Bolivian tribe with 1% dementia follows a diet so powerful, scientists are questioning modern lifestyle

While there’s a growing fad around different types of diets, research suggests that consuming too much food may do more harm than good. A study by the University of Southern California (USC) on the remote Bolivian communities of Tsimané and Mosetén has found that traditional and pre-industrial ways of living are superior when it comes to aging healthily. Additionally, scientists have made these eye-opening claims based on the indigenous group’s eating habits and how they have helped them stay disease-free. The people who live segregated in the Bolivian Amazon show nearly no sign of dementia, thanks to their active lifestyle and balanced food intake.

As bizarre as it may sound, the abundance of food as a by-product of the modern world and its 24/7 availability at our fingertips is causing harm to our health. According to an associate professor at the University of Southern California, Dr. Andrei Irimia, the South American tribe’s pre-industrial lifestyle, coupled with balanced eating habits and regular physical activity, hold the key to their better health than the rest of the world. “This ideal set of conditions for disease prevention prompts us to consider whether our industrialized lifestyles increase our risk of disease,” Irimia said.

Another study conducted in 2022 discovered some of the world’s lowest dementia rates in Amazonian Indigenous groups, particularly among the older Tsimané, per USC. While comparing the old research with the new one, the New York Post highlighted how only a tiny fraction of the tribe’s population suffers from degenerative diseases like dementia, as opposed to nearly 11% of Americans aged 65 and above. Apart from the Tsimané people’s mental well-being, the estimated 17,000 people living in the lowland Bolivian jungle possess greater cardiovascular health, per The Lancet. The traditional Bolivian community stays active by indulging in various activities like fishing, farming, hunting, and foraging from the traditional forest.

Notably, an average Tsimané is estimated to take about 17,000 steps daily, and to compensate for it, they require a carb-rich diet. CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s first-hand account of meeting the Tsimané people in the Amazon rainforest confirmed this. He discovered how the tribe prefers to stay away from processed food, added sugars and salts as much as possible. The Tsimané people’s staple food choices include plantains, cassava, rice and corn, which make up nearly 70% of their overall diet, per the outlet. The tribe also derives 15% of its consumption in the form of fats, whereas the remaining 15% comes from protein sources. Since cultivated food offers more stability, particularly during lean hunting seasons, this carb-heavy strategy is reportedly a requirement.

Among many benefits, their diet is filled with fiber content, in contrast to their American counterparts, and is rich in micronutrients like selenium, potassium, and magnesium. Gupta’s account also mentions how the Indigenous community gives plenty of importance to a sound sleep schedule. After getting ample rest at night, they don’t go directly to the dining table. Unlike large sections of the population, they consider intermittent fasting an integral part of the Tsimané culture. It’s not because limited eating practices have gained traction over the past few years but simply because of the food shortage they face. The Tsimané’s distinctive balance between physical activity and dietary availability, as per researchers, may be the secret to aging well.