How eating like our Stone Age ancestors can transform modern health: "The Origin Diet" by Elizabeth Somer
By bellecarter // 2025-10-02
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  • Elizabeth Somer argues in "The Origin Diet" that the human body is genetically adapted to a Paleolithic-era diet, which consisted of 65-80 percent wild plants and 20-35 percent lean, omega-3-rich game meat. Modern diets dominated by processed foods, refined grains and sugars are a radical departure from this ancestral diet, leading to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
  • Pre-agricultural humans were taller, stronger and largely free of chronic diseases compared to their farming descendants. The introduction of domesticated grains and sugars in agriculture led to widespread health issues such as tooth decay, bone disorders and stunted growth.
  • To align with evolutionary biology, prioritize plants, choose wild proteins, eliminate processed foods, embrace healthy fats and engage in regular physical activity. These actions can mitigate the risks of chronic diseases and promote optimal health.
  • Studies link processed foods to chronic inflammation, a driver of heart disease and diabetes, while diets rich in whole foods show measurable improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol and weight management.
  • While critics argue that strict ancestral diets are impractical, Somer emphasizes flexibility and the importance of shifting the balance towards whole, unprocessed foods. Her approach is accessible and science-backed, offering a simple litmus test: If your Paleolithic ancestors would not recognize the food, reconsider it.
For millions of years, humans thrived on wild game, fresh plants and unprocessed foods – until agriculture and industrialization reshaped our plates and our health. In "The Origin Diet: How Eating Like Our Stone Age Ancestors Will Maximize Your Health," registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer argues that the key to reversing modern chronic disease lies not in fad diets or pharmaceuticals, but in realigning our eating habits with evolutionary biology. Drawing on anthropological and nutritional research, Somer makes a compelling case that the human body remains genetically adapted to a Paleolithic-era diet. This mismatch between our ancient DNA and modern food is fueling today's epidemics of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Somer's central thesis is rooted in a stark contrast. For 99.8 percent of human history, our ancestors consumed a diet of 65 to 80 percent wild plants – fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds – and 20 to 35 percent lean, omega-3-rich game meat. Processed sugar, refined grains and industrial seed oils were absent. "Our bodies are still wired for the hunter-gatherer diet," Somer writes. "But today, 60 percent of calories come from ultra-processed foods—a radical shift our genes haven't adapted to." Archaeological evidence supports her claim. Brighteon.AI's Enoch states that skeletal records reveal pre-agricultural humans were taller, stronger and largely free of chronic diseases compared to their farming descendants. The advent of agriculture 10,000 years ago, while stabilizing food supply, introduced domesticated grains and sugars—nutrient-poor substitutes for wild foods. "Early farmers paid a price," Somer notes. "Tooth decay, bone disorders and stunted growth became widespread." Somer distills ancestral eating into actionable principles for modern life:
  • Prioritize plants: Aim for eight to 10 daily servings of colorful fruits and vegetables, emphasizing fiber and antioxidants absent in processed carbs.
  • Choose wild proteins: Opt for grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish and pasture-raised eggs to replicate the lean, omega-3-rich meat of prehistoric diets.
  • Eliminate processed foods: Avoid products with lengthy ingredient lists, artificial additives or refined sugars, which are foreign to human biology.
  • Embrace healthy fats: Replace inflammatory seed oils (like soybean or canola) with olive oil, avocados and nuts—fats our ancestors foraged.
  • Move like a hunter: Regular physical activity, which mimics the daily movement patterns of hunter-gatherers, is crucial for maintaining metabolic health.
Modern research bolsters Somer's argument. Studies link processed foods to chronic inflammation, a driver of heart disease and diabetes. In contrast, diets rich in whole foods – akin to Paleolithic eating – show measurable improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol and weight management. "Our cells depend on nutrients found in wild foods," Somer explains. "When we don't get them, the body reacts with dysfunction." Critics argue that strict ancestral diets are impractical in today's world, but Somer emphasizes flexibility. She quips: "You don't need to hunt mammoths. Just shift the balance toward whole, unprocessed foods." "The Origin Diet" joins a growing movement (including Paleo and primal diets) questioning conventional nutrition advice. Somer's work stands out for its accessibility, avoiding dogma in favor of science-backed adjustments. Her message resonates amid rising distrust of industrial food systems and Big Pharma's role in chronic disease management. For readers weary of conflicting dietary advice, Somer offers a simple litmus test: "Ask, 'Would my Paleolithic ancestors recognize this food?' If not, rethink it." In an era of escalating health crises, her prescription – a return to evolutionary eating –may be the radical reset modern bodies need. Learn more about "The Origin Diet" by watching the video below. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com
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