"Are Humans Carnivores or Herbivores?" or omnivores?

[Vantage72]

This post to discuss the post of Steve "Are Humans Carnivores or Herbivores?"
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...-herbivores-2/

My question is: are humans built as herbivores or omnivores?

While Steve argues that we are built as herbivores, this professor argues that we are omnivores: Re: Are humans Vegetarians or Omnivores?

PS. I did a search to find if there where any similar topics, but could not find them. If there is, please let me know.

[Sam988]

This talk that 'humans are actually herbivores" is vegetarian people's bullsh*t.


This professor's article that you showed in your post explains it very well.

[Raymond Fernando]

Steve's post tended to be very one sided and only cherry picked the facts that made Steve's argument look better. My understanding is that when comparing something it is best to present both sides equally and look at the bigger picture.

The professor in the blog answers what his credentials are and offers references to the facts stated in his response, which make the professor more credible than Steve.

Finally, you ask about my credentials to answer this question. Well, I am
employed as an anatomy professor (and am therefore a specialist in human
anatomy). I teach at a college that specializes in training health care
workers (so I am familiar with issues of human health an nutrition).
Finally, I earned by Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology (which sort of makes me
an expert in how humans adapt both biologically and culturally to the
environment).

Some References relevant to this questions:

Harding, RSO & Teleki, G (1981) Omnivorous Primates. Columbia University
Press: New York.

Romer, AS & Parsons, TS (1986) The Vertebrate Body. Saunders College
Publishing: New York

Oxnard, C. (1987) Fossils, Teeth and Sex. University of Washington Press:
Seattle

I need to do more academic research before I can decide what I believe to be true.

[Dave Kaminski]

Steve,

Thanks for the great article link! Yours was a hell of a summation, but I particularly liked reading the professor's ideas on the carnivore-by-choice claim.

Thanks

[ZHereford]

Interesting articles - both of them!

I've personally never liked meat and didn't eat it long before it was the thing to do. I was actually made fun of for not eating it. I enjoy all dairy products and milk sustained me in my formative years. Everyone else in my family eats it.

My thinking is that as humans we need balance more than anything. I don't see anything wrong in enjoying meat. Didn't most of our cavemen ancestors eat it for survival. There's also the hunter/farmer distinction.

I believe that we as humans are very adaptable. To label us is too restrictive especially since so many enjoy meat. Balance is key. Both of my parents who have enjoyed eating some meat, but not too much, have lived long healthy lives with no serious medical problems. They've also eaten lots of vegetables, herbs etc. Again I think balance is key.

[sheffy4]

Yep, this was a very informative post.
Now I don't feel so bad about being "mostly" vegetarian