http://getgreens.org/index.php/2009/04/29/indigenous-tribes-of-the-rainforest/ (google)

thanks, I was curious since I don't hear much about hunter-gatherers eating them.

I believe chances are that they would have been. I dont think people who are on a constant quest for food discriminate as much as we do. And then one day they came upon amanita muscaria and psylocybin containing mushrooms. Terrence McKenna argued that this was a key point in our development of language and culture. I dont know if thats true, but its interesting still.

Are there any hunter-gatherer tribes that actually eat mushrooms?

There is a whole other category of animals called scavengers. Hominids like Australopithecus probably starting eating large animals as left-overs from other animals' hunting. Maybe tool use developed when we needed to extract the brains and marrow from bones. then later humans became hunters.

Fiber...

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=59

Certain types of fiber are referred to as fermentable fibers because they are fermented by the "friendly" bacteria that live in the large intestine. The fermentation of dietary fiber in the large intestine produces a short-chain fatty acid called butyric acid, which serves as the primary fuel for the cells of the large intestine and helps maintain the health and integrity of the colon.

Two other short-chain fatty acids produced during fermentation, propionic and acetic acid are used as fuel by the cells of the liver and muscles. In addition, propionic acid may be responsible, at least in part, for the cholesterol-lowering properties of fiber.

In animal studies, propionic acid has been shown to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol by the liver. By lowering the activity of this enzyme, blood cholesterol levels may be lowered.

In addition, fermentable fibers help maintain healthy populations of friendly bacteria. In addition to producing necessary short-chain fatty acids, these bacteria play an important role in the immune system by preventing pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria from surviving in the intestinal tract.

As is the case with insoluble fiber, fibers that are not fermentable in the large intestine help maintain bowel regularity by increasing the bulk of the feces and decreasing the transit time of fecal matter through the intestines. Bowel regularity is associated with a decreased risk for colon cancer and hemorrhoids (when the hemorrhoids are related to straining and constipation).

Well, there have been worse articles about the Neanderthals, Tyler.

^aside from the seemingly fictional history (written by a former filmmaker, no less), the picture looks very unrealistic.

I like fruit to be sweet. the problem with apples is they are not so nutritious. Whether this is because of over-domestication I don't know.

I made this graph of Vitamin C levels in fruits (from Wikipedia article on Vitamin C)



I forgot to put baobab on there which is also super nutritious (has lots of Vitamin C, more calcium than milk). Wild fruits ARE superfoods, it seems.

Well, this is the 1st time ever I have heard of someone having negative reactions to "high-meat". The only thing I can think of is that you might have tried "high-meat" too early on into the diet, and were simply experiencing some minor temporary form of detox.

As for the effects of "high-meat", the bacteria do not give out any toxins. Part of the benefit lies in the improved digestion provided by the extra bacteria in it, plus the bacteria simply stimulate the brain to increase serotonin levels, thus boosting concentration levels and improving mood.

what about mycotoxins?

What about malanga? I haven't tried it but I read it has a nutty flavor although I'm not sure if they were talking about it cooked or raw. I saw it at the store recently so I might try it.

I am kind of confused here. because I see it referred to as raw but I also read that it is exposed to high temperatures. Wikipedia says it's "completely uncooked", but it also says "salami are not raw per se, they have been prepared via curing".

Could you eat the tubers raw? or would that just be gross and unhealthy?