WEEK 10 — PHYSICAL HEALTH & FOOD

Flashcards summarizing key concepts and vocabulary related to the influence of culture on health and eating practices.

Culture-gene coevolution

Reciprocal influence between cultural practices and genetic evolution.

Lactase persistence

A genetic mutation in some adults that allows the digestion of lactose beyond infancy, often driven by dairy farming culture.

High-altitude adaptation

Genetic evolution in populations living in high altitudes that improves blood-oxygen levels and lung capacity.

Moken “Sea Nomads”

Children from this group develop superior underwater visual acuity due to acquired adaptation.

Biphasic sleep

A sleep pattern characterized by two phases: an initial sleep period and a middle-of-the-night waking period.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A social standing or class that affects health outcomes, with lower SES typically linked to poorer health.

Chronic stress

Ongoing emotional or psychological stress that can weaken immune systems and increase health risks.

Cultural metaphors for the body

Distinct representations of health and illness influenced by cultural beliefs; for instance, the balance concept in China vs. the machine concept in the USA.

French Paradox

The phenomenon where French people have lower rates of cardiovascular diseases despite high-fat diets, attributed to cultural eating practices.

Eating Motivations Scale (TEMS)

A framework that categorizes reasons for eating into pleasure, hunger, health, social, tradition, and convenience.

Traditional eating

A dietary practice emphasizing home-prepared, fresh, and locally sourced meals, often associated with community and ritual.

Modern eating

A dietary practice focused on processed, fast, and globalized foods, emphasizing convenience and novelty.