Are Humans Supposed to Eat Meat? The Truth Exposed

The answer to the question “Are humans supposed to eat meat?” can be answered in a similar way to how I encourage you to answer “What is the ultimate human diet?“.

I want you to question the current dietary advice with simple yet powerful questions such as “What would our ancestors have eaten”.

And, I’m talking about way before the invention of human-made processed food including the first known processed food… bread.

What would’ve been available to eat? It doesn’t take much to figure this out or at least get a good idea of what this would’ve been.

There are of course some more scientific options for figuring this out and backing up the obvious question.

There’s also plenty of so-called evidence that will argue against eating meat, but I hope common sense will prevail.

So, let’s tuck in and get to the bones of the question at hand…

Table of Contents

TL;DR

The ultimate human diet is based on what our ancestors ate: predominantly animal-based foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and minimally processed foods.
Evidence from human evolution, our digestive system, and nutritional needs strongly suggest that humans are supposed to eat meat for optimal health.
Modern diets often rely too heavily on processed foods and misguided nutritional advice that doesn’t align with our biological needs as omnivores.
Achieving optimal health involves focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods (especially animal products) and questioning conventional dietary wisdom.

The Truth About Human Evolution and Meat Eating

Let’s take a step back in time – way back, before the advent of agriculture and processed foods. What did our ancestors eat?

The answer might surprise those who’ve bought into the “meat is bad” narrative pushed by many modern health authorities.

The debate over whether humans should consume meat often overlooks the historical and evolutionary context of our ancestors’ diets.

Early Humans: Born Meat Eaters

Archaeological evidence paints a clear picture: early humans were avid meat eaters. From the earliest stone tools used for butchering animals to fossilized remains showing signs of meat consumption, the evidence is overwhelming that early humans did indeed consume meat.

Our ancestors didn’t just eat meat – they thrived on it.

Animal foods, including organ meats, were not just a part of the human diet; they were central to it. These nutrient-dense foods provided the energy and essential nutrients that allowed for the explosive growth of the human brain, setting us apart from other primates.

The Human Body: Designed for Meat Consumption

Look at the human body, and you’ll see adaptations that scream “meat eater”:

Our digestive system is perfectly suited for processing both plant and animal foods, unlike true herbivores.
We have the ability to produce hydrochloric acid in our stomachs, crucial for breaking down animal protein.
Our teeth, while not as specialized as true carnivores, are perfectly capable of tearing and chewing meat.

These adaptations didn’t happen by accident. They’re the result of millions of years of evolution, shaped by a diet rich in animal foods.

Challenging Modern Dietary Myths

So why are we constantly told to limit our meat intake? Why the push towards plant-based diets and the demonization of animal fats?

It’s time to question these modern dietary dogmas. Despite the push towards plant-based diets, it’s important to question whether humans are biologically designed to consume meat.

The Misguided War on Saturated Fat

For decades, we’ve been told that saturated fat is the enemy. But ask yourself this: if saturated fat is so harmful, why have humans evolved such an efficient system for storing and using it?

Our bodies are literally designed to utilize saturated fat for energy and vital bodily functions.

The human body evolved to store fat as a backup fuel source for when there were periods of time when food was not plenty. It’s another amazing survival mechanism that’s made us so successful as a species.

However, fast-forward to today where food is plentiful, and that mechanism is working against us. But that doesn’t mean that fat is bad; how can it be if Mother Nature designed us to store what seems like an endless amount?

The Plant-Based Propaganda

While plant foods certainly have their place in a healthy diet, the idea that humans are supposed to subsist primarily on plants flies in the face of our evolutionary history.

Early humans didn’t have access to year-round fruits and vegetables, let alone the processed plant-based products that fill our supermarket shelves today.

The Truth About Processed Foods

Here’s a simple rule of thumb: if it wasn’t available to our ancestors, it’s probably not ideal for our bodies.

This includes not just obvious junk food, but also many so-called “health foods” like vegetable oils, processed grains, and artificial sweeteners.

Rethinking Your Diet: What Are Humans Supposed to Eat?

So, are humans supposed to consume meat? The evidence strongly suggests that not only are we supposed to eat meat, but that animal foods should form a significant part of our diet.

Here’s what to consider:

Prioritize animal proteins: Include a variety of meats, fish, and eggs in your diet. Don’t shy away from organ meats – they’re nutritional powerhouses.
Embrace animal fats: Contrary to popular belief, fats from properly raised animals are incredibly healthy and were a staple for our ancestors.
Include seasonal plant foods: Fruits and vegetables have their place, but focus on what’s locally and seasonally available.
Avoid processed foods: If it comes in a package with a long list of ingredients, it’s probably not something your body is designed to handle.
Question everything: Don’t just accept dietary advice at face value. Look at the evidence, consider our evolutionary history, and think critically about what makes sense for human health.

Remember, the ultimate human diet isn’t about following a set of rigid rules. It’s about reconnecting with our ancestral eating patterns and giving our bodies the foods they’re designed to thrive on.

By doing so, you might just find that many of the health issues plaguing modern society start to disappear.

Are you ready to challenge the status quo and eat in a way that aligns with your biology?

Your ancestors thrived on a diet rich in animal foods – perhaps it’s time we took a page from their book.

Nutritional Considerations: Why Animal Foods Are Essential

When asking ourselves “Are humans supposed to eat meat?”, we need to look beyond just evolutionary history and examine the nutritional profile of animal foods.

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that animal products provide essential nutrients that are crucial for optimal human health.

The Nutritional Powerhouse of Animal Protein

Animal protein is a complete protein source, containing all the essential amino acids our bodies need but can’t produce on their own.

While plant foods can provide protein, they often lack one or more of these essential amino acids, making it challenging to meet our body’s needs without careful planning and combination.

Key benefits of animal protein:

Higher bioavailability: Our bodies can utilize animal protein more efficiently than plant protein.
Essential amino acids: Crucial for muscle growth, immune function, and overall health.
Satiety: Animal protein helps you feel fuller for longer, potentially aiding in weight management.

Essential Nutrients: Beyond Just Protein

Animal foods are rich in several essential nutrients that are either absent or present in less bioavailable forms in plant foods:

Vitamin B12: Essential for nerve function and DNA synthesis. It’s only naturally found in animal foods.
Heme Iron: The most absorbable form of iron, crucial for oxygen transport in the blood.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Particularly EPA and DHA, are vital for brain health and reducing inflammation.
Zinc: Important for immune function and wound healing, more bioavailable in animal foods.
Vitamin D3: The most effective form of vitamin D, found primarily in animal foods.

The Truth About Plant-Based Diets

While plant foods may have their place in a healthy diet, relying solely on plant-based foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which is why many people choose to consume meat.

Many vegans and vegetarians find themselves needing to supplement with nutrients naturally abundant in animal foods.

Ask yourself: if humans are supposed to eat only plants, why do plant-based diets often require supplementation to be nutritionally complete?

Common deficiencies in plant-based diets include:

Vitamin B12
Iron
Zinc
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
Vitamin D

The Problem with Anti-Nutrients

Many plant foods contain anti-nutrients – compounds that can interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients. These include:

Phytates: Found in grains and legumes, can bind to minerals like iron and zinc, reducing their absorption.
Oxalates: Present in leafy greens and some nuts, can interfere with calcium absorption.
Lectins: Found in beans and grains, can cause digestive issues and nutrient malabsorption.

While our ancestors likely consumed some plant foods, they also had strategies to mitigate these anti-nutrients, such as fermentation and soaking.

Modern processed plant foods often lack these traditional preparation methods, potentially exacerbating nutritional issues.

Rethinking Nutritional Advice

It’s time to question the conventional wisdom that pushes us towards plant-based diets and away from nutrient-dense animal foods, and consider why humans are supposed to consume meat. Here are some key points to consider:

Quality matters: Opt for high-quality, properly raised animal products. Grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs, and wild-caught fish offer superior nutritional profiles.
Embrace organ meats: Often overlooked in modern diets, organ meats are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.
Don’t fear saturated fat: Contrary to decades of misguided advice, saturated fat from animal sources isn’t the villain it’s been made out to be. In fact, it’s crucial for hormone production and cell membrane integrity.
Listen to your body: Pay attention to how you feel after eating different foods. Many people report increased energy, mental clarity, and overall well-being when they increase their intake of animal foods.
Question the agenda: Always be skeptical of dietary advice, especially when it goes against our evolutionary history. Ask yourself who benefits from pushing certain dietary patterns.

Remember, the question “are humans supposed to eat meat?” isn’t just about personal preference – it’s about understanding our biology and giving our bodies the nutrients they need to thrive.

By embracing our ancestral dietary patterns and prioritizing nutrient-dense animal foods, we can take a significant step toward optimal health.

In the next section, we’ll explore how this approach to eating can impact various aspects of human health, challenging more modern dietary myths along the way.

Health Implications: Debunking the Myths About Meat Consumption

Now that we’ve established the evolutionary and nutritional basis for meat eating, let’s tackle the elephant in the room: the supposed health risks associated with meat consumption.

For decades, we’ve been bombarded with messages claiming that meat, especially red meat, is detrimental to our health. But are these claims based on solid science, or are they yet another example of misguided dietary dogma?

The Heart Disease Myth

One of the most persistent myths is that eating meat, particularly red meat, increases the risk of heart disease. This belief stems from the now-debunked hypothesis that saturated fat causes heart disease. Let’s set the record straight:

Weak evidence: Many studies linking meat consumption to heart disease are observational and don’t prove causation.
Confounding factors: These studies often fail to account for other lifestyle factors, such as overall diet quality, exercise, and stress levels.
Quality matters: There’s a world of difference between processed meats and high-quality, unprocessed meats from properly raised animals.
Nutrient density: Red meat is rich in nutrients that support heart health, including CoQ10, carnitine, and B vitamins.

Ask yourself: If meat is so bad for heart health, why did heart disease rates skyrocket as we reduced our intake of animal fats and increased our consumption of processed plant oils?

Cancer Risk: Separating Fact from Fiction

Another common claim is that meat, especially processed meat, increases cancer risk.

While it’s true that some studies have shown associations between high processed meat intake and certain cancers, the reality is more nuanced:

Correlation vs. causation: Most studies showing links between meat and cancer are observational and don’t prove that meat causes cancer.
Processing matters: There’s a significant difference between processed meats and fresh, unprocessed meats.
Cooking methods: High-temperature cooking methods like grilling can produce potentially harmful compounds. This isn’t unique to meat – it applies to many foods cooked at high temperatures.
Protective effects: Some components in meat, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) found in grass-fed beef, may actually have anti-cancer properties.

The Truth About Cholesterol

For years, we’ve been told to limit our intake of cholesterol-rich foods like eggs and organ meats. But here’s the truth:

Dietary cholesterol has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels for most people.
Cholesterol is essential for hormone production, cell membrane integrity, and brain function. If we eliminated all cholesterol from our bodies, we would die.
Our bodies produce cholesterol because we need it. If we don’t get enough from our diet, our liver makes more.

Weight Management and Metabolic Health

Contrary to popular belief, including meat in your diet can actually support weight management and metabolic health:

Protein satiety: Animal protein is highly satiating, which can lead to reduced overall calorie intake.
Muscle preservation: Adequate protein intake, easily achieved with meat, helps preserve muscle mass during weight loss.
Blood sugar control: Unlike many carbohydrate-rich foods, meat has minimal impact on blood sugar levels.
Nutrient density: Meat provides essential nutrients without the excess calories often found in processed foods.

Mental Health and Cognitive Function

The impact of diet on mental health is often overlooked, but it’s crucial. Animal foods provide several nutrients essential for brain health:

Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fatty fish, these are crucial for brain function and may help alleviate depression and anxiety.
Vitamin B12: Essential for nerve function and found only in animal foods, B12 deficiency can lead to cognitive decline and mood disorders.
Zinc and Iron: Both abundant in meat, these minerals play important roles in cognitive function and mood regulation.

Rethinking Our Approach to Health

As we consider whether humans are supposed to consume meat, it’s clear that the health implications of meat consumption have been largely misrepresented. Here’s what we should keep in mind:

Question the narrative: Don’t just accept what you’re told about meat and health. Look at the quality of the evidence behind these claims.
Trust Mother Nature: Mother Nature knows best – what has she provided for us to eat? Think about what our ancestors would have had available. Don’t trust human-made fake food.
Focus on quality: Choose high-quality, unprocessed meats from properly raised animals when possible.
Listen to your body: Pay attention to how you feel when you include more animal foods in your diet. Many people report improved energy, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
Think holistically: Remember that diet is just one piece of the health puzzle. Consider other factors like sleep, stress management, and physical activity.

By challenging the prevailing myths about meat consumption and health, we can start to develop a more nuanced and accurate understanding of what truly constitutes a healthy human diet.

In the next section, we’ll explore how our digestive system is uniquely adapted to process both plant and animal foods, further supporting the idea that humans are indeed supposed to eat meat.

The Human Digestive System: Designed for Meat Consumption

To further understand whether humans are supposed to consume meat, we can look at the very system responsible for processing our food: the digestive tract.

Our digestive system provides compelling evidence that humans are indeed adapted to consume and thrive on animal products.

Comparing Human Digestive Systems to Other Animals

When we examine the human digestive system, we find a fascinating blend of features that set us apart from both strict herbivores and true carnivores:

Stomach Acidity: Humans have a highly acidic stomach environment, with a pH ranging from 1.5 to 3.5. This level of acidity is more similar to that of carnivores than herbivores. Why? Because a highly acidic stomach is crucial for breaking down animal protein and killing potentially harmful bacteria found in meat.
Intestinal Length: Our intestinal length falls between that of carnivores and herbivores. We have a longer small intestine than carnivores, allowing us to extract more nutrients from our food. However, it’s significantly shorter than that of herbivores, who require extended fermentation to break down fibrous plant matter.
Cecum Size: Unlike herbivores, humans have a small cecum, a pouch that connects the small and large intestines. In herbivores, this organ is much larger and is used to ferment plant matter. Our smaller cecum suggests we’re not primarily adapted to a plant-based diet.
Enzyme Production: The human body produces enzymes specifically designed to break down animal products. For instance, we produce pepsin, which is crucial for digesting animal protein, and lipase, which helps break down animal fats.

Debunking the “Humans are Herbivores” Myth

Some proponents of plant-based diets argue that humans are naturally herbivores. Let’s address why this claim doesn’t hold up:

Lack of Cellulase: Unlike true herbivores, humans don’t produce cellulase, an enzyme necessary for breaking down cellulose in plants. This is why we can’t digest grass or bark like a cow or a gorilla can.
Vitamin B12 Requirements: Our bodies require vitamin B12, which is only naturally found in animal products. If we were meant to be herbivores, why would we need a nutrient not found in plants?
Inefficient Plant Digestion: While we can certainly eat and derive some nutrition from plants, our digestive system is not optimized for extracting maximum nutrition from them. We lack the specialized digestive features of true herbivores, such as multiple stomachs or enlarged cecums.

Adaptations for Meat Eating

Our digestive system shows several adaptations that support meat consumption:

Protein Digestion: We produce high levels of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in our stomachs, which are crucial for breaking down animal proteins.
Fat Metabolism: Our liver produces bile, which helps emulsify fats, making them easier to digest. This is particularly important for digesting animal fats.
Nutrient Absorption: Our small intestine is highly efficient at absorbing the nutrients found in animal products, including heme iron, vitamin B12, and certain fatty acids.

The Role of Cooking in Human Digestion

It’s worth noting that humans have another unique adaptation that supports meat consumption: the use of fire for cooking. Cooking meat:

Increases digestibility: Heat denatures proteins, making them easier for our bodies to break down.
Enhances nutrient availability: Cooking can make certain nutrients more bioavailable.
Reduces pathogen risk: Heat kills potentially harmful bacteria, making meat safer to consume.

This “external digestion” through cooking has allowed humans to extract more nutrition from meat, potentially driving our evolution towards larger brains and smaller guts.

In the next section, we’ll explore how this understanding of human biology and nutrition can be applied in the modern world, addressing ethical and environmental concerns while still honoring our evolutionary heritage.

Applying Ancestral Wisdom in the Modern World

Now that we’ve established that humans are indeed supposed to consume meat from both evolutionary and biological perspectives, let’s address how this knowledge can be applied in our modern world.

We’ll tackle the ethical and environmental concerns often raised about meat consumption, and explore how we can make choices that honor our biology while being mindful of our impact on the planet.

Addressing Ethical Concerns

Many people avoid meat due to ethical concerns about animal welfare, but these concerns don’t negate our biological need to consume meat. Instead, we should focus on supporting ethical farming practices:

Choose Pasture-Raised: Animals raised on pasture live more natural lives and often experience less stress than those in industrial farming operations.
Support Local Farmers: Smaller, local farms often have higher animal welfare standards and allow you to see firsthand how the animals are treated.
Opt for Regenerative Agriculture: This approach to farming works with nature, improving soil health and animal welfare simultaneously.
Consider Hunting: Ethical hunting can provide a source of meat while supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

Remember, eating animals is a natural part of the circle of life. The key is to ensure that the animals we consume are treated with respect and allowed to live natural lives before becoming food.

Environmental Sustainability: A Different Perspective

The environmental impact of meat production is often cited as a reason to avoid meat. However, this view often oversimplifies a complex issue:

Cattle and Climate: While it’s true that cattle produce methane (so do we – just saying), properly managed grazing can sequester carbon in the soil, potentially offsetting emissions.
Biodiversity: Well-managed pastures can support diverse ecosystems, unlike monoculture crops often used for plant-based products.
Water Usage: While meat production does require water, so does agriculture. Some studies suggest that when you consider the nutritional value per liter of water used, animal products can be quite efficient.
Soil Health: Proper animal grazing can improve soil health, increasing its ability to retain water and support plant life.
Upcycling Inedible Plants: Ruminants like cattle can convert grass and other plants inedible to humans into high-quality protein.

Quality Over Quantity: A More Sustainable Approach

Rather than completely avoiding meat, consider adopting a “quality over quantity” approach:

Eat Nose-to-Tail: Consuming all parts of the animal reduces waste and honors the animal’s sacrifice.
Choose Grass-Fed and Finished: These animals often have a lower environmental impact and provide more nutritious meat.
Reduce Processed Meats: Focus on whole, unprocessed animal products for optimal nutrition and reduced environmental impact.
Support Sustainable Fishing: Choose wild-caught fish from well-managed fisheries.

Conclusion

Not only is it obvious what the answer to the question “Are humans supposed to consume meat?” when we look at it from a simple viewpoint of looking at what our ancestors ate.

This is also the case when we dig deeper into the science of it. Whether it’s about the overwhelming nutritional benefits of eating animals, especially the whole animal – organ meats and all.

Or our biology and the fact our digestive systems and stomach PH levels are suited to eating meat.

With that being a closed case, the next obstacle is the environmental subject that darkens the meat doorstep.

But if done properly, meat farming can be carbon-negative. By doing away with feedlots and embracing regenerative farming – giving the animals their best life the environmental issue goes away.

It aggravates me that cows’ burping is compared to motor fumes. How can a natural living being be compared to gas-guzzling engines? It makes no sense.

The answer is clear but ultimately it’s down to you to decide what’s right for you. I know I eat a lot of grass-fed, high-quality meat and feel amazing.

And that wasn’t always the case. I struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome for many years eating a diet of wholegrain foods and plenty of fruit & veggies.

And that’s it… have a nutritious day!

FAQs

Are humans supposed to eat meat, or can we thrive on a plant-based diet?

Humans are biologically adapted to eat meat. Our digestive system, nutritional needs, and evolution support this. While plant-based diets are possible, they often require careful planning and supplementation, suggesting animal foods align better with our biology.

Isn’t red meat consumption linked to heart disease and other health problems?

The link between red meat and heart disease is based on flawed observational studies. High-quality, unprocessed red meat provides essential nutrients like heme iron and complete protein. When part of a balanced diet, it can support overall health.

How can eating meat be ethical when it involves killing animals?

Ethical meat consumption involves supporting farms prioritizing animal welfare and practicing regenerative agriculture. By choosing pasture-raised animals and eating nose-to-tail, we honor the animal’s sacrifice and minimize waste. Hunting can also be ethical.

Won’t reducing meat intake help combat climate change?

The environmental impact of meat is complex. Properly managed grazing can sequester carbon and improve soil health. Focusing on high-quality, sustainably raised meat and reducing food waste can be more effective than eliminating meat entirely.