Explorer to Eat Decaying Seal in Greenland

Why this is here: The traditional Inuit diet historically consisted of about 98 percent meat, without the cancers, digestive disorders, and heart disease now linked to high-meat consumption.

British explorer Mike Keen will ski roughly 320 kilometers across northern Greenland this spring while eating only slowly decomposing seal meat. He and his sled dog will follow a route similar to those historically used by Inuit and other Arctic peoples. Keen is collecting fecal samples from himself and the dog to share with researchers.

Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann of the University of Greenland hypothesizes that traditional Inuit fermentation practices boosted microbial diversity and gut health. Modern Inuit diets have shifted toward imported foods, coinciding with increased rates of health issues. Hauptmann and Keen hope to understand how fermentation alters gut microbiomes.

Researchers caution that Keen, as an outsider, offers limited insight into the long-term adaptations of native Greenlanders. However, observing changes in his gut microbiome may reveal how humans historically adapted to new diets.

Hauptmann’s initial findings suggest a shift away from plant-fiber-digesting microbes and toward those suited for fat and protein. The team continues to analyze samples and document the journey.