Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I know that eggs are a natural food source and are something that our ancestors would have encountered in the wild, but my question is, with what frequency? I do not imagine them being an everyday thing, but I could be wrong. Does anyone have data on this? Educated guesses are welcomed too.

I have seen some documentaries on primitive tribes, and eggs are notably absent from how they describe the diets. Usually it is pork, birds, monkeys, fish, rodents, and other wild game for animals, and potatoes, yucca, corn, and other tubers for starch, and berries and honey for sweet. Just, of course from documentaries that do not gather the full lifestyle and diet.

flag	asked Jul 18 at 17:30 alligator 2,603●2●14

CD · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 17:41:54Z UTC

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Most animals lay eggs in specific places. Birds, Turtles, Lizards, etc all tend to have regular locations to lay their eggs (assuming it doesn't get destroyed).

I have a lot of faith in our ancestors that they were able to figure that out. That being said, gestation is very seasonal for many animal species (we've "selectively bred" that out by picking the high baring to reproduce). So one would assume that at certain times of the year eggs were a big part of the diet, and at other times eggs were no where to be found.

answered Jul 18 at 17:41

CD
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This begs the question though, that if animals have regular locations to lay their eggs, they will be safe locations, because they will not regularly lay eggs in a dangerous spot. Therefore, one can reason that HGs could not know in advance where these locations are, otherwise they would be exploited and the animals would not lay there again (or else they'd go extinct). So, it seems that HGs would have to be opportunistic egg gatherers. That means that when they stumble upon them, they eat them, but they can not have a reliable source for them, otherwise the animal would soon be extinct... – alligator Jul 19 at 0:08

That sounds like an hypothesis without evidence to back it up. I suppose only you, Alligator, can give your opinion as an hypothesis without sound evidence. Makes sense now – RaiseFitness Jul 19 at 0:18

Our ability to outsmart other species is what made us the top of the food chain. – RaiseFitness Jul 19 at 0:18

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Well, paleolithic animals, like horseshoe crabs would flock to the beach in droves of thousands and lay eggs. They were very fecund and the reason for this fecundity is that some of the eggs would be eaten....So, yes, they would regularly lay their eggs in dangerous places, however, the sheer volume of eggs insures that some will survive. – Chinaeskimo Jul 19 at 1:14

define "dangerous spot" -- human are and have always been very adaptable. For a bird to lay eggs on a weak tree branch -- one where most predators could not reach -- would be dangerous if humans were around. – CD Jul 19 at 2:00

RaiseFitness · Answer 2 · 2012-07-18 18:16:40Z UTC

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There is no way to recreate what our ancestors ate on a daily basis. Eggs are generally considered very healthy, so if you like them, then by all means, eat them as often as possible. There were hunter-gatherer tribes that have never eaten an egg, and those that ate them all the time. Just like any other paleo food, some might not have, and others might have. Don't worry about the details. We ARE NOT hunter-gatherers, we are trying to eat what our bodies were best evolved to eat.

answered Jul 18 at 18:16

RaiseFitness
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thank you for the heads up, but that does not answer the question. – alligator Jul 18 at 18:31

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There is no accurate or specific answer to your question. It is an unknowable answer to say what frequency hunter-gatherers ate eggs. Some often and some never. – RaiseFitness Jul 18 at 19:07

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And, again, alligator begins arguing with those responding to his questions. – MathGirl72 Jul 18 at 19:12

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I enjoy a good intelligent debate as much as the next person. – RaiseFitness Jul 18 at 19:36

MatGirl72, I am not arguing, I am only saying that RaiseFitness did not answer the question. He said that many HGs ate them, and many did not. Without evidence, and without a hypothesis, that is neither data nor is it an educated guess. It is just saying what he believes to be true. There is nothing wrong with that, it just does not answer either of the two questions. – alligator Jul 19 at 0:05

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Chinaeskimo · Answer 3 · 2012-07-18 22:15:52Z UTC

Since egg laying creatures were all around during the paleolithic period, and since eggs are not poisonous, I would guess that our ancestors would quickly figure out that they were safe and edible and, hence, would eat them whenever they could.

They may have even observed other animals eating eggs and simply copied the behavior.

VB · Answer 4 · 2012-07-18 19:02:45Z UTC

I found out that ostriches lay their eggs 6 months out of the year, and if female ostriches are out of sync, it is very likely that hunter gatherers could harvest ostrich eggs for at least 9 months out of the year or even longer.

I have seen a picture of a hunter gatherer tribal woman making an omelet (over a hot rock) with an ostrich egg. Not sure about any other wild birds, but see if you can find any information on our chicken's wild ancestors, Red Junglefowl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Junglefowl

alligator · Answer 5 · 2012-07-19 00:12:00Z UTC

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Thank you everyone for the answers.

answered Jul 19 at 0:12

alligator
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red_leaf · Answer 6 · 2012-07-19 02:38:53Z UTC

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Anthony Bourdain ate a slow-cooked (on the ground) ostrich egg omelet in South Africa with a tribe of hunter-gatherers. Mmm... ash and dirt. :)

answered Jul 19 at 2:38

red_leaf
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egg consumption among hunter-gatherers

6 Answers