Homo Sapien sapien, biologically, omnivores or herbivores

[Druidus]

(Only biological, anatomical, or evolutionary evidence. Morality, ethics, environment, etc. are disallowed in this conversation, and should be ignored.)

I'm gonna leave this topic up for debate, before I come in with my info.

Note: At about the time that the human species had the level of consciousness of a modern three year old, dietary evidence becomes arbitrary. We could, and still do today, choose unhealthy food choices.

 

[Mister Emu]

Well I would say biologically and anatomicaly(Won't say evolutionarily cause I don't believe evolution on the grand scale imagined by Darwin happened) that we are omnivores, there are a few nutrients(I have heard) that one cannot get through plants today that are good for health(I believe it is even criminal in the U.S. to give a young child a purely vegetarian diet). We also have teeth that are well suited for both grinding and ripping.

 

[Runt]

Maize posted some information a while ago that answers your question. I couldn't find her post, but I did find the information on the internet here: http://www.vegetarian-society.org/others.htm

So... copying and pasting... look at the site for more... there is a table of comparisons of carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore anatomy to human anatomy that covers facial muscles, jaw type, jaw joint location, jaw location, major jaw muscles, mouth opening vs head size, teeth (incisors), teeth (canines), teeth (molars), chewing, saliva, stomach type, stomach acidity, stomach capacity, length of small intestine, colon, liver, kidney, and nails.

The Comparative Anatomy of Eating

by Milton R. Mills, M.D.​

Humans are most often described as “omnivores.” This classification is based on the “observation” that humans generally eat a wide variety of plant and animal foods. While most humans are clearly “behavioral” omnivores, the question still remains as to whether humans are anatomically suited for a diet that includes animal as well as plant foods. The tables below summarise the comparison between the body structures and functions of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and humans. Highlights of summary:

• Humans do not have the nails, mouths and teeth suited for a carnivorous diet.
• Carnivores and omnivores swallow their food whole; while herbivores and humans have to chew their food extensively.
• Stomach acidity, with food inside, for humans is pH 4 to 5; while carnivores and omnivores have pH less than 1, which is necessary for proper digestion of carnivorous diet.
• Carnivores and omnivores have much shorter lengths of small intestine compared to herbivores and humans.
• Carnivores and omnivores have short, smooth and straight colon, which is necessary for quick transition before toxins from decayed flesh cause problems for their body; herbivores and humans have long, winding and sacculated colon.
• "Stomach type" is not conclusive that humans are not herbivores, as not all herbivores have multiple chambers like that of cow.

 

[painted wolf]

well our closest ancestors still alive are omnivorus, there is evidence that our Australopithicine ancestors were omnivors and all members of the Genus Homo were omnivorus, so I think it likely that H.s.s is omnivorus as well.

We biologically do not need extreme specialization for carnivory as we have other means of obtaining our food in a biologically sound manner... tools. We build fangs and claws, and we arn't the only ones who use tools to obtain food that would otherwise be out of reach. Chimps, several species of birds and many others use tools for just such a purpose.

We are natures opportunists, this is the key of our success both in the past, the present and the future. On a side note animals also provided us with the nessisary materials to spread out over the rest of the world. Skins for clothing, bone for tools, sinew for string and so on. It was a nessesity for our migration out of the tropics to kill and use other animals.

wa:do

 

[meogi]

***Mod Post***
Off-topic is not for debating.

Oh, sorry - I read the word 'debate' and... sigh, need sleep. (Unfortunately, I can't move it back...)

 

[Druidus]

I don't want to debate it really, just converse.

 

[Runt]

Don't worry... if it turns into a debate it can just be moved to a debate forum.