ABSTRACT
In living populations, the assessment of nutritional status depends on the collection of data from a variety of sources. This epidemiological approach takes into account inter alia, vital statistics, anthropometry, clinical signs of malnutrition, measurement of nutrient levels in the tissues or tissue fluids, as well as appraisement of food availability and dietary intake. The effect of the composition of the diet also has to be considered, because the interaction of nutrients present in the individual foods can significantly increase or decrease the nutritional value of the total meal. Phytates and oxalates in particular influence the availability of calcium, while the former also affect the uptake of zinc in the body. In conclusion, the archaeological evidence from Guila Naquitz suggests that the seasonal occupation of this cave was part of a successful regional strategy to maximize nutrient intake through exploitation of local wild food resources.
