Farming did not significantly enhance living standards compared to hunter-gatherer lifestyles. Those who hunted and gathered had a more diverse diet, with higher protein and calorie intake, and consumed five times more vitamin C than the average modern individual. Even during harsh ice ages, nomadic groups maintained a surprisingly well-rounded and healthy diet.

In contrast, settled agricultural societies depended on a limited variety of foods, which led to nutritional deficiencies. This change in dietary habits highlighted the drawbacks of settling down and relying on farming, showing that early hunter-gatherers had a healthier approach to food than their farming counterparts.