[giantg2]

Like what? Usually lacto fermenting requires a specific salt level. I know fruit tends to ferment, but that produces alcohol, which is a negative factor for brains.

[wil421]

Lacto only requires a specific salt level to keep the bad bacteria out. I doubt caveman humans cared much about sanitary conditions. Also, I doubt the vessels they used would be air tight (except to expel gases) like the ones I use.

Modern humans have genes to process alcohol and some populations don’t have the gene (Asian flushing). Alcohol and fermented fruit were probably sources of calories and drinkable water for many populations.

[giantg2]

"Alcohol and fermented fruit were probably sources of calories and drinkable water for many populations."

I'm questioning how this could have preceeded the formation of advanced brains at a level to contribute to the formation of advanced brains.

[kelipso]

There are tons of articles about monkeys routinely eating fermented fruits, so advanced brains aren't required for that.

E.g. https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/03/30/monkeys-routinely-eat-f...

[vanattab]

I bet they did care a great deal about food poisoning. A few days of vomiting and fever could be a death sentence.

[FrustratedMonky]

human pathogens can't live in alcohol. so a low alcohol liquid would be sterile and healthy for humans.

brain health isn't the big factor, it is outweighed by the not heaving out your guts by food poisoning.

[giantg2]

"human pathogens can't live in alcohol. so a low alcohol liquid would be sterile and healthy for humans."

This isn't true at all. Beer can go bad and give you food poisoning.

[FrustratedMonky]

Bad Taste, not kill you.

There are a ton of other studies exploring how beer/wine fermentation for alcohol also contributed to early human growth. Precisely because of this property.

[LeonB]

> a negative factor for brains

try telling that to the parrots in the trees, they're a social animal and seem happy enough.