100 Million Years Of Food Book Summary - 100 Million Years Of Food Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

100 Million Years Of Food summary

Stephen Le

What Our Ancestors Ate and Why It Matters Today

3.9 (149 ratings)
17 mins

Brief summary

'100 Million Years Of Food' by Stephen Le explores the evolution of the human diet and how it affects our health today. Le challenges modern food myths and offers insights on how to eat for optimal health.

Table of Contents

    100 Million Years Of Food
    Summary of 7 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 7

    The insect- and fruit-based diets of our early ancestors wouldn’t work for us today.

    If one of our first ancestors walked into one of today’s supermarkets, he’d be stunned by the options. After all, the difference between the overflowing shelves of contemporary grocery stores and the dinnertime options available to our ancient ancestors could hardly be greater.

    Our earliest ancestors, who emerged around 100 million years ago, lived in the trees of tropical forests and primarily ate insects. That might sound gross to us now, but insects are actually a calorie-rich source of vitamins and iron.

    In fact, insects would still make a great addition to the modern human diet. But for us to attempt to live only on bugs wouldn’t be so smart. Our ancestors had enzymes that allowed them to break down the exoskeletons of insects, which are made of chitin, a substance that we can no longer digest. Another problem with eating bugs is that they can trigger allergies and produce harmful toxins.

    But in moderation, the consumption of insects would be a great boon to modern food production. For instance, crickets produce about 50 percent less carbon dioxide than cows per pound and convert feed into calories 12 times more efficiently.

    Nonetheless, our ancestors transitioned away from creepy crawlies around 60 million years ago. Around this time, the climate began cooling and, as the air grew more humid, the first fruit-bearing trees emerged.

    During the same period, our ancestors lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C, which is essential to preventing cell damage. They only survived this change because they could get plenty of vitamin C from fruit.

    So around 30 million years ago our ancestors became full-time fruit eaters. However, eating too much fruit can also be bad since fruit contains fructose, something our body can only metabolize so much of; overconsumption can lead to insulin resistance and pancreatic cancer.

    The actor Ashton Kutcher learned this the hard way. When preparing to portray Steve Jobs, Kutcher followed the tech CEO’s fruitarian diet for a month. After just 30 days, Kutcher was hospitalized with pancreatic issues.

    Want to see all full key ideas from 100 Million Years Of Food?

    Key ideas in 100 Million Years Of Food

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is 100 Million Years Of Food about?

    100 Million Years of Food (2016) is about the foods our ancestors ate and how that diet relates to our eating habits today. These blinks will take you way back in time to explore the evolution of eating. They’ll explain that, while there’s no one-size-fits-all diet, there are a few general rules to abide by.

    100 Million Years Of Food Review

    100 Million Years Of Food (2016) by Stephen Le dives into the intriguing history of human food and provides valuable insights into nutrition. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • With its fascinating exploration of how our ancestors' diets still influence us today, it offers a fresh perspective on nutrition.
    • The book covers a wide range of topics, from evolutionary biology to cultural practices, providing a comprehensive understanding of our relationship with food.
    • Through engaging storytelling and a wealth of research, it presents complex scientific concepts in an accessible way, making the subject matter engaging and thought-provoking.

    Best quote from 100 Million Years Of Food

    As it turns out, there is some scientific justification behind the connection between meat, mood, and sex.

    —Stephen Le
    example alt text

    Who should read 100 Million Years Of Food?

    • Anyone who is dissatisfied with their weight or health
    • Readers who are on the lookout for reliable dietary recommendations
    • History and food lovers

    About the Author

    Stephen Le is a visiting professor of Biology at the University of Ottawa. He holds a PhD in biological anthropology from UCLA. This is his first best seller.

    Categories with 100 Million Years Of Food

    Book summaries like 100 Million Years Of Food

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    34 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    100 Million Years Of Food FAQs 

    What is the main message of 100 Million Years Of Food?

    The main message of 100 Million Years Of Food is that our modern diets are not in harmony with our evolutionary past.

    How long does it take to read 100 Million Years Of Food?

    The reading time for 100 Million Years Of Food varies depending on the reader's speed but typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is 100 Million Years Of Food a good book? Is it worth reading?

    100 Million Years Of Food is worth reading as it explores the fascinating history of human nutrition and offers insights into improving our modern diets.

    Who is the author of 100 Million Years Of Food?

    The author of 100 Million Years Of Food is Stephen Le.

    What to read after 100 Million Years Of Food?

    If you're wondering what to read next after 100 Million Years Of Food, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson
    • Whole by T. Colin Campbell
    • The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
    • The Stoic Path to Wealth by Darius Foroux
    • The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
    • Powered by Me by Neha Sangwan
    • Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
    • Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    • Quiet by Susan Cain