136. How to eat like a human, with Bill Schindler PhD

Dietary Shifts

Human dietary habits underwent significant changes around 2 million years ago. Paul Saladino and Bill Schindler discuss how the introduction of meat, blood, organs, and fat into our diet marked a pivotal shift from scavenging to hunting, leading to the emergence of Homo habilis. This dietary shift provided access to the most nutritious parts of animals, which was crucial for our ancestors' development.

The massive changes happen when our ancestors start hunting and also control fire. And the difference between scavenging and hunting is the hunters have first access to the most nutrient dense parts of the animal.

--- Bill Schindler

This access to nutrient-dense foods facilitated significant biological changes, including increased brain and body size 1 2.

   

Tool Technology

The development of stone tools was a transformative milestone in human evolution. Bill Schindler explains that the earliest stone tools, dating back to 3.3 million years ago, allowed our ancestors to overcome their physical limitations and access new food sources. These tools, including the Acheulean bifacial tools, required advanced cognitive skills and planning.

As soon as they struck two rocks together and produced a razor sharp edge, that edge, even though it was produced in less than a second, was stronger and sharper than anything on their body they could use to cut or grab or slice.

--- Bill Schindler

This technological advancement coincided with significant growth in brain and body size, highlighting the interplay between tool use and human development 3 4.