Are human beings anatomically more similar to natural carnivores or to natural herbivores? Let’s find out….
- 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.
从解剖学的角度来看,人类跟食肉动物还是食草动物更相似呢?我们来看看……
l 肠的长度:食肉动物的肠道比它们的身体长3——6倍,而食草动物的肠道则是自身长度的10——12倍。人类的肠道长度与食草动物一样。
l 胃酸度:食肉动物的胃的酸度比食草动物强20倍。人类的胃酸度与食草动物相似。
l 唾液:食肉动物的唾液是酸性的。食草动物的唾液则是碱性的,这有助于植物性食物的辅助消化。人类的唾液是碱性的。
l 肠道的形态:食肉动物的肠道很光滑,形状像管道,其中没有凹凸不平之处——因此肉类可以迅速地通过。食草动物的肠道则崎岖不平,布满突起和皱褶,好似一条山间小道,以便植物性食物在缓慢通过的同时得以被最大程度地吸收。人类的肠道特性跟食草动物的差不多。
l 纤维:食肉动物无需利用纤维来润滑它们那又短又光滑的肠道。食草动物则需要可食纤维来帮助食物在它们那又长又凹凸不平的消化道中移动,以免肠道被发酵的食物堵塞。人类具有跟食草动物一样的需要。
l 胆固醇:胆固醇对食肉动物的消化系统来说完全不是问题,诸如猫这样的食肉动物可以随意进食高胆固醇的食物,完全不会影响健康。人类则办不到。人类无需从饮食中补充胆固醇,因为我们自身就能产生。胆固醇只存在于动物性食品中,植物性食品则不含此元素。基于植物的饮食,从定义上来说就是完全不含胆固醇的。
l 爪子和牙齿:食肉动物都有可以用于抓捕的利爪和尖牙,而没有平坦的用于咀嚼的臼齿。食草动物没有可以捕猎的爪子或尖牙,但具有可用于咀嚼的平坦臼齿。人类跟食草动物的特征一样。
难道人类从解剖学角度来看不是一种杂食动物吗?
并非如此。从解剖学角度,我们跟杂食动物的匹配度完全比不上跟食草动物的匹配度。杂食动物的特征更近似与食肉动物。关于食肉动物、食草动物和杂食动物更详尽的器官比较表格在这里:比较解剖学和分类学。(英文,有兴趣的朋友看看,我就不翻译了——Nicole)
上述链接将揭穿机会主义者,也就是那些声称“因为人类能够杂食,所以他们就一定是杂食动物”的食品供应商。这无疑是错误的,因为单以具备该行为能力为理由,是不能判定其适合性的。作为一个物种,我们可以做很多事,比如互相开枪打对方、扔手榴弹、发垃圾邮件等等,但如果这些都被认为是适合的、默认的行为,那我们的生命都会受到威胁。
更多信息,请访问我的博客:活色生香 Nicole俱佳日
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健康人生
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人类是食肉动物,还是食草动物?
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