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 Carnivores, omnivores, or Herbivores (10)

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Sparky9171(70) pic



Carnivores, omnivores, or Herbivores

What are we as humans? What are the pros.and cons?
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1 point

I recently went through a serious incident with sciatica, and my conclusion after many months of rehabilitation, and still not fully healed, if ever? My belief is due to my lack of protein in my diet as a 90% vegetarian , meaning I only ate fish, or chicken a couple times a month. I did this for 4 years until this recent episode. I believe between my lack of protein and my core strength diminished, it led to this injury.... I believe we as humans were meant to be Herbivores. In moderation of course .

Cartman(18192) Disputed
1 point

Herbivores in moderation makes absolutely no sense. Are you suggesting that if you ate just vegetables, but in a smaller quantity you would have had more protein?

1 point

No I am saying, maybe my lack of protein from meat, may have contributed to my issue... Also the fact I have a very physical occupation....

1 point

When I stated in moderation, I meant meat,veg's, grains in moderation......

1 point

You can't eat meat in moderation as an herbivore. Herbivores eat no meat. I think you meant omnivore.

1 point

I would say that we're facultative carnivores, just my opinion though

1 point

Sorry, I meant omnivore, not herbivore..... Sorry for all the confusion folks.......

1 point

As humans, omnivores naturally, vegetarians are herbivores, and meatarians are carnivores.

1 point

Our DNA, our physiology and our dentition all show that we evolved as omnivores. Most likely, we were at the very outset--back around 3 MYA when we were australopithecus afarenssis--herbivores. This is the earliest sub-species of the bipedal primate hominids that is us.

The diet of the earliest hominids was probably pretty close to the diet of modern chimpanzees: and that is omnivorous, which includes large quantities of fruit, leaves, flowers, bark, insects and meat.

"Tooth morphology" (that dentition I mentioned) shows that the diet of some hominids may have included hard food items such as seeds and nuts, and also roots and tubers.

By at least 2 MYA, a change in this diet started to occur; some hominids began eating meat and marrow from small to large animals.

probably the best evidence for meat and marrow eating are butchery marks found on bones.

--slicing meat off a bone with a sharp-edged tool can leave cut marks . and so pounding a bone with a large stone to break it open and extract the marrow inside can leave what we call percussion marks-----

So this is all important stuff--beginning to eat meat, because many anthropologists theorize that it was these very meat eating practices that proved very advantageous--perhaps even crucial--to us outlasting and vanquishing our rivals.

The idea goes.... that the protein and fat (yes, fat: more on that later if you want) improved our brains. Thus making us smarter and having better tactical and planning and reasoning skills. Like how to hunt, how to plan for weather, and strategize to survive the elements.

Most nutritionists now agree that a well-balanced diet consisting of lean meat, vegetables, fruits, and unprocessed whole grains is the optimal one for us. Of all those diets you read about, over the years the Paleo-Diet has proved to be the best and enable its adherents to keep fit the longest. It makes sense of course, because when you go with the Paleo Diet you are eating the way we Evolved to eat.

Vegetarian diets are claimed by some to be the best way to go, but I and many other biologists disagree. There is a problem with getting sufficient protein and fat in the veggie diet. And whey protein supplements are simply not as good as old fashioned lean meat protein.

As an athlete, I have experienced that problem first-hand: I always lost muscle mass and strength when I would "go veggie" for a couple months out of the year, just to lean-up and give my bowels a break on the red meat. I also feel that like in everything, people are different. Just as we respond differently do different medications, so do we to diet and food. What works for some or is optimal for some may not be so for others.

OK...here's a bit more on that stuff I said about how eating meat may have given us the Evolutionary edge we needed to reach the Top of the food chain!

http://paleoleap.com/vegetarianism-bad-environment/

And here's an article that I agree with..which is that Veggie diets ain't all they're cracked up to be byt those people who think they're healthier than us omnivores..........

http://paleoleap.com/vegetarianism-bad-environment/

Harvard(666) Disputed
1 point

There is a problem with getting sufficient protein and fat in the veggie diet. And whey protein supplements are simply not as good as old fashioned lean meat protein.

Of course you aren't referencing the 'veggie diets' incorporating peas, nuts, beans, etc.--all of which are high sources of protein (excluding the high amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats that meat contains).

Oh, and here is a disclaimer that the source you listed offers:

The information is merely our personal opinion and should not be taken as fact.

WE DO NOT CLAIM TO BE DOCTORS, NUTRITIONISTS OR DIETITIANS. THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT REPLACE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVISE.

SlapShot(2608) Clarified
1 point

Oh, but I am referencing those diets.

I also claim that studies have shown many vegetarians to be in overall poorer health than their omnivore counterparts. I have been on both sides of this equation. And was also a Division 1A level collegiate athlete who first-hand tried the two different diets.

As I said, I have "gone veggie" for months at a time, and probably a good 5-6 times over the past decade or so. My ex-wife was a vegetarian chef--in a four star veggie restaurant. LOL. So I am fully aware of the protein options a vegan has.

And still I maintain that the protein in those legumes and nuts and whatnot is simply not as efficient at building lean muscle mass as good old lean meat protein.

http://beefmagazine.com/blog/are-vegetable-proteins-equal-protein-beef

Did you read my link on how going omnivore most likely enabled us to reach the pinnacle of the food chain? If not, you should check it out.

And cholesterol is NOT the enemy. Do you know what it even is? We NEED cholesterol, It is a sterol created in out bodies. Of ocurse the Low density variety needs to be kept in moderate quantities.

More on that here..........

http://www.zoeharcombe.com/the-knowledge/we-have-got-cholesterol-completely-wrong/

Same deal with fat. Including saturated fat. It is NOT the enemy to today's obesity problem. Not even close, amigo. Red meat and dairy and fats were given an unduly harsh rap back in the early 2000s. Nutritionists claimed them to be the enemy.

They were plain wrong. Waaay wrong.

Did you know saturated fat is brain food? Yep. Look it up, or I can provide some sources. Key word: "Myelin sheaths." LOL

So......The REAL enemies in the Nutrition World?

HFCS.

Refined Sugar

Processed food.

Sedentary lifestyle.