Many people think of humans as omnivores, designed to eat a diet with a substantial contribution of nutrients coming from both plants and animals. However, there is strong evidence that humans are in fact herbivores, meaning that the overwhelming majority of their diet should be comprised of plants. This common misunderstanding may well be the leading cause of premature human death worldwide.
What most think of as omnivores, for instance, bears, dogs, raccoons and so on, are in a lineage that descended from dog-like carnivores and should be thought of as carnivores modified to be omnivorous, distinct from herbivores that have been modified to be omnivorous.
Katharine Milton, from the University of California Berkley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management says “there seems general agreement that the ancestral line leading to apes and humans was markedly herbivorous” and that for most of our approximately 150,000-year existence our diet appears to have been based on plants.
Milton has also pointed out “the lack of evidence supporting any notable diet-related changes in human nutrient requirements, metabolism, or digestive physiology relative to those of great apes.”
Iris F.F. Benzie, D.Phil. at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon argued that we lost the metabolically costly ability to synthesize vitamin C because of the abundance in our ancestors’ diets. Scientists can examine plaque on and isotopes in ancient teeth, fossilized waste and more to learn about what our ancestors ate. Prof. Benzie estimates that our ancestors 10,000 years ago ate around 10 times more vitamin C and fiber than we do today.
William Clifford Roberts, MD and former Editor in Chief of The American Journal of Cardiology argued in a Letter from the Editor that humans are anatomically and physiologically herbivores. Herbivores, he says, have hands or hoofs, flat teeth, long intestines, sweat to cool the body, sip water (cheeks and lips facilitate the creation of a vacuum in the mouth), and get our vitamin C from our diet. Carnivores have claws, sharp teeth, short intestines, pant to cool themselves, lap up water (because they lack cheeks and lips), and make their own vitamin C.
Plants have tough cell walls made of fiber, sugar molecules bonded together, that provides protection and rigidity without using cholesterol. No mammal produces an enzyme that can digest fiber. Instead, herbivores developed a mobile jaw and flat teeth that slide past each other horizontally to chew their food and crush the cell wall, plus a long digestive tract to provide time to extract nutrients.
Carnivore’s food, animal cells, have a flexible, fat-based cell membrane embedded with cholesterol to give it some rigidity. Animal cells are easily digestible but the bones in animals are not, so carnivores have strong stomach acid and a short digestive tract. No chewing is necessary beyond reducing the size of the chunks enough to swallow because there’s no cell wall. As a result, carnivores like cats and omnivorous carnivores like the bear and dog can only move their jaw up and down; their molars slide past each other vertically like a pair of scissors.
Animals like rabbits, cows, and humans can easily move their lower jaw side to side, and most experts agree that humans have generalized herbivorous dentition that, if anything, is best suited for eating seeds.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world according to the World Health Organization. It’s also the leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the CDC, which states that “diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol have been linked to heart disease and related conditions, such as atherosclerosis,” the mechanism underlying most heart disease. Trans-fats and cholesterol are only found in animal foods.
Dr. Roberts points out that “it is virtually impossible… to produce atherosclerosis in the dog” even when feeding them around 200 times the average amount of cholesterol Americans eat daily. Herbivores like rabbits on the other hand “rapidly develop atherosclerosis” if fed comparatively small amounts of fat and cholesterol.
Cholesterol is made from fat, something most plants have little of. Herbivores have evolved to be efficient at producing adequate cholesterol from a low-fat diet. They also have mechanisms that hold onto and recycle fat and cholesterol. When herbivores eat animal-foods, the excessive fat and cholesterol facilitate the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in artery walls.
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that humans aren’t carnivores like cats or omnivores like dogs but are in fact primarily herbivores. It’s recommended we eat a diet low in saturated fat, trans-fat and cholesterol because of atherosclerosis, a disease that herbivores are susceptible to. The approximately 20-million-year evolutionary lineage of great apes is markedly herbivorous. Our digestive anatomy and physiology, nutrient requirements, and metabolism do not appear to differ notably from the other great apes or herbivores generally, and for most of the approximately 150,000-year history of our species we appear to have eaten mostly plants.
As ever-increasing evidence illuminates this issue, it’s time for humans to consider a change to a plant-based diet.
Sean can be reached at [email protected]
Vrishaali Vyas
This article is so on point . Non vegans be still proving their irrelevant points so that they satisfy their sensory pleasures lol.
Gustav
I can't believe how people keep pushing this vegan agenda. Veganism is the second most detrimental type of diet, only after the Standard American diet. And half of you have health problems (leaky gut, b12 deficiency, Anemia, clinical depression is more common among vegans because of said B12 deficiency). you never seem to recover from, and you keep thinking you're doing the diet wrong and that you have to become MORE VEGAN. Why do you think you crave for meat? You're following a false religion. What do most hunter gatherer societies eat? They celebrate meat, and live with disease free robusticity. Look at the Masai, Yanomami tribes, inuit. Has there ever been a non agricultural society that has shunned meat? Didn't most humans during the Pleistocene feed mostly on meat, and did that not become the biggest reason why the cranial index of humans and related species increase? Look at your own health. Yes, processed foods are a problem both for the environment and for the body, but natural animal products are an essential part of human health.
Mike
Wrong, stop lying to people.
Leanne Baker Baker
Mike my B12 is in the high normal range . I don't crave meat it's revolting . Vegan 8 yrs . I only know vibrantly healthy Vegans
Angie Liszt
I can't believe people are STILL so obstinate when it comes to the fact we are NOT and never WERE omnivores. Why do you want to inflict pain on innocent animals when there is zero biological need?
Sara
There is a biological need. Some of our ancestors had to survive eating meat , and others eating vegetables and fish or other kind of small animal. We need to eat meat but in a low amount. We don't have canines as big as predators have theirs because we have hands and we are not strict carnivorous as cats are , for example . But even a cat , a strict carnivorous , has te need to eat plants , sometimes. We don't have the necessity of using our fangs to kill. That's why our teeth are still sharp but not sharper enough to kill with them. Life , liking it or not is cruel. And pain forms a really big part of nature. Even plants suffer and feel. Every existing living being will suffer pain and eventually die in life. We are the smartest specie of living being on Earth and we should improve our killing way. Treat animals and plants as beings with feelings , just what they are , and give them a proper execution , without suffering. Kill in less amounts and improving their life qualities. Non educated humans means death and unnecessary suffering for every being.
mike
You claim people need meat but then why are there so many living vegans and vegetarians?
noumenon
"Veganism is the second most detrimental type of diet, only after the Standard American diet." Humans are herbivores; done right, a vegan diet is the healthiest diet humans can possibly eat. "And half of you have health problems (leaky gut, b12 deficiency, Anemia, clinical depression is more common among vegans because of said B12 deficiency). you never seem to recover from, and you keep thinking you’re doing the diet wrong and that you have to become MORE VEGAN." Far more carnists have health problems than vegans, both in relative and absolute terms. All of the health problems you mention are more prevalent in carnists than in vegans. "Why do you think you crave for meat?" I am disgusted and repulsed by the notion of ingesting dead animal remains. "You’re following a false religion." The only "false religion" here is carnist death cultism. "What do most hunter gatherer societies eat?" The vast majority of them eat plants almost exclusively, with game being rare. The ones that do primarily rely on animal products, such as the Maasai, have the shortest lifespans on the planet. "They celebrate meat, and live with disease free robusticity. Look at the Masai, Yanomami tribes, inuit." See above, this is completely false. Not only are the Maasai the shortest-lived people on the planet, but the Inuits give them a run for their money; Inuits have also historically had the world's highest rates of heart disease and stroke. In contrast, blue zone populations like Okinawans, whose traditional diet includes less than a single percent (<1%) animal products, are the longest-living people on the planet. "Didn’t most humans during the Pleistocene feed mostly on meat, and did that not become the biggest reason why the cranial index of humans and related species increase?" No, and this is hilariously wrong. For the vast majority of the pleistocene, humans consumed fruit almost exclusively; we coevolved with fruit-bearing trees and plants in the tropical equatorial rainforest. The interaction between the rich and juvenizing biochemistry of these fruits and our own neuroendocrine systems is what gave us our neotenous traits (the most characteristic trait of humans is a large degree of neoteny, i.e. the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood), including our large brains, long lifespans, and youthful appearances. Only when we left the rainforest did we start subsisting on toxic garbage like dead animal remains, and our health has been suffering every since, including a severe reduction in brain size, as well as apparent species-wide lateralized brain damage (for which the evidence from neurophysiology and psychology is very strong). "Look at your own health." Vegans are typically orders of magnitude healthier than carnists. "Yes, processed foods are a problem both for the environment and for the body, but natural animal products are an essential part of human health." All animal products are toxic garbage to human physiology, and invariably extremely detrimental to human health.
Mike
congrats on destroying those in favor of needless animal abuse!
cleverest
You said, " Only when we left the rainforest did we start subsisting on toxic garbage like dead animal remains, and our health has been suffering every since, including a severe reduction in brain size, as well as apparent species-wide lateralized brain damage (for which the evidence from neurophysiology and psychology is very strong)." I'm wondering what the source for this claim is? Can you share it? It sounds like a good read.
Tori
Your an absolute idiot go eat all the meat you can you dumb human hopefully you die of a heart attack but even then it won’t make up for all the misery and suffering you’ve put animals though when THEY DONT HAVE TO DIE TO FEED US wake up the f*** up people what the hell is wrong with you all...your sick freaks n the sooner all the meat eaters die then maybe we can try to repair the damage we have done.. grow up get a clue.. you discussing putrid humans.. can I mass produce men so I can slaughter n kill them for you all to eat lol what the difference??
Elijah Dyche
We are herbivores 100%. Just admit you people have a corpse addiction
Lisa Wilcoxon
You are so right! Humans seem to like dead things
Harry
We are herbivores 100%. Yeah right. Our biochemistry, physiology and morphology are all 100% that of an omnivore., but we are 100% herbivore. There isn't a single vegan culture anywhere on the planet, and never has been in our history. But we are 100% herbivore. We can digest meat more efficiently than we can plants, but we are 100% herbivore. All the indigenous cultures on the planet which still exist all follow a hunter gatherer lifestyle, but we are 100% herbivores. There isn't a single biologist or zoologist on the planet who can present a valid case for us being herbivores. Come on!! open your eyes.
Nicky
Spot on,you are absolutely right ,humans are originally herbivores. Proud for being a vegan since young,having a plant based diet.
Gerard Hoornweg
So, what about reconciling with the fact that our ancestry and us ourselves wouldn't have to be able to get adequate amounts of B12 living solely plant-based... Even when in contact with e.g. duckweed and algae rich lakes and fertile (manured) grounds (i.e. refuting the sanitation argument), our ancestry wouldn't have been able to gain adequate levels of b12. I agree, we don't have any omnivoristic instincts when seeing e.g. a carcass, as we should have when our physiology requires us to eat animals for health etc. But what about B12?
George
Meat eaters & Vegans alike suffer from B12 deficiency in the modern world. Meat does not naturally have it. Farmers feed B12 pellets to cattle. Our B12 deficiencies come from being CLEANER. We used to get it from bacteria, not meat. Now, speaking of vitamins, which one do humans synthesize? A, predators do not synthesize A. They get it from meat. Which do humans not create? C (from fruits/vegetables), predators do create this. Literally & figuratively food for thought.
William Lee
B12 was in the water and soil prior to water treatment. That's how animals happen to have it -- except for the many farm animals who are now fed B12 in the form of supplements.
Test
B12 is an essential nutrient produced by bacteria. It is theorised near the end of our intestines there is this bacteria but it is too far down for absorption. This might explain why Gorillas eat their own poo. The most likely source of B12 for our ancestors is dirty water and unsanitized starches. There is a waterfall in Australia where the water has sufficient B12.
Pieter Verasdonck
It is not just what you are, but what humanity can be. Herbivores can reach the galaxy and maybe in time the universe, omnivores will always be wild cheats. We can be better than what we are now, we can evolve, the planet is telling us to change our ways, nature is telling us to stop. We are healthy as herbivores. Let's be ethical, have a sustainable economy, genetically alter those new generations who war to win over resources and beliefs and stop killing other tribes and species. Pieter
noumenon
"So, what about reconciling with the fact that our ancestry and us ourselves wouldn’t have to be able to get adequate amounts of B12 living solely plant-based… Even when in contact with e.g. duckweed and algae rich lakes and fertile (manured) grounds (i.e. refuting the sanitation argument), our ancestry wouldn’t have been able to gain adequate levels of b12. I agree, we don’t have any omnivoristic instincts when seeing e.g. a carcass, as we should have when our physiology requires us to eat animals for health etc. But what about B12?" "B12 is an essential nutrient produced by bacteria. It is theorised near the end of our intestines there is this bacteria but it is too far down for absorption. This might explain why Gorillas eat their own poo. The most likely source of B12 for our ancestors is dirty water and unsanitized starches. There is a waterfall in Australia where the water has sufficient B12." No offense, but this is all wrong. It's been known for over 40 years now that B12 is synthesized in the small intestine as well, right where it's absorbed. The only thing you have to make sure is that you have a functioning microbiome (which entails eschewing animal products completely; there's a reason why people who consume animal products typically have bigger B12 problems than vegans), as well as consume sufficient cobalt, which is found primarily in fruit and fruit juices. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7354869 «In man, physiological amounts of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) are absorbed by the intrinsic factor mediated mechanism exclusively in the ileum. Human faeces contain appreciable quantities of vitamin B12 or vitamin B12-like material presumably produced by bacteria in the colon, but this is unavailable to the non-coprophagic individual. However, the human small intestine also often harbours a considerable microflora and this is even more extensive in apparently healthy southern Indian subjects. We now show that at least two groups of organisms in the small bowel, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella sp., may synthesise significant amounts of the vitamin.» https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1261761 «Human jejunal and ileal contents and ileostomy effluents were examined for the presence of free intrinsic factor. This was detected in 9 out of 10 jejunal and three out of five ileal aspirates and in one of three ileostomy effluents studied. The intrinsic factor in the ileal effluent was shown to be physiologically active. The presence of free intrinsic factor in the small intestine has considerable physiological significance in maintaining the enterophepatic circulation of vitamin B12. It would also permit the absorption of any free vitamin B12 produced by ileal bacteria.» https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256814084_Determination_of_trace_cobalt_in_fruit_samples_by_resonance_ionization_mass_spectrometry «The content of the Co [cobalt] in 5 μl of apple, pear and Korean mandarin juice was identified as 150, 45 and 100 pg, respectively.» In addition to all that, there are certain aquatic herbs which have been shown to contain large amounts of biologically active B12 (not just inactive, as the myth goes), such as nori. Wild bonobos have been found to forage for such aquatic herbs regularly, providing them not only with plenty of B12 in case they have problems with their microbiome or fruit is in short supply, but also with iodine. People should really try to educate themselves and study these matters in depth before continuing to regurgitate all these myths which have zero basis in reality.
Marie
she is not the only one who is qualified to say this evidence. people say where is the evidence but then at the same time we give you so much as vegans and you say... well excuses excuses! lol :D
Brett Schlottmann
From: Humans Are Herbivores* A Scientific Case For Veganism ~Adam Riva 40 Anatomical Features That Classify Humans As Herbivores There are several types of features that help biologists determine the feeding behaviors of animals. For instance, digestive abilities, "hunting or gathering" abilities, reproductive habits, locomotive abilities, and circadian rhythms are all taken into consideration. To illustrate this better, here are two examples. Stomach acidity differs greatly between herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores, which would demonstrate an animal's evolutionary adaptation to digest simple carbohydrates such as fruit or complex proteins and fats such as meat. Additionally, whether or not an animal has claws will likely determine if it uses them for hunting or not. It is important that a conclusion is not reached after reviewing one or two data points. Rather, we must make our conclusion by assessing the totality of all available data. To conclude humans are anything other than herbivores is to ignore the following striking pieces of evidence. 1. Carnivores have facial muscles that are reduced to allow a wide mouth gap to swallow large chunks of meat or entire animals whole. Omnivores' facial muscles are also reduced. However, herbivores and humans have in common well-developed facial muscles for chewing plant matter. 2. Both carnivores and omnivores have a jaw angle that is acute. Both herbivores and humans have an expanded jaw angle. 3. The location of the jaw joint in carnivores and omnivores is on the same plane as their molar teeth. The location of the jaw joint in herbivores and humans is above the plane of the molars. 4. The jaw in carnivores and omnivores is designed to shear and has minimal side-to-side motion. The jaw in herbivores and humans is very dextrous and moves side-to-side and front-to-back. 5. The major jaw muscle in carnivores and omnivores is these temporalis. The major jaw muscles in Herbivores and humans are the masseter and pterygoids. 6. The size comparison between mouth opening and head size is very exaggerated in carnivores and omnivores. However, in herbivores and humans the mouth opening to head size is quite small. 7. In carnivores and omnivores, the incisor teeth are short and pointed. In herbivores and humans, the incisor teeth are broad, flattened, and spade-shaped. 8. In carnivores and omnivores, the canine teeth are long, sharp, and curved. In herbivores, the canine teeth are dull and usually short, although sometimes they are long for defense. Other times, herbivores have no canines at all. In humans, they are short and blunted. It is worth pointing out that just because we refer to our own teeth as canines, does not mean they have anything in common with actual canines in carnivores and this name has more to do with their location on the jaw. 9. In carnivores and omnivores, their molar teeth are sharp, jagged, and blade-shaped. In herbivores, they are flattened with cusps or have a complex surface. In humans, they are flattened with nodular cusps. 10. Carnivores do not chew their food, they swallow it whole. Omnivores swallow food whole or perform simple crushing before swallowing. Herbivores and humans require extensive chewing before swallowing food. 11. The saliva in carnivores and omnivores contains no digestive enzymes whatsoever. The saliva in herbivores and humans contains carbohydrate digesting enzymes. 12. Carnivores and omnivores have what is called a "simple" stomach. Herbivores can have either simple stomachs or stomachs with multiple chambers. In this case, humans have simple stomachs. However, the pH of carnivore and omnivore stomachs is less than or equal to 1. In herbivores and humans, the stomach pH is between 4 and 5. 13. The stomach capacity of carnivores and omnivores is roughly 60% to 70% of the total volume of the digestive tract. In herbivores, it is less than 30% of the total volume of the digestive tract. In humans and frugivores, or animals that eat only fruit, it is 21% to 27% of the total volume of the digestive tract. 14. Carnivores have a liver that is proportionally 50% larger than others. Omnivores have a liver that is proportionally larger than herbivores. Herbivores have a liver that is proportionally larger than frugivores. Frugivores and humans have the smallest livers. 15. In carnivores and omnivores, the length of the small intestine is 3 to 6 times the body length, measured from neck to anus. In herbivores, the length of the small intestine can measure 10 to 12 times the body length, and sometimes more. In humans, the small intestines are 10 to 11 times the body length. 16. Carnivores and omnivores have colons that are simple, short, and smooth. Herbivores have colons that are long, complex, and may be sacculated. Humans have colons that are long and sacculated. 17. Carnivores and omnivores can detoxify preformed vitamin A from food with their liver. Herbivores and humans cannot and require pro-vitamin A carotenoids. 18. Carnivores and omnivores have kidneys that produce extremely concentrated urine. Herbivores and humans produce moderately concentrated urine. 19. Carnivores and omnivores have bile flow that is comparatively moderate to heavy. Herbivores and humans have bile flow that is comparatively weak. 20. The kidneys of carnivores and omnivores produce urate oxidase, or uricase. The kidneys of herbivores and humans do not. 21. The colons of carnivores and omnivores are alkaline. The colons of herbivores and humans are acidic. 22. For carnivores and omnivores, peristalsis does not require fiber to stimulate. For herbivores and humans, it does. 23. Carnivores and omnivores can metabolize large amounts of cholesterol efficiently. Herbivores and humans can only metabolize phytosterols efficiently. 24. Carnivores require approximately 2 to 4 hours to digest a meal. Omnivores require approximately 6 to 10 hours to digest a meal. Herbivores require approximately 24 to 48 hours to digest a meal. Frugivores and humans require approximately 12 to 18 hours to digest a meal. 25. Carnivores and omnivores cannot convert short chain fatty acids into long chain fatty acids. Herbivores and humans can. 26. Carnivores and omnivores have sharp claws. Herbivores have flattened nails or blunt hooves. Humans have flattened nails. 27. Carnivores and omnivores have zonary-shaped placentas. Herbivores and humans have discoid-shaped placentas. 28. Carnivores and omnivores cool themselves by panting and only have sweat glands in their paws if they have paws. Herbivores and humans have sweat glands all over their bodies. 29. Carnivores and omnivores are 100% covered in hair. Herbivores and humans have pores with extensive hair covering their bodies. 30. Carnivores and omnivores have multiple teats for nursing litters of offspring. Some herbivores also have multiple teats. Frugivores and humans have dual breasts for nursing one or two offspring. 31. Carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores walk on all fours. Humans and frugivores walk upright or at least have the ability to do so. 32. Carnivores, omnivores, and some herbivores produce vitamin C endogenously. Frugivores, some herbivores, and humans must consume vitamin C through their diet. 33. Carnivores require taurine in their diet which is found in most animal tissues such as muscle, viscera, and brain, but is not found in plants. Humans and most omnivores and herbivores synthesize taurine endogenously. 34. Carnivores and omnivores do not have prehensile arms, hands, feet, or tails. Herbivores and humans do. 35. The brains of carnivores and omnivores are fueled by fats and proteins. The brains of herbivores and humans are fueled by glycogen. 36. Carnivores and omnivores do not have full-color vision. Herbivores and humans have full-color vision. 37. Humans and herbivores sleep approximately 8 hours per 24 hour cycle, whereas carnivores and omnivores spend approximately 18 to 20 hours sleeping per 24 hour cycle. 38. Carnivores and omnivores drink by lapping their tongue. Herbivores and humans drink by sipping with their upper lip. 39. Carnivores are generally adapted for short sprints to catch their prey. Herbivores are generally adapted for endurance to outlast and outrun their predators. Humans are adapted for endurance (with these assistance of the aforementioned sweat glands). 40. Male carnivores do not have seminal vesicles as part of their reproductive anatomy. Male herbivores and male humans do have seminal vesicles. Erectile dysfunction is more often seen in men with elevated cholesterol levels and high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol. *The book is short and concise, 92 pages, fully 31 pages of which are bibliography. If you require information sourcing I suggest you purchase a used copy on Amazon.
Rosalyn
This isn't about being carnivores or herbivores. It is about being Omnivores. Herbivores may only digest plants and fruits. We are omnivores because we may also digest meat. Health problems are derived from overeating meat; if we were to balance our diet with both meat and vegetables, then we'd be truly healthy.
Mike
Wrong, stop lying to people.
Carina
All herbivores can eat small amounts of animal matter without detriment. Humans are frugivorous herbivores, and the more animal matter we eat, the worse for our health.
Echas
The healthiest diet is a whole food vegan diet, it has been the only one shown to reverse heart disease. Moderation kills.
Carina
All herbivores can digest som animal products without detriment. Humans belong to the frugivorous herbivores, because the more animal matter we eat, the worse it is for our health.
G BADARIVISHAL
All carnivour animals eat raw meat. Omnivour do eat raw meat. As of now, human beings cannot eat raw meat and digest it. Now, where is the argument standing in favour of humans being omnivour. We can eat raw vegetables and survive. Cannot be so with raw meat. There are videos of wildlife where meat almost rotting is being consumed safely by carnivour animals. Humans do not have that strong digestive system. Let us also think of the supreme gift of nature to humans which is visualisation of the mind set of fellow living beings. If we have same mind set of a Lion while killing an animal, even after learning the psychological distress that "prey" is experiencing how do we feel the pride of being "human beings". We can never be better than those beasts in the wild. Beasts do not rear to eat. It all requires very high philosophical and moral thinking to lead a subtle life. I know that it cannot change the system on our planet. But, being ultimate in creation, we can give at least a passing thought on this. G BADARIVISHAL 15-01-2020
Kyle
The one thing I would say to counter your argument, is we can’t eat raw meat because of bacteria. Not that we can’t digest it. Raw veggies need to be washed or cooked to make sure you don’t get sick. With meat, you have to cook it in most cases. Have people had raw chicken and beef and been okay? Yes, should you try that at home no.
Harry
I've got news for you. Humans CAN eat raw meat, and do it raw meat, in fact it comprises several popular cultural dishes throughout the world, steak Tartar being the most common in the Western cuisine. Also raw liver is commonly eaten by Northern hunting cultures.
LaustCawz
Most nutritionists & dietitians are female & even the males approach the topic from a feminized perspective. Nutritional needs vary significantly between the genders & meat (especially red meat) is a vital part of the male diet. Perhaps you haven't noticed the popularity of KFC, McDonald's & other fast food places, not to mention steakhouses, pepperoni pizzas, bacon, turkey dinners (particularly on Thanksgiving), etc., etc. That's not an accident. There are numerous cases of men being trapped or stranded where there was little or no food. They would kill & eat whatever animals/game they could find simply to keep from starving & would usually survive. If you choose not to eat meat, that's up to you, but it's NOT up to you to dictate the diets of others; plus, you clearly need to do some more comprehensive studying of history, which is filled with people (especially males) eating lots of meat. Why are you so compelled to convince everyone else to share your dietary habits. You seem pretty insecure about your own convictions. Perhaps you're really trying to convince yourself.
just me
there's a world of difference between eating meat to survive and eating meat when not necessary. and listing fast food as evidence is ridiculous, all junk food is prepared with the right chemicals to create cravings. which is why fast food joints find it very easy to switch from animal products to plant-based products, because most of the familiar taste is in the spices and ingredients anyway. the only ones who would go out of business are the factory farms killing millions of animals. the reason to tell people to go vegan is to stop the unnecessary mass murder of all these animals and to stop the industry's contribution to climate change and damaging the planet. telling people to not talk about it is like telling abolitionists during slavery times to stfu, or telling german anti-nazi protesters in nazi times to mind their own business.
Humans are fucking omnivores
Humans are not carnivores or herbivores. They are omnivores. Humans like yourself can get energy by eating both plants and animals. If humans were carnivores they would not be able to get energy by eating plants and if they were herbivores they would not be able to get their energy by eating meat. It’s about HOW they get their energy. Not what they choose to eat. Like I can force a lion (a carnivore) to eat only plants. That will not make the animal a herbivore because they can’t get energy from it. In fact if the lion’s diet is only plants it will eventually die. Some say a human can choose to be a omnivore, herbivore, or a carnivore. But that’s not the case either. Even if a human chooses to be a vegan or a vegetarian that still doesn’t make them a herbivore because in the end the vegan or vegetarian can still get energy by eating meat. Or let’s say someone is forced to be a vegan or a vegetarian because they are allergic to meat. Again they are STILL omnivores because they can get energy by consuming meat. However, they would get sick because they’re allergic. Herbivores also have a special digestive system that allow them to eat all kinds of plants. Omnivores cannot eat all plants and cannot get energy from all plants. Humans do not have that special digestive system. *Scientific definition of a herbivore:* A herbivore is an animal that gets its energy from eating plants, and only plants. Omnivores can also eat parts of plants, but generally only the fruits and vegetables produced by fruit-bearing plants. Many herbivores have special digestive systems that let them digest all kinds of plants, including grasses. I literally looked up omnivore teeth and the first thing I see is an image of human teeth. It shows: central incisor, lateral incisor, CANINE, first premolar, second premolar, first molar, second molar, and third molar. Definition I found: Omnivores have very distinctive teeth that help with the digestion of their varied diets. They often have long, sharp, pointed teeth to rip and cut meat and flat molars to crush plant material. One good example is the human mouth. Humans have canines and incisors that bite and tear into food and molars and premolars that are used to crush food. While most animals have sharper, more pointed teeth for tearing and ripping, the concept is the same. It’s simple omnivores provide their energy consuming both plants and animals. Humans provide their energy by consuming both plants and animals. Therefore they are omnivores. If, you a human, are a herbivore. Go eat grass and get energy from it. Humans are omnivores. It’s a fact not a theory. Saying humans a herbivores is utterly false.
Jae
I appreciate how much effort you've put into proving your point but even if it's true that humans are omnivores, the fact that we have a moral choice to eat animals or not still stand. If humans can live off a plant-based diet, they should since animals won't be a victim of oppression.
Mike
exactly
carla
Humans can get energy from eating other humans. That doesn't make us canibals. I rest my case. (meat makes you "*******" agressive)
Carina
All herbivores can get energy from animal matter, but the more they eat the sicker they get. Same for humans. And herbivores cannot eat all types of plants, most herbivores specialise in what plants the eat and avoid poisonous plant, just like humans.
carla
Humans can get energy form eating other humans, that doesn't make us canibals. I rest my case.