A recent citizen science study suggests that eating really wild food could improve gut (消化道) health, blood sugar and BMI.
Richard Mawby, who lived entirely on wild food for three months, lost 20kg in the process. Mawby is one of 26 UK foragers (觅食者) who took part in The Wildbiome Project, which was set up by foraging expert Monica Wilde, who got the idea after surviving on foraged foods for the whole of 2021.
It measured the impact on blood sugar, BMI and gut health — with exhilarating results. Participants of the project who were fat at the beginning lost an average of 5.6kg, and 16% of their body weight. One, foraging teacher Matthew Rooney, said he reduced his blood sugar level from 65 to a normal 40 within 10 days.
Though at least one participant mentioned being more tired than usual while on the diet, generally speaking, the foragers appeared to be healthier, reporting having increased energy and improved mental wellbeing. Gut health also improved. Wilde suggests this is due to the diversity of a wild diet. lt should be pointed out that all participants had food like fruits, seaweed in their freezers. They also added rabbit and fish and organic chicken eggs.
Of course, Wilde doesn’t expect everyone to adopt a 100%-foraged diet. “Even integrating a few wild foods could be beneficial,” she said. Indeed, Wilde points out that wild foods are often more nutritional than farmed ones, which are raised for size rather than nutritional value. “Eating wild also means eating seasonally. Following the advice that nature gives us is bound to be good for us — and the planet.”
Mawby agreed. “The project was a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I felt in harmony with my surroundings, seeing a noticeable improvement. Now, I’m more in tune with my body, and though I’ve reintroduced cacao and spices, really wild diets are still firmly on the menu.”
8. What is the purpose of the project?
A.To ensure foragers’ healthy lifestyle. | B.To provide 100%-foraged diet |
C.To collect money for foraging research. | D.To promote eating wild food. |
9. What does the underlined word “exhilarating” mean in paragraph 3?
A.Disappointing. | B.Exciting. | C.Interesting. | D.Disastrous. |
10. What can we learn about foraged food from the last three paragraphs?
A.It has serious side effects. |
B.It needs to be completely adopted. |
C.It is highly recommended. |
D.It is produced for size and diversity |
11. What is the best title of the text?
A.Really wild diets are found to boost foragers’ health. |
B.Foraged foods are more nutritional than farmed ones. |
C.A UK foraging expert survive on really wild food. |
D.Improved wild diets are still firmly on the menu. |