Emulate Ancestors’ Eating Habits to Build a Stronger Generation

For many years, humans consumed natural and organic products such as vegetables, fruits, free-range chicken, wild fish, grass-fed meat, and more. Judging from their stories and recorded history, the lives of our ancient ancestors were filled with as much beauty, magic, and joy as our own. Let us delve into and explore their eating habits.

They would wake up to the remnants stuck on the sufuria after cooking ugali—the real African chapati. If not indulging in the wildly growing guavas, avocados, jackfruits, or other fruits, they could turn to sweet potatoes, cassava, and other produce from the farm, which they could eat raw or boil. Additionally, there were groundnuts and ripe bananas of various varieties stored in traditional granaries. Sorghum and millet were their staple cereals, used to make flour for porridge that was always available while waiting for a proper meal of ugali.

If anyone wasn’t ready for ugali and vegetables or a stew of their choice, such as boiled roast beef, chicken, mushrooms, quail, and others, there were special dishes like a mix of crushed beans and jute mallow. Jute mallow, rich in Vitamin A, improves eyesight and contains Vitamin B6 and folate, which prevent vision loss and eye disorders. The fiber in these dishes aids digestion and can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles.

Today, there exists a fallacy that life in the past was miserable. As people start making money, they begin eating unhealthily, thinking they are enjoying life. They rush into supermarkets to buy big loaves of bread, milky doughnuts, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, seed oils, biscuits, chocolate, and more.

While times were tough in the past, modern life has its challenges too. Prehistoric does not mean primitive. The benefits of organic food cannot be ignored. Several studies on the health benefits of organic food show that it is pure and free from harmful chemicals and additives, making it safe and healthy. Moreover, organic farming practices promote sustainability and biodiversity, allowing us to get the best from nature. Therefore, organic food offers numerous documented benefits, including improving heart, mental, and digestive health, as well as reducing the risk of diseases such as obesity, cancer, birth defects, and allergic diseases.

With better health and the elimination of farm pollution, it is safe to say organic food helps build a stronger generation. Research has established that chemicals can easily reach the placenta, causing birth defects and life-threatening diseases like cancer. Thus, buying too much junk food is akin to buying disease for yourself and your family. It is wise not to use your money to harm yourself and future generations. It is better to prioritize your health and that of your family by emulating your ancestors’ eating habits.