most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-22T18:21:48Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/64721 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease Kamal 2011-09-14T05:14:54Z 2012-04-06T14:52:19Z

<p><em>"The extraordinary intelligence of the biological organism is all that is necessary for good living, but we are all the time interfering with its natural operation through the medium of thought...When the movement in the direction of becoming something other than what you are isn't there any more, you are not in conflict with yourself." --UG Krishnamurti</em></p> <p>The way my brain thinks of myself is as a static entity, like a statue, that is constantly hacked to make it better and address problems. My knowledge of paleo keeps increasing, and my brain is overjoyed at the constant influx of thoughts. Is this unhealthy?</p> <p>We humans build our self-images through terabytes of daily self-centered thinking, and are often inexorably wedded to our own opinions. We spend the vast majority of our time thinking about moments other than the one we are in, and are an overstressed bunch of hominids. Note that one of the primary reasons that answers are downvoted on paleohacks is because the answer doesn't agree with the voter's views (as opposed to saying something mean or stupid). </p> <p><strong>EXAMPLE #1</strong> I read a paleo blog the other day that sort of blew my mind. The author, who was obese, explained why they don't count calories. Great, right? That's one of the perks of being paleo. <em>But wait!</em> The blogger said that they have to make sure to get <em>ENOUGH</em> calories (like around 2000 kcal) every day to avoid nutrient deficiencies that might be implicated in keeping her obese. And this person knows a fair bit of biochem. Somewhere along the way, knowledge solidified into an unbreakable mass, and this person's weight has not budged for months. Ask a Kitavan, Inuit, Massai, whatever how to lose weight if you are obese. The answer, I'm guessing, is going to involve eating much less food. </p> <p><strong>EXAMPLE #2</strong> Who loves their job? Well, a bunch of you from what I've seen. But among my friends, there are several who hate their jobs. You might say that this is a bad time to leave a stable job, right? <em>But wait!</em> At least two of these friends made a ton of money in the financial sector, and could absolutely afford to take a year or two off, with a posh lifestyle. Why don't they leave? Lots of reasons, but are all those reasons in the mind, and not in tangible reality?</p> <p><strong>EXAMPLE #3</strong> This one is from paleohacks. Now don't get me wrong, I love you paleohacks (but I'm not IN LOVE with you!). Occasionally there's a question like "I found out my sweet potato was sauteed in canola oil. Am I going to die?" As well as interesting observations like "When I eat a bit of cheese, I gain five pounds overnight". And the ever popular "This is what I define the paleo diet as. Your definition is wrong!" These questions all seem related to overthinking and self-verification bias.</p> <p>So here's the questions. </p> <ul> <li>Do you ever attempt to think less (meditation, living mindfully, not multitasking, slowing down, etc)? </li> <li>Do you ever find yourself overhacking, getting into the "paralysis by analysis" conundrum? (I do) </li> <li>How do you weigh perfection of your body/diet versus just living and chilling out? Animals are and cavemen were most likely less plagued by cluttered thoughts. </li> <li>Are you at all concerned about the stress from overhacking? Meaning, reading tons of paleo blogs, worrying about reaching goals, and just being at the computer more than doing other things?</li> <li>How often do you hug? Cry? Laugh uncontrollably? Hunt? Gather? Dance? Make music? Paint? Tend your garden? These are things I don't do much of, and want to do more of. </li> </ul>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64723#64723 Bread-Eating Beelzebub 2011-09-14T05:20:02Z 2011-09-14T05:20:02Z

<p>After some not so positive life events lately, I've found a lot of solace in just not stressing out about my diet/exercise regimin until I'm on more solid ground. No, I haven't let myself go, but I'm not going to worry about whether or not I'm meeting my exercise goals or how much I'm eating home-cooked food, I'm going to sit back and order some takeout and play RPGs until my brain turns into absolute mush. That is, until I move away so I don't have to live this lifestyle anymore :) </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64725#64725 becky 2011-09-14T05:50:22Z 2011-09-14T05:50:22Z

<p>Kamal, I love your question! </p> <p>I have been thinking along these lines lately myself, meaning the tribal aspects of life have become much more important as I gain a deeper relationship with my food and how the planet provides it. </p> <p>I'd say the focus of my life thus far, has been 50% paleo/primal food interest, and 50% focused on a deeper understanding of the meaning of life and the role humanity plays in that. </p> <p>Your question is a wonderful indicator that others are waking up to this holistic exploration, too. </p> <p>Simply put, eating paleo has led me to feel a sense of playfulness in all other aspects of life. I can't maintain the system of belief that has kept me in the job I've worked the last 11 years. I have to get out of the cube and into the dirt. And the thoughts I was taught to honor have lost their power.</p> <p>Much love to you on (y)our path.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64727#64727 Eric 2011-09-14T06:07:02Z 2011-09-14T06:07:02Z

<p>Great question Kamal!</p> <p>I agree that HUMAN THINKING is a Neolithic Agent of Disease. I won't stop doing it though. I love to overthink things. </p> <p>Best Wishes - Eric</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64733#64733 Jeff 2011-09-14T06:57:20Z 2011-09-14T06:57:20Z

<p>To answer a small part of your question, every once in a while I try and remember that the wrong food eaten with the right attitude is better than the right food eaten with the wrong attitude.</p> <p>This is usually when I inhale copious amounts of (gluten free) pizza, and it's awesome. I may feel a tad bloated but the joy of just really lettin it rip at the table is fun once in a while. </p> <p>I ignore what's happened to my day's omega 3:6 ratio, and if I really wanna get crazy I measure my post prandial blood sugar (148 last time) to remind myself that I'm not gonna fall apart with high blood sugar one night.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64735#64735 PaWu 2011-09-14T07:14:58Z 2011-09-14T07:14:58Z

<p><em>"Don't think, Feeeel, it is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory."</em></p> <p>Bruce Lee said it all!!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05LGS3Tv-Y&amp;feature=youtube_gdata_player" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D05LGS3Tv-Y&amp;feature=youtube_gdata_player</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64737#64737 Pieter D 2011-09-14T08:01:45Z 2011-09-14T08:21:15Z

<p>Some very good thoughts. Although I don't think that 'thinking per se' is the NAD, it probably is the 'thinking in combination with the internet' that is the problem. Maybe not so much the internet, but the blogs and sites like this. I used to only know pubmed, and trust me, there is much information on that, but it is hardly addictive.</p> <p>The weird thing is that although I am aware of these difficulties, and try to do something about it (like not coming to PH for a while), it remains very tempting. Luckily I have a job that does not involve a lot of sitting and computer work. But I work at home (I treat patients in my home physical therapy 'office' (how do you call that in English?)), and my goal is to shut down my internet in the private, living part of our home. </p> <p>Luckily for me, I don't like rules and forget details often, so I don't care for the more structured, rigid advice you sometimes get. </p> <p>I always keep in mind that my goal is lifelong health and happiness. Ultimately my choices are made for achieving this. My thinking and the internet have served me well, but sometimes they try to distract me from my path.</p> <p>Example: It annoyes me that something stupid like my paleohacks points/status seems to matter to me. I don't want them to matter, but in a certain way, they do so.</p> <p>(What would happen to paleohacks if the rating system did not exist?)</p> <p>Example: I only read the major blogs. I have a pile of pdf's waiting to be read. Still, I keep coming back too often to these blogs. I should delete all my bookmarks, so I can only visit those that I can remember... Reading full text articles and books is somehow more relaxing and satisfying. </p> <p>Hell, I'd better shut up and walk the talk! </p> <p>Cheers</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64742#64742 none 2011-09-14T09:10:25Z 2011-09-14T09:10:25Z

<p><strong>Do you ever find yourself overhacking, getting into the "paralysis by analysis" conundrum? (I do)</strong></p> <p>All this quantified self, n=1, hacking is prolly great for many folks. Not me though. Tracking food, and measuring bodyparts and scrutinizing weight is not a happy time for me. It causes me to focus on minutiea and I end up trapped in a self critiquing loop. I bet this has been somewhat of an issue since the invention of the mirror - but now we have a BUTT LOAD of new fangled devices that help us focus all our attention on ourselves, like the home salivary cortisol test!</p> <p><strong>Do you ever attempt to think less (meditation, living mindfully, not multitasking, slowing down, etc), for either health purposes or just to be more peaceful?</strong></p> <p>I dance with my 20 month old. No kidding! He looks like mini John Belushi and is fond of Katie Perry. This is about as close to meditation as I get, but it is very mindless.</p> <p><strong>How do you weigh perfection of your body/diet versus just living and chilling out? Animals do it. Cavemen most likely were less plagued by cluttered thoughts.</strong></p> <p>I make fun of myself almost constantly. I find the crazy things I have done, do do, and will do in the name of health, fitness and vanity HILARIOUS! (Deep Nutrition recommends EYEBALLS for perfect skin and I am going to give it a try.)</p> <p><strong>Are you at all concerned about the stress from overhacking? Meaning, reading tons of paleo blogs, worrying about reaching goals, and just being at the computer more than doing other things?</strong></p> <p>Computer time is something I do worry about. I am home with a young babby who still mostly naps all day (not so great on the night time though - thus this late night type fest). But, since I live in such a remote place and move so frequently I have few if any friends in the flesh. I truly love connecting with people and have met some amazingly lovely folks via Paleohacks.</p> <p><strong>How often do you hug? Cry? Laugh uncontrollably? Hunt? Gather? Dance? Make music? Paint? Tend your garden? These are things I don't do much of, and want to do more of.</strong></p> <p>I get an A in this area because I have kids. Hugging, at least every ten minutes. Cry? Mostly from laughing too hard. Laugh uncontrollably? I kid you not but this weekend I laughed so hard my nose started to bleed! (Aren't you proud that I did not try to post that Hack?) People CAN corroborate this episode! Hunt? My husband does this every week from Aug to Nov. I get to clean the critters. Garden? Daily and I add to that tend to a small flock of backyard hens. </p> <p>Two last things that I highly recommend. 1) Hike a HUGE mountain at least once a year. I'm not talking Wachusett or Monadnock - I'm talking <a href="http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/longspeak.htm" rel="nofollow">Long's Peak</a>! Better yet, hike up one and stay over night in a <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/reservations/" rel="nofollow">fire lookout</a>. Go with a buddy or a group of paleohackers though. 2) I love this saying which I have outright stolen from my favorite paleohacker - <strong>"KEPP RELAXED! ENJOY YOUR SUCESS, AND THE LOVELY TIME!"</strong> &lt;&lt;&lt;&lt; Nothing more need be said. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64795#64795 greyman 2011-09-14T14:25:11Z 2011-09-14T14:25:11Z

<p>What I consider NADs are the negative substances which are trying to enter our minds, for example:</p> <ol> <li><p>some general news (especially in tabloids) - lots of news are promoting negativity and inducing fear. I found it harmful to consume them in excess.</p></li> <li><p>pornography - <a href="http://yourbrainonporn.com/" rel="nofollow">yourbrainonporn.com</a> website explains why.</p></li> <li><p>advertising - some ads are factually untrue, and are laying to us trying to convince us that something harmful is actually good. (HFCS ads are a good example). If one is not alert, false belief can be installed into one's thinking.</p></li> </ol>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64797#64797 Josh M 2011-09-14T14:26:31Z 2011-09-14T14:26:31Z

<p>Yes human thinking is a Neolithic Agent of Disease, perhaps more of a survival mechanism than disease. As Culture developed and societies became more complex we had to learn to think more and more extremely to cope with and solve the complexities of society, dealing with the rise of cities, mass wars, wanting to change the human condition in one way or another. Humans are never satisfied, we look for more, desire more, we expand and take over, change or assimilate.</p> <p>As humans we tend to over think everything, we make complex what is simple, we stress, we worry about the future have regrets about the past, we are not satisfied with the present. In my life I use the KISS principle. I have decluttered my Life, my mind, my body. I do not chase the dollar, material possessions mean little to me now,I have realized that the people I care about the most are what matter. Life can change is a second and we can lose that big house or fast car, but family is forever. I am a single father and have been for almost 14 years, my life is centered around peacefully raising my son, so we are both healthy in mind, body &amp; spirit. I don't stress over diet. I am very much like an animal, I eat when hungry, sleep when tired (with in reason lol) I follow my instincts, I care for and protect my family and I am territorial.</p> <p>I am hugged and give hugs multiple times every day along with smiles. I am peaceful and at one with Nature and the Universe shares it's secrets with me once in a while. I meditate laying in a sun soaked field of wild growth grass. Most of all I am thankful for who I am and what I have.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64828#64828 sherpamelissa 2011-09-14T16:49:31Z 2011-09-14T16:49:31Z

<p>If anything, compared to others around these parts, I believe I underthink these things. I certainly think more about nutrition and fitness than the average person, but I think I'm healthy than the average person too.</p> <blockquote> <ul> <li>Do you ever attempt to think less (meditation, living mindfully, not multitasking, slowing down, etc)?</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p>No. My life really doesn't seem to allow for it. If I'm not working, I'm doing parent stuff or home stuff. My "me time" is in the car on the way to and from work. I try and enjoy the silence and regroup then.</p> <blockquote> <ul> <li>Do you ever find yourself overhacking, getting into the "paralysis by analysis" conundrum?</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p>I am too hard on myself sometimes, but I don't try and overhack things. I do the best I can with what I have. I don't read all the blogs, I don't listen to all the podcasts. I count on your guys to tell me what's important and go from there. If anything, I'm kind of adverse to change sometimes. </p> <blockquote> <ul> <li>How do you weigh perfection of your body/diet versus just living and chilling out? Animals are and cavemen were most likely less plagued by cluttered thoughts.</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p>I am currently in a fight to the death with the scale. The odd thing is, I love how I look right now. I truly do, but I have an attachment to the number I want, also. I see so many woman taller than me that weigh less than me and are still trying to lose weight. It makes me feel like my number is too high. I am working on coming to terms with that now. I tried a few things recently that I think just made me more aware of the difficulty I have with this issue. I am going to work on not caring about the number for awhile.</p> <blockquote> <p>Are you at all concerned about the stress from overhacking? Meaning, reading tons of paleo blogs, worrying about reaching goals, and just being at the computer more than doing other things?</p> </blockquote> <p>This one doesn't concern me. I have enough time away from the computer with various other commitments. </p> <blockquote> <p>How often do you hug? Cry? Laugh uncontrollably? Hunt? Gather? Dance? Make music? Paint? Tend your garden?</p> </blockquote> <p>I suck at laughing. I don't do it much at all. I get lots of hugs and kisses from my little girl. I am having much more fun coaching her cheerleading squad than I thought I would. I have not ridden my bike at all this summer, though and that makes me sad. I need to find my own hobby/interest besides reading terrible historical romance mystery fiction books. I've been looking for a new personal trainer or class, but that isn't going so well. No one wants to work out with me at 5am! </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64829#64829 Dorado Galore 2011-09-14T17:02:28Z 2011-09-14T20:59:04Z

<p>Well, shucks. There are so many kinds of thinking. I have learned through practice that it is helpful to give the Amygdala a rest. And here I refer to A's trademark role in fight-flight, which served our ancestors well situationally, and which serves us so poorly in modern life, by being on duty pretty much continuously for millions of us. Related pathologies of A over activation: hormonal disruption, memory distortion, emotional reactivity at odds with context. Breathe. Notice thoughts, feelings, sensations. "Before speaking, ask yourself: Will it improve upon silence?"</p> <p>OK, as for specifically linking Neolithic to Human Thinking Pathology (my paraphrase): I make no apology for appreciating having access to modern/postmodern modes of thinking and multiplicity of media (electronic and print). Can/do I get carried away sometimes? Sure. The problem isn't my laptop, my iPhone, my TV or radio, my various magazines, the Internet. The problem, when such exists, is in how I make use of these sources. I invariably benefit from periods of not being tuned in. And from periods of turning off thought, meditation practice in particular. Likewise I'm glad for ER medicine (nice touch of modernity, that), because ER medicine doesn't in any way conflict with my including Paleo/Primal principles and practices in my life. With their impressive health, would our hunter-gatherer ancestors have found value in ER medicine? Of course. Fewer would have died from accidents and infections. Huge "duh" factor here, it seems to me.</p> <p>So put me down decidedly in the camp that favors an integral approach — to nutrition, to fitness, to cognition, and to living in general. As a contemporary, we've all got access to the features of modernism and premodernism that we may find valuable. However, our pre-modern ancestors did not have access to societal forms subsequent to their existence. When I hear the statement,"If our ancestors didn't do X, neither should we," I roll my eyes. Retro-romantic reductionism, in the phrase of philosopher Ken Wilber, from his classic essay, "The Pre-Trans Fallacy," no doubt easily available via Google.) </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64905#64905 Happy Now 2011-09-14T21:42:23Z 2011-09-14T21:42:23Z

<p>I would say yes and no.</p> <p>I would try and separate using our brains for deep thought, and thought illness.</p> <p>We live in a time where we have been trained to think the perfect body is a commodity, it can be "bought" with enough money, work, or research. That kind of body as a consumer product, and using up all of our thought power on comparing ourselves to others who have something "better" is a major thought illness. If that kind of thinking keeps someone locked into the "less than" hamster wheel and constant over analyzing, then yes, thought will make you anxious, irritable, bummed out, stressed out, and possibly really ill because no achievement will be enough. I sometimes wonder how much we could have accomplished as a human race, if it weren't the duty of every woman to sit around worrying how fat she was for at least half of her waking hours. </p> <p>If someone is unable to find a way to opt out of that mindset under the constant barrage of media images telling them that a perfect body is the most important thing, they will be much happier if they check out of the modern world for daily stimulation and participate in a simpler life, no one "needs" TV or magazines. I find the lack of "mental stress" in primitive living to somewhat romanticized though, especially because that spare time and energy is often spent developing superstitious beliefs that simply promote fear, sometimes homicidal fear. </p> <p>Personally, I find living in the information age to be darn thrilling. I do meditate on a regular basis as a sort of brain housekeeping. I find that it gives me a cleaner "work space". I've always gotten a bit obsessive when it comes to research. The cool thing now is that I don't have to disappear into the library for a weekend (and neglecting my bodily needs as much as possible during that time). I can get more research done in an hour now than I could have in a week just 15 years ago. I'm finding it to be much healthier overall. I can read a blog, and then let it roll around in my head while I make dinner, change diapers, or play at the playground with my son. I know there is a big emphasis on "be here now" in meditation, and I am able to that for long periods of time, but daydreaming and abstract problem solving are just as important for personal evolution in my opinion. </p> <p>Even though I do sometimes succumb to "paralysis by analysis", I just take that as my cue to step away from the computer and go pull weeds or go for a walk. I try not to fear "overthinking", if I hit a wall it just means that is an area I'll need to revisit in the future when I am slightly different person after more life experience. Learning is certainly not a straight line, and I am sometimes able to put disparate things together in a big "Aha!" moment. I find my ongoing research to be a net positive thing and in agreement with UG Krishnamurti's quote for the most part (although I think he is being a bit romantic about the simplicity of health). The nutritional and health waters have been so muddied by BS, and some of that BS caused me bodily harm during my developing years, so I'm on a personal mission to make sure others don't have to have the same experience if I can help it. Every blog or research paper I read is in an attempt to get closer to "what is", rather than "what we think ought to be" in the hope of reducing future human suffering.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64928#64928 FED at LiveCaveman.com 2011-09-15T00:16:21Z 2011-09-15T00:16:21Z

<p>"Any strength taken to the extreme becomes a liability" </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64942#64942 thhq 2011-09-15T02:03:50Z 2011-09-15T02:03:50Z

<p>No it's more the human condition. If Grok hadn't used his head we wouldn't be here as humans. With time tools got better, and then all of a sudden paleo was over. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/64948#64948 deirdra 2011-09-15T02:37:30Z 2011-09-15T02:37:30Z

<p>10 years ago I might have thought people think too much, but watching the vast majority of people in public who are twittering about nothing, can't go for a walk in nature without listening to music (or texting while crossing the road against the light), now I feel people are not thinking enough - they seem to be scared that their mind might wander for a second or two it they don't cronically "multitask" (and end up doing nothing well).</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/67190#67190 John J. Collins 2011-09-26T00:24:00Z 2011-09-26T00:24:00Z

<p>Cool question.</p> <p>I would not call thinking a "neolithic agent of disease", I would call human thinking (as we generally define it) the primary CAUSE of all chronic disease.</p> <p>Human thinking---> neolithic technological living-----> commencement of chronic illness.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/110208#110208 Wcc Kamal Stabby fan 2012-04-06T13:17:51Z 2012-04-06T13:17:51Z

<p>Good question Kamal.</p> <p>Over thinking often leads to stress when we focus on negative aspects of our life. A little stress can be a good thing, but too much stress is usually not a good thing.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/64721/is-human-thinking-a-neolithic-agent-of-disease/110237#110237 cerement 2012-04-06T14:52:19Z 2012-04-06T14:52:19Z

<p>According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Consciousness_in_the_Breakdown_of_the_Bicameral_Mind" rel="nofollow">Julian Jaynes</a>, thinking (consciousness) is even newer than agriculture. We generally place the rise of agriculture around 10000 years ago, he places the rise of consciousness around 3000 years ago.</p>