Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
 wheat-eaters
OR
meat-eaters?
WHAT IS OUR NATURAL DIET?ARE HUMANS EVOLUTIONARILY ADAPTED TO EATANIMALS, PLANTS OR BOTH?
By Amanda Woodvine, nutritionistGuide 6
£1
 
 Wheat-eaters or Meat-eaters?
BY AMANDA WOODVINE, BSC NUTRITION(WITH ADDITIONS BY COLIN SPENCER)
2
Amanda Woodvine
is consultantnutritionist for Viva! and theVegetarian & Vegan Foundation(VVF). Her specialities includecardiovascular disease, obesity andchildren’s health.She has authored a number ofguides and reports for the VVF,including
White Meat Black Mark 
–a scientific report investigating the healthconsequences of consuming white meat.Amanda is currently undertaking postgraduatestudy in public health with the London School ofHygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Colin Spencer
is a novelist,playwright, cookery book writer anda former food columnist for
The Guardian
. His book – the
Heretic’s Feast: a History of Vegetarianism
–is an exceptionally well-researchedand detailed look at vegetarianismthrough the ages. He is also theauthor of best selling cook books
Green Gastronomy 
,
Cordon Vert 
and
The New Vegetarian
.Researcher/Editor:
Juliet Gellatley
, BSc Zoology,Founder & Director, Viva! & VVF
One of the most pervasive myths surroundingvegetarianism is the belief that humans are naturallymeant to eat meat – thatwe are evolutionarilyadapted to eat and thriveon dead flesh. The evidencepresented in this guideknocks this myth firmly onits head. Human beingsbelong to the primatefamily and the primatefamily is essentially avegetarian one. Our closestliving relatives such aschimpanzees and gorillaslive on a diet of foods overwhelmingly derivedfrom plants, and we ignoreour evolutionary past atour peril. Indeed we arealready seeing the dangersof dismissing whatevolutionary studies showus we should be eating –plants, not animals – withthe growing epidemics of killer diseases such ascancer, heart disease,obesity and diabetes whichare now occurring inalmost every corner of the planet.
Introduction
Published by Viva!. © Viva! 2010
Viva!, 8 York Court, Wilder St, Bristol BS2 8QHt: 0117 944 1000 e: info@viva.org.uk w: www.viva.org.ukThis is one of 20 guides by Viva!, covering everything from nutrition, health, pregnancy andshopping to animals, the environment and recipes. Please contact us for a full list or go towww.viva.org.uk/guides
 
3
A GUIDE BY VIVA!
Cues from the Body: We’re Wheat-eaters, notMeat-eaters
Basic anatomical comparisons show that peoplehave much more in common with herbivores thancarnivores – or even omnivores! Just a look at anadult’s mouth – let alone a child’s – shows that theopening is too small for anything but relativelysmall pieces of food. We can’t even swallow thosewhole, but must chew them finely and mix themwith saliva before the ball of food will slide downthe oesophagus. If toolarge a piece isswallowed, it canlodge over thewindpipe and preventthe air from getting toour lungs.Because we are sopoorly equipped tochew and swallowmeat, choking iscommon inpopulations that eata typical Westerndiet. Thousands dieeach year fromchoking on food, usually meat products. Incontrast, carnivorous animals such as cats seemnot to have to chew their food, but tear off chunks and swallow them almost immediately.It is sometimes suggested that the existenceof canine teeth in humans proves that we areadapted to eat meat. However, our teeth aremuch better suited for eating starches, fruitsand vegetables – not tearing and chewing flesh.What many refer to as our ‘canine teeth’ arenothing at all like the sharp blades of truecarnivores designed for processing meat.Scientists have been saying for decades thatwe are an herbivorous species. For example, DrW. S. Collens, research scientist at theMaimonides Hospitalin Brooklyn, USAsaid: “Examinationof the dentalstructure of themodern man revealsthat he possesses allof the features of astrictly herbivorousanimal” (Collens andDobkin, 1965).Such featuresinclude jaws that canopen and close aswell as moveforwards, backwardsand side-to-side. This is ideal for biting off pieces of plant matter and then grinding themdown with our flat molars.In contrast, carnivores’ lower jaws have verylimited side-to-side motion. They are fixed onlyto open and close, which adds strength andstability to their powerful bite.
Humans –Designed tobe Vegan
Some people still mistakenly believe thathumans are born to be meat-eaters. Thefallacy of the ‘meant to eat meat’ myth iseasy to see when the characteristics of naturally vegetarian animals and naturallycarnivorous ones are viewed side-by-side, asoutlined in the table on the next page.
Comparison of a cat’ssharply pointed, truecanine teeth with thecanine teeth of a human
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.
    • Notes
    Load more