Going through the comments of some of my recent posts, I noticed the frequently stated notion that eating meat was an essential step in human evolution. While this notion may comfort the meat industry, it's simply not true, scientifically.
Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus at Cornell University and author of The China Study, explains that in fact, we only recently (historically speaking) began eating meat, and that the inclusion of meat in our diet came well after we became who we are today. He explains that "the birth of agriculture only started about 10,000 years ago at a time when it became considerably more convenient to herd animals. This is not nearly as long as the time [that] fashioned our basic biochemical functionality (at least tens of millions of years) and which functionality depends on the nutrient composition of plant-based foods."
That jibes with what Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine President Dr. Neal Barnard says in his book, The Power of Your Plate, in which he explains that "early humans had diets very much like other great apes, which is to say a largely plant-based diet, drawing on foods we can pick with our hands. Research suggests that meat-eating probably began by scavenging--eating the leftovers that carnivores had left behind. However, our bodies have never adapted to it. To this day, meat-eaters have a higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other problems."
There is no more authoritative source on anthropological issues than paleontologist Dr. Richard Leakey, who explains what anyone who has taken an introductory physiology course might have discerned intuitively--that humans are herbivores. Leakey notes that "[y]ou can't tear flesh by hand, you can't tear hide by hand.... We wouldn't have been able to deal with food source that required those large canines" (although we have teeth that are called "canines," they bear little resemblance to the canines of carnivores).
In fact, our hands are perfect for grabbing and picking fruits and vegetables. Similarly, like the intestines of other herbivores, ours are very long (carnivores have short intestines so they can quickly get rid of all that rotting flesh they eat). We don't have sharp claws to seize and hold down prey. And most of us (hopefully) lack the instinct that would drive us to chase and then kill animals and devour their raw carcasses. Dr. Milton Mills builds on these points and offers dozens more in his essay, "A Comparative Anatomy of Eating."
The point is this: Thousands of years ago when we were hunter-gatherers, we may have needed a bit of meat in our diets in times of scarcity, but we don't need it now. Says Dr. William C. Roberts, editor of the American Journal of Cardiology, "Although we think we are, and we act as if we are, human beings are not natural carnivores. When we kill animals to eat them, they end up killing us, because their flesh, which contains cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings, who are natural herbivores."
Sure, most of us are "behavioral omnivores"--that is, we eat meat, so that defines us as omnivorous. But our evolution and physiology are herbivorous, and ample science proves that when we choose to eat meat, that causes problems, from decreased energy and a need for more sleep up to increased risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Old habits die hard, and it's convenient for people who like to eat meat to think that there is evidence to support their belief that eating meat is "natural" or the cause of our evolution. For many years, I too, clung to the idea that meat and dairy were good for me; I realize now that I was probably comforted to have justification for my continued attachment to the traditions I grew up with.
But in fact top nutritional and anthropological scientists from the most reputable institutions imaginable say categorically that humans are natural herbivores, and that we will be healthier today if we stick with our herbivorous roots. It may be inconvenient, but it alas, it is the truth.
Click here for great-tasting recipes and meal plans, and here for tips on eating more vegetarian foods.
Kathy Freston: Flu Season: Factory Farming Could Cause A Catastrophic Pandemic
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As for what diet's healthier, I spent years studying that too -EMPIRICAL
Does anyone here think that I would have been able to apply those conclusion
Admittedly
I did find an ironic item. She said that "I don't know you... but I love you"
Followed by you saying you had met her in person and had tried to hire her but she was tied up with University and family...
Today's input:
Fresh Pineapple & Sweet-Lime Juice
Seedling Mexican Thin-Skin Avocadoes
Paste-type Tomatoes
Mamey
Guamuchile
White Sapote
Seedling Mangos
So far. I might have some seedling apples, pears, and maybe some dates.
"Sorry but I assumed based on your comments and support of Ms. Flynn that your diet was similar to hers."
Apparently neither of us eat meat, but I don't know what she eats. It would be impossible for me to maintain my diet in her location so I'm sure our diets are significan
"I did find an ironic item. She said that "I don't know you... but I love you"
I'm sure she was relating to my post. The culture of death (and trying to build on it) makes interactin
"Followed by you saying you had met her in person and had tried to hire her but she was tied up with University and family..."
Right - a beautiful sociologis
I don't know Eriyah except from her posts here this week but we're from the same state, not far from WV.
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Meat available today, in the average market place, is contaminat
If people had to kill animals themselves
I can find "nutrition
Pigs and chickens are omnivores and assassins - they also eat fecal material, as do dogs and so do you, if you drink milk (pasteuriz
"consuming plant matter alone is [projectin
In any case, as far as I'm concerned, the real issue is whether consuming meat is in fact required or even, advisable.
You claim:
"The human body requires a certain percentage of fat in it's system"
But this ignores the fact that there are plenty of non-animal sources for the lipids needed.
After more than forty years of meatless existence, I would have had problems if what you claim was really true.
You may feel you are the leaders of the next chapter of human evolution and feel you are superior to the rest of mere old world, tied to our ancient, and prehistory
I wish every one here peace and understand
Where the biological
Do you surf?
I live in WV on a farm. Not much time for traveling to the beach.
I grew up near Lake Michigan but did more body surfing, and beach volleyball (helped pay for college). Some wind surfing there but little board surfing.
So I guess the answer would be, no I do not surf. But I figure you knew that.
Lunch time over... time to get back to work.
WHOSE understand
"eventuall
For now the plants feed me, and do so with NO distress.
To follow your logic of believing that all life is precious and should not be destroyed is denying one the most basic laws of nature. To follow your thoughts to their logical conclusion would mean that humans should not eat anything lest they destroy life, for when you consume that aforementi
Peace does not come from denying our place in the world or the purpose of the world around us, but rather from understand
Seeing that you like quotes... “since nothing is nourished which does not partake of life, what is nourished will be the ensouled body insofar as it is ensouled, with the result that nourishmen
I'm sorry but i can't go into the details before this coming weekend.
But as I said, I'm not proselytiz
The county is actually a very large valley. Due to this fact and its location on the eastern side of the Appalachia
My farm is located directly over the cave system (45 miles of mapped passages) with five entrances on my land alone. This is a Karst region with limestone rocks randomly jutting from the soil. Removal of these rocks is discourage
Yes, they feel, but they are not rational. Yes, if they are stressed at the moment of death, that affects the quality of meat (in cattle this is called a "dark cutter"). It is in the best interest of the industry that animals are not stressed or suffer at the moment of their death. Are factory farms wrong? Yes, you have no argument from me on that.
To claim to be morally superior and now more evolved than the rest of the rest of the human race is a basic flaw in your philosophy
it has a really great analogy that covers this.
In short - Just because you brought it into the world for your purposes really doesn't matter to them in their consciousn
Stop trying to evade the argument. I'm not talking about abortion here, its terrible, it should be prevented from being an option through responsibl
I took foreign language in school (Latin for 5 years and a year of ancient Greek) I have read everything from Caesar to Homer in their original language.
Your arguments don't bear answering for the most part because they are based on propaganda
And your lofty goals of eliminatin
In the end your argument is religious, moralistic
I would point out that humans are animals and in order to survive we must consume to sustain our lives. As human kind has evolved into a thinking, rational being, science has proven that this was due to the consumptio
Denying the fact that you are human, and denying that everything has a purpose in life, makes you less enlightene
How convenient
I own my farm, not the bank. I owe nothing to anyone, financiall
I work outside everyday.
I wake up in the morning and nature dictates what I do for that day.
I do not have to work in an office. Or for a boss.
I am not dependent on government hand outs or donations.
I get lots of exercise, and eat what we grow. Very few trips to the grocer.
I am not tied to a cell phone (don't own one, don't want one)
I have the most wonderful wife that cherishes me and our way of life. She is the female version of me. I get to spend everyday day with her instead of having to run off to a job that I come home tired and cranky from.
I will be able to take care of my mother, who lives with us in my grandparen
I am rarely stressed, but then again a daily dose of sitting in the pasture with the herd grazing around me is very peaceful. Or milking a cow.
Yup... I count myself as very lucky.
Seems like a HUGE waste of resources to feed grass to livestock just to eat the grass. Kind of like filtering water through a sewer and then drinking it. Or trying to get from Denver to Chicago via Texas. I'd prefer to eat the grass directly. You seem like an avid learner and have great taste in literature (which is odd that you haven't learned about the great vegetarian philosophe
Humans have gotten WAY off track. this isn't a trend. We are simply getting back on track.
Oh look - a squirrel in my backyard! Funny how I have no desire to kill it with my "claws and fangs" and super fast bi-pedal movement (sarcasm) because I have a wonderful plant based meal prepared for our family. Now if we were in an ice age and there was nothing else to eat - then I'd think about it. Humans are herbivores by design, omnivores (actually scavengers
I just thought of a book for you - read the China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. Lots of "proof" in there.
I am not going back into the herbivore/
I would point out however that humans do not have the enzymes for digesting plant cellulose.
I have mentioned what is in my library, I do not have expendable resource to spend on books as such as you describe. Thank you, but I concentrat
dhinds, you have told me that planting grafted fruit trees is wrong, sorry cant access my email at the moment for direct quote, but paraphrasi
If all life is so very precious, how can you justify consuming anything, plant or animal.
Your scientific arguments for not eating meat, etc. have been frequently reputed, again I am not telling you what to put into your body.
Eriyah, you have claimed horses and camels have wolf teeth and they are herbivores and concluded that we also must be because we do not have the pronounced canines of a carnivore (you have not seen my step-son smile) Yet you dismiss the fact that both horses and camels (camels have the same family tree as pigs) descended from omnivores and their canines are carry overs from prehistori
I will not go into the rest, because of lack of time and space, and because the proof is in our biology, history, anthropolo
The article's title: Indication
And yes, the practice represents a failure to intervene in a manner that builds on the ability of the tree to produce life-givin
You may feel you have the prerogativ
Incidental
Today (Wednesday
Although this argument is an important considerat
Only habit, the lack of critical thinking, ubiquitous presence and incessant onslaught of lies and brainwashi
To remain stubbornly entrenched in the status quo is to risk greatly our evolutiona
Of course I am defensive of my lively hood and choice of diet. It is your intent to eliminate them by spreading false informatio
You have also described people like me as being akin to "mur.der.e
I used to support g.ay rights... I now see that this was a mistake as well. Because if we are to evolve then depending on the argument you take: it is not a choice (then there is genetic deficiency
Evolved to the next stage, I don't see it.
Funny how we can influence people with our words and actions... Thank you for helping me see the light.
AttilatheH
As far as health matters go, alcohol is one of the worst poisons one can put into ones body. It destroys the liver which essential in processing foods and cleansing the blood. A couple martinis a night borders on alcoholism
I am glad you are healthier.
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1) The intestines in an elephant can be 19 meters and can weigh about 4500 kg. An adult male human wieghs about 80 kg with an intestine of about 6 - 8 meters. Thus the elephant intestine/
2) The Clovis Point, a spearhead used for hunting dates to 13000 - 14000 years ago.
3) Burnt bones started to appear around 40 – 100 thousand years ago when humans started to control fire. As soon as humans could control fire, they started cooking meat.
4) The oldest shell middens are about 140 thousand years old at sites like Blombos Cave.
5) Burnt bones in Swartkrans cave in South Africa dating to 1 million years ago appear to be from human-tend
6) Our closest relative, the Bonobo will eat invertebra
7) Our second closest relative, the Chimpanzee
So, going back since we diverged from Chimpanzee
1) The intestines in an elephant can be 19 meters and an adult make elephant weighs about 4500 kg.
Could anyone explain to me how i am a natural vegetarian and I have prominent canines(te
Also, I have read on vegetarian websites that humans don't have large canines. In my experience people vary. Some people's canines are barely distinguis
"I have to disagree with [Susan] on the whole read meat stays in your system for months"
You're referring to the _Digestive System_. I assume Susan's reference included the rest of the Systems: Nervous, Circulator
The critical question of course is whether an animal's violent death affects the quality of the nutritiona
In short: Does extracting the nutritiona
Since the body renews its cells over a seven year period, the presence of meat in an otherwise clean system is likely to last much longer than the periods you describe.
(Acquiring Genomes - p. 54 Basic Books, 2002)
(Symbiotic Planet - 1998)