Mummies had Heart Disease...

"The princess, who died in her 40s, probably would have eaten a diet rich in vegetables and fruit and with limited servings of meat. The researchers also noted that wheat and barley were dietary staples during this period of ancient Egypt..." 

-Mary Elizabeth Dallas of MSN Health

Above: Post "Murph" recovery on the parking bump! 

Today's WOD:

"DT"
5 rounds for time:
12 Deadlifts (155/105 lbs.)
9 Hang Power Cleans (155/105 lbs.)
6 Push Jerk (155/105 lbs.)

Mummies had Heart Disease:  they should've ate more meat and less wheat!

One of our athletes, Sarah, sent me a link to a very interesting MSN Health article, Scans of Egyptian Mummies Show Heart Disease was Ancient Malady, that was posted a few days ago.  It highlighted findings that suggest Egyptian Mummies suffered from coronary artery disease, too.  A disease that has been viewed as a "modern day" development.

"Overall, it was striking how much atherosclerosis we found," Dr. Gregory S. Thomas, director of nuclear cardiology education at the University of California, Irvine, and co-principal investigator of the study, said in a news release from the European Society of Cardiology.

"We think of atherosclerosis as a disease of modern lifestyle, but it's clear that it also existed 3,500 years ago," he said. "Our findings certainly call into question the perception of atherosclerosis as a modern disease."

One of the mummies studied was a princess of noble blood and at the age of 40, she would have needed bypass surgery.

The princess, who died in her 40s, probably would have eaten a diet rich in vegetables and fruit and with limited servings of meat. The researchers also noted that wheat and barley were dietary staples during this period of ancient Egypt and that tobacco and trans-fats were still unknown.

The interesting part is that they mention towards the end of the article that food/nutrition may have played a role in coronary artery disease; however they don't mention the wheat and barley as the source. They say it may have been the meat, butter, and cheese!  Meat? Robb Wolf would probably refute that argument.  I for one have definitely experienced both diets: the Caveman diet, rich in meat, veggies, fruit, and good fats; the Egyptian diet, rich in dairy, grains, wheat, and meat.  One diet made me feel good, the other made me feel okay.  I think I'll stick to my feel good meats and veggies! Caveman or Egyptian... you choose!

Yesterday's WOD Board: