Are humans omnivores?

Discussion of science, technology, politics, and other topics that aren't strictly philosophical.
Locked
Consistency
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:43 am

Are humans omnivores?

Post by Consistency »

I'm curious to know if there is other masterminds out there.

Answer the question without regurgitating nonsense and bias.
professional of energy.
User avatar
Dan Rowden
Posts: 5740
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 8:03 pm
Contact:

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Dan Rowden »

Well, there's a question to get your teeth into.
User avatar
Kunga
Posts: 2333
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:04 am
Contact:

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Kunga »

Quoted from an editorial by William Clifford Roberts, M.d., Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Cardiology:

"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."



•Intestinal tract length. Carnivorous animals have intestinal tracts that are 3-6x their body length, while herbivores have intestinal tracts 10-12x their body length. Human beings have the same intestinal tract ratio as herbivores.
•Stomach acidity. Carnivores’ stomachs are 20x more acidic than the stomachs of herbivores. Human stomach acidity matches that of herbivores.
•Saliva. The saliva of carnivores is acidic. The saliva of herbivores is alkaline, which helps pre-digest plant foods. Human saliva is alkaline.
•Shape of intestines. Carnivore bowels are smooth, shaped like a pipe, so meat passes through quickly — they don’t have bumps or pockets. Herbivore bowels are bumpy and pouch-like with lots of pockets, like a windy mountain road, so plant foods pass through slowly for optimal nutrient absorption. Human bowels have the same characteristics as those of herbivores.
•Fiber. Carnivores don’t require fiber to help move food through their short and smooth digestive tracts. Herbivores require dietary fiber to move food through their long and bumpy digestive tracts, to prevent the bowels from becoming clogged with rotting food. Humans have the same requirement as herbivores.
•Cholesterol. Cholesterol is not a problem for a carnivore’s digestive system. A carnivore such as a cat can handle a high-cholesterol diet without negative health consequences. A human cannot. Humans have zero dietary need for cholesterol because our bodies manufacture all we need. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods, never in plant foods. A plant-based diet is by definition cholesterol-free.
•Claws and teeth. Carnivores have claws, sharp front teeth capable of subduing prey, and no flat molars for chewing. Herbivores have no claws or sharp front teeth capable of subduing prey, but they have flat molars for chewing. Humans have the same characteristics as herbivores.

But aren’t humans anatomically suited to be omnivores?

Nope. We don’t anatomically match up with omnivorous animals anymore than we do with carnivorous ones. Omnivores are more similar to carnivores than they are to herbivores. For a more detailed summary table that compares the properties of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores side by side, see this page:
Comparative Anatomy & Taxonomy

The link above also debunks the opportunistic feeder theory, which states that because humans can eat like omnivores, that we must therefore be omnivores. And this is of course false because mere behavior doesn’t indicate suitability. There are plenty of things we can do as a species that would threaten our survival if we all considered them suitable default behavior, such as shooting each other, lobbing hand grenades, or sending spam.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/0 ... bivores-2/
Angelostass
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:03 pm

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Angelostass »

Yes humans are omnivores. Like animal we also eat flesh and vegetables.we can also say that we are omnivores. There is no wrong in this.First of all we must known the definition of omnivores after that this Question is answered.
Consistency
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:43 am

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Consistency »

Angelostass wrote:Yes humans are omnivores. Like animal we also eat flesh and vegetables.we can also say that we are omnivores. There is no wrong in this.First of all we must known the definition of omnivores after that this Question is answered.
Explain in detail why we are omnivores. Explain what particular molecule causes the expansion of the brain.

Humans don't have the instincts to kill.
professional of energy.
User avatar
brad walker
Posts: 300
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:49 am
Location: be an eye

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by brad walker »

Consistency wrote:Humans don't have the instincts to kill.
Humans don't have the instincts to pound their digits on magical omniconnective conglomerations of plastic, metal and silicon.

Synthesis proposal: Omnivorous humans were once scavengers.
User avatar
Tensai
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:33 am

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Tensai »

Yes, but based in my own experience, I think the best option is to be vegetarian.
Consistency
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:43 am

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Consistency »

brad walker wrote:Humans don't have the instincts to pound their digits on magical omniconnective conglomerations of plastic, metal and silicon.
Technology is a tool which doesn't seem to contradict with our biochemistry unlike eating large quantities of meat.
Synthesis proposal: Omnivorous humans were once scavengers.
No doubt about it. For survival purposes. All animals have the protease enzymes to digest animal flesh for survival purposes. Cow eats chickens for survival. http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freak ... 1113118642

Should we call all animals omnivores?

Since we have bacteria in our colon which can hydrolyze cellulose, not whole vegetation; the likely hood we are omnivores is zero unless you can point out an advantage of eating meat or fish as a brain evolutionary factor.
Tensai wrote:Yes, but based in my own experience, I think the best option is to be vegetarian.
vegetarian means eating dairy products if you didn't know.

The question is whether humans are omnivores. Not what you think is the best option.
professional of energy.
User avatar
Tensai
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:33 am

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Tensai »

vegetarian means eating dairy products if you didn't know.
Actually, I don't even eat dairy products or eggs.
User avatar
brad walker
Posts: 300
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:49 am
Location: be an eye

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by brad walker »

Consistency wrote:Should we call all animals omnivores?
Why should we, two strangers on the Internet, care what each other calls anything? I hope to enjoy your response later.
Last edited by brad walker on Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Consistency
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 12:43 am

Re: Are humans omnivores?

Post by Consistency »

Tensai wrote:Actually, I don't even eat dairy products or eggs.
Excellent.

The word vegetarian has been hijacked by the milk drinkers for some time now. Vegan is the new word if you didn't know.
brad walker wrote:
Consistency wrote:Should we call all animals omnivores?
Why should we, two strangers on the Internet, care what each other calls anything? I hope to enjoy your response later tonight after a delicious dinner of Pizza Hut Super Supreme Stuffed Crust pizza with bacon substituting those awful green peppers. If it takes longer that's fine, too.
You didn't understand.. should we call all animals omnivores because they can digest meat in survival situations?

Its your funeral and don't make assumptions, I don't care about animals. Life and death are part of the universe.

Green peppers are awful. Its about following your instincts... sugar(ripe fruit and non-bitter leafy greens) and fat(nuts).

Why don't you just eat the bacon raw?
professional of energy.
Locked