Final answer:
Modern humans should avoid chronic cardio when following a hunter-gatherer exercise program, as it does not align with the varied physical activity pattern of our ancestors and may lead to health impairments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modern humans following a hunter-gatherer exercise program should avoid chronic cardio activities. This type of exercise regime typically includes variations in physical workload that mimic the activities of our ancestral hunter-gatherers. It involves a pattern of physical exercise that combines short periods of vigorous muscular work, like sprinting, with longer periods of medium to varied intensity, such as walking at a slow pace or frequent heavy lifting. Chronic cardio, which often consists of prolonged, steady-state aerobic exercise like marathon running, can lead to maladjustment and impaired health, as it deviates significantly from the varied physical activities of our ancestors.
Our evolutionary history suggests that for about 95 percent of the time, our ancestors lived as hunter-gatherers, engaging in activities that allowed for a balance of movement and leisure. Therefore, modern exercise routines that include excessive chronic cardio may not align well with our evolutionary adaptations. Instead, encouraging a mix of activities, including walking, sprinting, and lifting heavy objects for shorter durations can be more beneficial and aligned with hunter-gatherer patterns.