Sugar Was Brain Food for Early Humans, New Study Says
Early Humans Likely Ate Carbs and Sugary Foods
A new paper in Science argues that sugary fruits and honey supplied 20–35% of energy for early humans throughout evolution, with another 25% from starches—challenging the meat-centric story of brain growth. Lead author Jennie Brand-Miller points to primate studies showing fruit-eaters have 25% bigger brains, and to genetic evidence like multiple copies of the salivary amylase gene, which helps digest carbs. The findings suggest natural sugars, not just meat, fueled our expanding brains.
We have billions of neurons in our brains, and those neurons run on glucose—they run on sugar.
- slicktux
There’s many theories but one that I learned was that women and children provides the bulk of the calories for Early Humans. While the men went out and hunted for meat they also relied on the fruit harvested by the women and children. That would give them the energy necessary for trekking and hunting.
- sebstefan
The link doesn't work (it only serves a redirect to hearsnetworks.com/) if you are outside the united states
- jamesgill
Humans have always eaten carbs; it’s the body’s preferred energy source. But human bodies can get energy from three sources, in order of preference—carbs, fat, and muscle (when all else fails).
Our bodies evolved to store fat for this very reason—future energy needs. Ancient humans lived feast or famine, and our biology adapted. We’re built to fast for days, using body fat for energy. When carbs are available, they’re preferred because they are faster and easier to burn.
Sugar is carbs. But ancient fruit in no way resembles today’s cultivated monstrosities, in appearance or sugar content.
Our modern problem is—we gorge on carbs all day long. So our body helpfully stores the excess as body fat for future use—because it expects eventual ‘famine’ where we’ll be fasting with few carbs available and need it. But we never let our body get to burn that fat.
- louiereederson
If you’re constantly moving sugar is a necessity for maintaining glycogen. There’s nothing inherently wrong with any food type, it’s all about context.
- jhoechtl
Today we know sugar was a key ingredient for brain development in humans, not just proteins because of eating meat.