Unlike true carnivores (lions and wolves) we do not have claws or razor sharp teeth meant for tearing apart flesh. Rather, we have jaws that move side to side for grinding, saliva with enzymes to break down food in our mouths, and the ability to get all of our nutrients from plant foods (all of which carnivores do not).
Meat-eaters: have claws
Herbivores: no claws
Humans: no claws
Meat-eaters: no skin pores and perspire through the tongue
Herbivores: perspire through skin pores
Humans: perspire through skin pores
Meat-eaters: sharp front teeth for tearing, no flat molar teeth for grinding
Herbivores: no sharp front teeth, flat rear molars for grinding
Humans: no sharp front teeth, flat rear molars for grinding
Meat-eaters: intestinal tract only 3 x body length to pass rapidly decaying meat quickly
Herbivores: intestinal tract 10-12 times their body length.
Humans: intestinal tract 10-12 times their body length.
Meat-eaters: strong hydrochloric acid in stomach to digest meat
Herbivores: stomach acid that is 20 times weaker than that of a meat-eater
Humans: stomach acid that is 20 times weaker than that of a meat-eater
Meat-eaters: salivary glands in mouth not needed to pre-digest grains/fruit
Herbivores: developed salivary glands necessary to pre-digest grains/fruits
Humans: developed salivary glands necessary to pre-digest grains/fruits
Meat-eaters: acid saliva with no enzyme ptyalin to pre-digest grains
Herbivores: alkaline saliva with ptyalin to pre-digest grains
Humans: alkaline saliva with ptyalin to pre-digest grains
*(Based on a chart by A.D. Andrews, Fit Food for Men)All omnivorous and carnivorous animals eat their meat raw. So why do we have to cook it and season it in order to digest it and not be disgusted by it? We have no instinct to catch living animals and eat them raw. We don't see a grazing deer and want to grab our forks. We don’t salivate at the sight of a dead animal on the side of the road.
We have been conditioned our entire lives to think that eating meat is “only natural.” In reality, science, nutrition, and epidemiology have shown us that we are not meant to eat meat, and that the body of humans is better equipped for a vegetarian diet.
Ok I love you guys and I agree with you on most things. But just for the sake of debate, here is my rebuttal:
ReplyDelete1. Maybe people don't salivate over dead animals on the side of the road, but a lot of people do salivate over a juicy steak with blood seeping out of it. Also, people can eat meat raw and digest it without getting sick as long as it is free of bacteria. Steak tar-tar for example.
2. Humans do have sharp teeth, four canines. The main purpose for these teeth is to tear and shred.
3. You say that humans don't have claws... then what are fingernails? Besides, there are herbivores that have sharp claws, such as the panda, koala, and sloth. Also, some carnivores don’t have claws, such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and snakes.
4. I have a bit of the problem with the use of the word instinct, because the instincts of animals are different than those of humans. Animal instincts are based on survival. Humans have evolved to the point where we can think critically and chose to act upon an instinct or not. We have the luxury of being able to choose what we want to eat. But I guarantee that if you were starving to death in the desert and you saw an animal, you would go after it to survive.
5. Chimpanzees. Obviously you know that they are the closest relatives to humans. They do not have claws and their digestive system and teeth are very similar to ours. And they eat meat.
My main point is that you can't really say that humans "are not MEANT to eat meat." If we were true herbivores, we would not be able to digest meat at all and it would make us sick. When it comes down to it, humans don’t really fit into one of the three categories, because we are different. We are at the top of the food chain, so we can eat whatever we want.
However, I want to say that I completely understand when someone chooses to be a vegetarian or vegan because they do not want to support the poor treatment/killing of animals. Also, I think hunting for sport is gross and unnecessary. I am also aware that a person can have a healthy diet without meat. In fact, I recently decided to stop eating beef and pork.
I just feel that being human is about having choices. If someone doesn’t want to eat meat, okay. If someone else does, that’s okay too. But I don’t think that anyone should really have to defend themselves either way.
p.s. this is Kim but it wouldn't let me post with my name
I respect and appreciate your comments. I am glad someone is reading this and really thinking.
ReplyDeleteEating meat is certainly a choice that each of us has to make on our own, and I respect that. I wanted to post this type of information because I care deeply about these issues and feel that I have literally been awakened from years of sleep. I feel like I have discovered the secret to a happy, healthy and compassionate life and want to share it with everyone I love.
This post was not about whether or not we can eat meat… because clearly we can. It is about how the human animal is designed and why there are some excuses for eating meat that just don’t cut it. So, here are my responses:
1. Yes, I am sure people do salivate over steak. But I don’t believe they are salivating over rotting flesh, but rather the fat and salt and taste that are the main components of that steak. We want the warm and satisfied feeling we get when we eat it. I still stand by the argument that we are not carnivores and do not crave flesh.
2. I seriously don’t think our puny “canine” teeth could tear the raw flesh of a zebra.
3. I also don’t think our breakable fingernails could take down an elk with one swipe of our hand. Fingernails are tools used for digging, scratching, peeling, grooming, etc. Whales, snakes and sharks don’t have claws for obvious reasons… they don’t have paws!
4. The original instinct of a human was the same as any other animal-survival. Yes, we have evolved, which is the reason why we have the brains to make choices about ethics, morals and health. Just because we can choose what we want to eat does not mean that we should, and does not mean that our choice is necessarily natural.
5. Yes, chimps are omnivores. They are close relatives to the human animal, but they are still different.
I maintain the argument that humans are not designed to eat meat as a carnivore is. Raw meat does make us sick. We have been conditioned to believe that animal flesh is good for us. We have enjoyed meat and the traditions that go along with it, which is why people feel so strongly about it. And why people are threatened when they are faced with the idea of giving it up.
I hate the saying that “we are at the top of the food chain and can eat whatever we want.” Yes, I am aware that we have used our power over helpless creatures and that we can choose to eat and do as we please. But why is this a relevant argument? Just because we can murder animals and each other does not make it right.
I know the debate on meat and instinct and evolution can go on forever.
And there might not be one right answer to everything. I just hope that the information in my post opens people’s minds to new ideas and disperses some information that is generally hidden from the common consumer.
sorry J, but you can't base a rational argument on the words "should" or "right and wrong." I have no problem with your view that humans are better off not eating meat. What I have a problem with is your attempt to use science to prove that humans are not meant to eat meat. It just doesn't hold up; it is not something that can be proven as fact. That is all :)
ReplyDelete