Paleolithic HealthCould we, as a society, be healthier? There are many components that make up a healthy lifestyle and everyone has their own opinion. Looking back to the Paleolithic can help put “health” in perspective. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the Paleolithic is defined as “Relating to the Stone Age cultural period beginning with the first chipped stone tools, approximately 750,000 years ago, to the beginning of the Mesolithic period, approximately 15,000 years ago. " Going back to the roots of what humans need to survive can help identify the components of a healthy lifestyle. We, as a society, are not as healthy as we could be due to poor food choices, lack of of exercise and lack of adequate sleep. Examining the daily life of Paleolithic man could provide simple and effective guidelines from which today's man could benefit greatly. Growing up in today's culture offers more convenience than ever. This busy lifestyle unfortunately leaves most people with little time to shop for, prepare and enjoy healthy foods. Many people find it easier to buy packaged, pre-packaged or fast food foods instead of more nutritious foods hunting meat, gathering and gathering vegetables, roots, seeds and nuts for a living. These skills served dishes rich in nutrition and sustenance. Today's processed, sugar-rich foods offer convenience but at the cost of some health problems. A February 2009 study conducted by the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, shows a dramatic improvement in metabolic and physiological functions when nine participants consumed a Paleolithic diet for ten days. “Even half the paper…and your eyes and brain can create even more difficulty sleeping effectively. These lifestyle choices are very different from those of the Paleolithic. Going to bed when the sun goes down may not be appealing, but limiting stressors of all kinds can contribute to better sleep and, ultimately, better health. We, as a society, could be healthier if we changed some aspects of our lives. Looking back to the Paleolithic can help sharpen our awareness of what a healthy lifestyle means. Good food choices, functional exercise and a good sleep pattern are all necessary for long-term survival. For early humans it meant life or death. Today's technology is vast and everyone has an opinion on what "healthy" means, but examining closely the lifestyles of those who long ago can provide our society with simple and effective guidelines for living as healthily as possible..