other drug use. These are less well understood, and often given less
emphasis in medical practice.
We already know many of the things we need to do to live in a healthy way. The knowledge was passed on to us by our
grandparents and other forebears. We need to get our lives into balance (in harmony with nature); we need to take time
to smell the roses, and we should do everything in moderation.