The Mongol Horde Diet

[Steve Shafley]

The Chinese noted with surprise and disgust the ability of the Mongol warriors to survive on little food and water for long periods; according to on, the entire army could camp without a single puff of smoke since they needed no fires to cook. Compared to the Jurched soldiers, the Mongols were much healthier and stronger. The Mongols consumed a steady diet of meat, milk, yogurt, and other diary products, and they fought men who lived on gruel made from various grains. The grain diet of the peasant warriors stunted their bones, rotted their teeth, and left them weak and prone to disease. In contrast, the poorest Mongol soldier ate mostly protein, thereby giving him strong teeth and bones. Unlike the Jurched soldiers, who were dependent on a heavy carbohydrate diet, the Mongols could more easily go a day or two without food.

From Mike Eades', MD, Blog:

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/?p=307

[Robb Wolf]

I love that post. It's interesting to note that this guy is simply a historian...no dog in the nutrition wars.

[Jeremy Jones]

Great ancedotal evidence. This also leads one to believe that organic grass fed dairy is not a major no-no.


I wonder what the average lifespan of the mongols was (barring death at the end of a sword)?

[Chris Forbis]

I know Weston A. Price found that the only traditional hunter-gatherer population that had become Westernized that did not suffer from all the Western ailments was heavy into unpasteurized dairy.