Key Takeaways
1. Reconnect with ancestral food wisdom for optimal health
"Eating in this way will maximize your health and simultaneously simplify the process of knowing how, what, and when to eat."
Ancient wisdom, modern application. Our ancestors developed ingenious methods to make food safe, nutritious, and bioavailable. By reconnecting with these traditional practices, we can optimize our health in the modern world. This approach focuses on sourcing the highest-quality, most nutrient-dense foods possible and preparing them using time-tested techniques.
Key principles:
- Prioritize whole, unprocessed foods
- Learn and apply traditional food preparation methods
- Focus on nutrient density and bioavailability
- Develop a direct connection with your food sources
By adopting this mindset, we can overcome many of the health challenges posed by our modern food system while enjoying a diverse and satisfying diet.
2. Rethink plants: Detoxify and maximize nutrition
"Plants should scare the hell out of you."
Plants are not inherently safe. Contrary to popular belief, many plants contain toxins and antinutrients that can be harmful to human health. However, our ancestors developed methods to detoxify and maximize the nutritional value of plant foods.
Key strategies:
- Foraging: Reconnect with wild, nutrient-dense plants
- Fermentation: Break down toxins and increase nutrient availability
- Cooking and processing: Neutralize harmful compounds
By applying these techniques, we can safely incorporate a wide variety of plant foods into our diets while maximizing their nutritional benefits. This approach allows us to enjoy the health benefits of plants while avoiding potential pitfalls.
3. Embrace the whole animal: Offal and nose-to-tail eating
"We should be taking a cue from our ancestors and eating less meat and more animal."
Beyond muscle meat. Our modern fixation on lean muscle meat ignores the most nutrient-dense parts of animals. By embracing a nose-to-tail approach, we can access a wider range of nutrients and reduce waste.
Benefits of whole animal consumption:
- Increased nutrient density (vitamins, minerals, and unique compounds)
- Improved sustainability and reduced waste
- Connection to traditional culinary practices
Learning to prepare and enjoy organ meats, bones, and other often-discarded animal parts can dramatically improve the nutritional quality of our diets while honoring the entire animal.
4. Fermentation: The key to unlocking food's potential
"Fermentation works with environmental processes instead of against them."
Microbial alchemy. Fermentation is a powerful tool for transforming foods, increasing their safety, nutrient availability, and flavor. This ancient technique is applicable to a wide range of foods and can be easily practiced at home.
Key benefits of fermentation:
- Increased nutrient bioavailability
- Enhanced food safety and preservation
- Improved digestibility
- Introduction of beneficial probiotics
By incorporating fermented foods into our diets and learning to ferment at home, we can tap into this ancient wisdom and improve our overall health.
5. Grains and bread: Traditional processing for safety and nourishment
"Genuine sourdough bread is more nutritious than even homemade white, whole wheat, rye, or oat bread because fermentation makes the grains' vitamins and minerals more accessible to our bodies."
Rethinking grains. While modern processing has turned many grain products into nutritionally empty foods, traditional preparation methods can make grains both safe and nourishing.
Key techniques:
- Soaking and sprouting: Reduce antinutrients and increase nutrient availability
- Fermentation (sourdough): Predigest grains and enhance nutritional value
- Proper cooking methods: Further neutralize harmful compounds
By applying these ancestral techniques, we can safely incorporate grains into our diets and enjoy their nutritional benefits without the drawbacks associated with modern grain products.
6. Dairy revolution: Raw milk and fermented products
"We should approach milk and dairy products the same way we humans have approached every other food in our dietary past—not if we should eat them, but rather how."
Rethinking dairy. While modern dairy processing has stripped many of the benefits from milk, traditional preparation methods can transform dairy into a nutritional powerhouse.
Key concepts:
- Raw milk: Potential benefits and safety considerations
- Fermented dairy products: Kefir, yogurt, and cheese
- Traditional cheesemaking techniques
By sourcing high-quality dairy and applying traditional fermentation techniques, we can unlock the full nutritional potential of milk and dairy products while addressing common issues like lactose intolerance.
7. Insects: The sustainable protein source of the future
"Insects are a logical choice."
Overcoming the "yuck factor". Insects offer a sustainable, nutrient-dense protein source that has been part of human diets for millennia. By reincorporating insects into our diets, we can address both nutritional and environmental concerns.
Benefits of entomophagy:
- High-quality protein and nutrient content
- Sustainable production with low environmental impact
- Diverse culinary applications
As the world grapples with food security and sustainability issues, insects present a viable solution that aligns with both ancestral wisdom and modern nutritional needs.
8. Earth, ash, and charcoal: Unexpected allies in nutrition
"Consuming and cooking in earth is another way in which our ancient dietary practices helped us obtain nutrition from otherwise inaccessible foods."
Unconventional ingredients. Earth, ash, and charcoal have played important roles in traditional food preparation across cultures. These substances can detoxify foods, provide essential minerals, and offer unique culinary properties.
Applications:
- Geophagy: Intentional consumption of earth for nutritional benefits
- Ash and charcoal in cooking: Detoxification and flavor enhancement
- Clay in food preparation: Making certain foods safe to eat
By exploring these traditional practices, we can expand our culinary horizons and tap into unexpected sources of nutrition and food safety.
9. Sugar: Finding balance in a sweet-obsessed world
"How many times have you eaten a piece of cake at a birthday party, or a slice of pie during a holiday dinner, and felt like you were 'cheating'?"
Reframing our relationship with sugar. While excessive sugar consumption is undoubtedly harmful, completely demonizing it can lead to unhealthy relationships with food and social isolation.
Key considerations:
- Recognize the prevalence of added sugars in modern foods
- Understand the health impacts of excessive sugar consumption
- Find a balance that allows for occasional indulgence without guilt
By adopting a more nuanced approach to sugar, we can enjoy sweet treats in moderation while maintaining overall health and well-being. This balanced perspective allows us to participate in cultural traditions and celebrations without compromising our nutritional goals.
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FAQ
What's Eat Like a Human about?
- Ancestral Eating Focus: The book emphasizes returning to ancestral eating practices, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods and traditional cooking methods. It argues that modern diets have deviated from these practices, leading to health issues.
- Cultural Context of Food: Bill Schindler explores how cultural practices influence our relationship with food, highlighting that food is not just about nutrition but also about cultural experiences and traditions.
- Practical Guidance: It provides practical advice on incorporating ancestral practices into modern life, including recipes and methods for preparing various food groups.
Why should I read Eat Like a Human?
- Health Revolution: If you're interested in improving your health through diet, this book offers a revolutionary perspective on how to nourish your body effectively. Schindler provides insights that challenge modern dietary practices.
- Culinary Techniques: The book teaches ancient cooking techniques that can enhance the nutritional value of foods, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their cooking skills.
- Cultural Appreciation: It encourages readers to appreciate the cultural significance of food, fostering a deeper connection to what we eat and how it affects our health and well-being.
What are the key takeaways of Eat Like a Human?
- Nutrient-Dense Foods: Emphasizes the importance of consuming foods rich in nutrients, such as organ meats, fermented foods, and traditional grains, for better health outcomes.
- Preparation Methods Matter: Highlights that how we prepare food is as important as what we eat, with techniques like fermentation, soaking, and sprouting making foods safer and more nutritious.
- Reconnecting with Food: Advocates for understanding where food comes from and how it is processed, encouraging a reconnection with food sources.
What are some practical methods discussed in Eat Like a Human?
- Fermentation: Enhances the nutritional value of foods, making them safer and more digestible. This ancient technique can be applied to vegetables, grains, and dairy.
- Soaking and Sprouting: Reduces antinutrients like phytic acid in grains and legumes, making these foods more accessible to our bodies and maximizing nutritional benefits.
- Nose-to-Tail Butchering: Emphasizes using all parts of an animal, not just the meat, reducing waste and providing a more nutrient-dense diet.
What are the best quotes from Eat Like a Human and what do they mean?
- "Our ancestors knew how to do this.": Underscores the idea that traditional food practices have been effective for millennia, and we can learn from them to improve our health today.
- "Eating in this way will maximize your health.": Emphasizes the book's core message that the way we prepare and consume food directly impacts our health and well-being.
- "Food is more than nutrition.": Highlights the cultural and emotional aspects of food, suggesting that our relationship with food should encompass more than just its nutritional value.
How does Eat Like a Human address modern dietary trends?
- Critique of Diet Fads: Schindler critiques popular diets like veganism, keto, and paleo, arguing they often exclude nutrient-dense foods that have been staples in human diets for centuries.
- Focus on Nutrient Density: Advocates for prioritizing foods that provide the most nutrition regardless of their classification, rather than strict dietary labels.
- Cultural Relevance: Emphasizes that dietary choices should consider cultural context and personal health needs, rather than adhering strictly to modern diet trends.
What is nixtamalization, and why is it important in Eat Like a Human?
- Definition of Nixtamalization: The process of soaking and cooking maize in an alkaline solution, traditionally using lime or wood ash, to make nutrients more bioavailable.
- Health Benefits: Neutralizes harmful compounds in maize, increases calcium content, and improves protein quality, transforming maize into a safe and nutritious staple food.
- Cultural Significance: A traditional practice in Mesoamerican cultures, reflecting their deep understanding of food processing, with relevance in modern diets to reclaim maize's nutritional benefits.
How does Eat Like a Human address the issue of sugar in our diets?
- Sugar as a Modern Dilemma: Discusses the pervasive presence of sugar in contemporary diets and its health implications, highlighting the need to be mindful of sugar consumption.
- Cultural and Emotional Aspects: Reflects on personal experiences with sugar, emphasizing balancing enjoyment and nutrition, and allowing for cultural celebrations while maintaining health.
- Choosing Better Sweeteners: Suggests opting for unrefined sweeteners like raw honey and pure maple syrup, which offer additional nutrients, and encourages making desserts from scratch.
What role do fermentation and sourdough play in Eat Like a Human?
- Nutritional Enhancement: Fermentation increases the nutritional value of foods, making them easier to digest and more beneficial for gut health, with sourdough highlighted for its unique fermentation process.
- Culinary Techniques: Provides recipes for sourdough bread and other fermented foods, encouraging readers to experiment with these techniques for a deeper connection to food.
- Cultural Heritage: Emphasizes fermentation's importance in preserving traditional foodways, allowing readers to reclaim a sense of culinary history and identity.
How does Eat Like a Human suggest we incorporate insects into our diets?
- Nutritional Benefits of Insects: Highlights the high protein content and essential nutrients found in edible insects, presenting them as a sustainable and environmentally friendly protein source.
- Cultural Acceptance: Shares personal experiences with entomophagy, emphasizing overcoming the “yuck factor” and appreciating culinary traditions of cultures that consume insects.
- Practical Recipes: Includes recipes for incorporating insects into meals, such as cricket granola and chili-lime crickets, making it easier for readers to experiment with insect-based foods.
What is the significance of using earth, ash, and charcoal in cooking as discussed in Eat Like a Human?
- Detoxification Properties: Explains how earth, ash, and charcoal can detoxify foods and enhance their nutritional value, reclaiming traditional food processing methods.
- Culinary Techniques: Provides recipes utilizing these ingredients, encouraging experimentation in cooking for a deeper understanding of their benefits and applications.
- Cultural Context: Reflects a connection to ancestral practices and cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of integrating these elements into modern diets for health and cultural reasons.
How can I start making my own fermented foods as suggested in Eat Like a Human?
- Begin with Simple Recipes: Provides straightforward recipes for beginners, such as fermented vegetables and yogurt, allowing readers to gain confidence in fermentation techniques.
- Understand the Process: Emphasizes understanding the science behind fermentation, including the role of beneficial bacteria, to appreciate the health benefits and safety of fermented foods.
- Experiment and Adapt: Encourages experimenting with different ingredients and flavors, fostering a deeper connection to food and exploration of personal tastes.
Review Summary
Eat Like a Human receives mixed reviews, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Readers appreciate the author's unique perspective on nutrition and traditional food preparation methods. Many find the information fascinating and eye-opening, praising the book's insights into ancestral eating habits. However, some criticize the impracticality of implementing the suggested practices in modern life, citing time constraints and limited access to recommended ingredients. While some readers are inspired to try new recipes and techniques, others find the advice too extreme or unrealistic for their lifestyles.
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