From Ancient Diets to Modern Minds - The Role of Micronutrients in Brain Development and Function. DE

This book explores the evolution of the human brain, highlighting the critical role of diet, particularly micronutrients, in shaping our cognitive development. By examining the evolutionary path of our ancestors, the book sheds light on how dietary practices have influenced brain growth and function, providing valuable insights for modern health and lifestyle choices. The book thus makes an essential contribution to evolutionary medicine and, consequently, to understanding the relationship between evolution and health.
Chapters cover a range of topics, including the importance of micronutrients in brain development, discussed not only in the context of evolution, but also cognitive development in children, mental decline in the elderly (dementia), ADHD, Hidden Hunger, and obesity. Special attention is given to the impact of environmental change on dietary evolution and the role of the hippocampus in processing sensory and ecological information. The book offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between diet and cognitive health, and the author presents a strong case that nutritional quality, rather than quantity, has been a driving force in the evolution of Homo sapiens and the human brain. Nutritional quality continues to play an important role in brain development and function, as demonstrated by various examples. 
Throughout the book, complex concepts are explained with simple and colorful illustrations, and references to implications for modern humans complement the main content.
By exploring the links between ancient dietary practices and modern health, the book invites readers to rethink their approach to diet and lifestyle, and offers practical insights for maintaining cognitive health throughout life. As such, it is intended for anyone with an interest in these topics, whether you are a scientist or an interested layperson.

List of contents

Chapter 1: Introduction: What is evolution and how can we explain the fact that selection favors a specific phenotype?.- Chapter 2: Nutrition composition.- Chapter 3: Ecological and Nutritive Niches.- Chapter 4: The habitat and diet of our earliest ancestors.- Chapter 5: The development of Homo.- Chapter 6: Two million years ago: Challenges for humans - hunger and foraging in a changing environment.- Chapter 7: Homo erectus the hunger challenge.- Chapter 8: The Evolution of Taste.- Chapter 9: They Way to Homo sapiens.- Chapter 10: The Growth of the Brain in a Changing Environment.- Chapter 11: The hippocampus and cortical networks.- Chapter 12: Diet and brain development and the importance for modern humans.- Chapter 13: Importance of micronutrients for brain development.- Chapter 14: What happens to the brain when we age?.- Chapter 15: Climate Change and the Brain.

About the author

Prof. (emeritus) Dr. med. Hans Konrad Biesalski was head of the Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition (1994-2016) as well as Director of the Food Security Center (FSC) at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany (2013-2017).
He has over 30 years' experience in research on retinoids and their actions on cellular growth and differentiation, vitamin A and human health, especially lung diseases. First, his research activities have concentrated on antioxidants and vitamins in basic and applied research on reactive oxygen species and their role in human nutrition. Since 2010, his research is related to food quality as an indicator of adequate and healthy nutrition and micronutrients in human health and disease. As the initiator of the international Hidden Hunger conferences, he has brought widespread attention to this issue.
As Principle Investigator of nutrition studies in developing countries, he studied the impact of DDT on vitamin A status in refugee camps, nutrition and food quality including RUF (ready-to-usefood) in developing countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenia, Samoa), the impact of climate change on food quality (Collaborate Research Center University Hohenheim and Hebrew University) and the characterization of Ethiopian edible oils and its improved use in Ethiopian diets. Furthermore, he has developed IT based programs with specific scoring systems to detect malnutrition and micronutrient intake in different groups (children, pregnant women and elderly, cancer patients); the programs are used in different trials to assess the individual nutrition status and to control intervention trials.
Prof. Biesalski is a member of the editorial board of various international journals.
He edited 9 textbooks related to nutrition medicine, nutrition physiology, clinical nutrition and aging. He published more than 330 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious scientific journals dealing with nutrition, vitamins and nutrition medicine.
Prof. Biesalski is a member of different international societies and vitamin consultative groups, e.g. the WHO/FAO Expert Group Application of Nanotechnologies in the Food and Agriculture Sectors (Potential Food Safety Implications), the FAO/WHO BOND Initiative (Biomarker of Nutritional Deficiencies) and the High-Level Panel of Expert Group of the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition.
He has received various international awards, including the highly prestigious Justus von Liebig Award for World Nutrition for his commitment to the issue of hidden hunger.

Summary

This book explores the evolution of the human brain, highlighting the critical role of diet, particularly micronutrients, in shaping our cognitive development. By examining the evolutionary path of our ancestors, the book sheds light on how dietary practices have influenced brain growth and function, providing valuable insights for modern health and lifestyle choices. The book thus makes an essential contribution to evolutionary medicine and, consequently, to understanding the relationship between evolution and health.
Chapters cover a range of topics, including the importance of micronutrients in brain development, discussed not only in the context of evolution, but also cognitive development in children, mental decline in the elderly (dementia), ADHD, Hidden Hunger, and obesity. Special attention is given to the impact of environmental change on dietary evolution and the role of the hippocampus in processing sensory and ecological information. The book offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between diet and cognitive health, and the author presents a strong case that nutritional quality, rather than quantity, has been a driving force in the evolution of Homo sapiens and the human brain. Nutritional quality continues to play an important role in brain development and function, as demonstrated by various examples. 
Throughout the book, complex concepts are explained with simple and colorful illustrations, and references to implications for modern humans complement the main content.
By exploring the links between ancient dietary practices and modern health, the book invites readers to rethink their approach to diet and lifestyle, and offers practical insights for maintaining cognitive health throughout life. As such, it is intended for anyone with an interest in these topics, whether you are a scientist or an interested layperson.

Product details

• Authors: Hans Konrad Biesalski
• Assisted by: John Russo (Illustration)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 11.12.2025
• EAN: 9783031991202
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3199120-2
• No. of pages: 500
• Illustrations: Approx. 500 p. 100 illus. in color.
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > Medical professions; Neurowissenschaften, Lebensmittel- und Getränketechnologie, Public Health und Präventivmedizin, Evolution, Nutrition, Environment, Neuroscience, Public Health, Food Science, Evolutionary Biology, Primates, non communicable diseases, brain development, Food Quality, Evolutionary Medicine, Pediatric Nutrition, HEALTHY DIET, Human diet, Micronutrients, Nutritional medicine