Humans Naturally Evolved as Vegetarians

The debate is old: whether or not humans are evolutionary omnivores or herbivores. Those in favor of meat consumption point to our incisors as evidence we are meant to be omnivores. Those who think we are naturally vegetarians consider our long winding intestines as evidence we are not designed to eat meat; however, some doctors believe we should not be carnivores at all. According to Kathy Freston writing for the Huffington Post:

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.

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Posted by Jennifer Lance at July 2, 2009 10:20 AM