AHS16 - Ancestral Health Symposium 2016

Why is it that Boulder, Colorado is the city with the lowest obesity rate in the United States --12.4%, compared with the national average of 35.7%. Boulder also has very low rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic disorders. Is it because residents eat a good diet and get lots of exercise? Or is it something else? While health is multi-factorial, an examination of alpine populations around the world reveals the surprising fact that lower levels of atmospheric oxygen contribute to lower rates of obesity and diabetes. Studies show that moderate hypoxia activates several hormetic processes that produce strong health benefits. The good news is that we don’t all need to move to the mountains to harness the power of hormesis. Before the modern era, our ancestors followed some hormetic dietary and lifestyle practices which we can employ in daily life to improve health and live longer.