Occupational hazards of hunter- gatherer lifestyles. In the above, social mortality refers to warfare, cannibalism, sacrifice, infanticide, etc. Parasites and infectious diseases. Parasitic and infectious disease rates of prevalence and incidence are related to ecosystem diversity and complexity. Although many of these diseases contribute substantially to mortality, no simple, single generalization is possible for all hunter- gatherers.
Chronic diseases rare in hunter- gatherer societies.
Few hunter- gatherers survive long enough to develop cardiovascular disease or cancer, major causes of mortality in America and Europe today. The paper of Mann et al. The dietary survey component of Mann's study could not be completed due to political unrest, so dietary information had to be obtained from other, perhaps less reliable sources. Mann's paper claims both that the Pygmy diet was mostly wild foods, and that the second and third most common foods in the diet were sweet potatoes and rice, both of which are cultivated foods. The Pygmies also consumed palm oil and salt obtained via trade.