Researchers investigated what people in these tribes ate when they were much lighter, after discovering a rise in weight gain and diabetes caused by a modern diet, high in saturated fat and sugar. This rise came from a natural high ability to store food as body fat; having to do so to survive in adverse conditions. Researchers discovered an ancient diet rich in beans, corn, grains, greens and other low-fat-high-fibre foods. These foods regulate blood sugar; suppress hunger between meals and foster weight loss. Volunteers with diabetes even tried switching to these foods with promising results.
But why did it work? Researchers found that these foods were great in highly-soluble fibre that formed edible gels, gums, and a type of starch called amylose that"s digested very slowly. These foods don’t make your body work so hard to digest, which delays hunger and doesn’t cause swings in blood sugar levels. You can get the same benefits today from oat bran.
More ancient wisdom comes from the Okinawans in Japan, many of whom lived to be over 100 due to eating until they were 80% full, and having a diet of mostly fibre-rich fruit and vegetables which help you feel fuller for longer. They also had moderate levels of alcohol use and had higher intake of good fats such as omega 3, but it just goes to show you that a few ancient tips could make all the difference to your waistline, and your timeline!
