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Are humans designed to eat meat?

This excellent article by Dr Milton Mills looks at the differences between Carnivores and Herbivores. Take a look at this short video clip and then read the article below.

 

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 summarize 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.

    Comparison Tables - interesting stuff, click here for Dr Mills's full article

Facial Muscles

Carnivore

Reduced to allow wide mouth gape

Herbivore

Well-developed

Omnivore

Reduced

Human

Well-developed

 

 

Jaw Type

Carnivore

Angle not expanded

Herbivore

Expanded angle

Omnivore

Angle not expanded

Human

Expanded angle

 

 

Jaw Joint Location

Carnivore

On same plane as molar teeth

Herbivore

Above the plane of the molars

Omnivore

On same plane as molar teeth

Human

Above the plane of the molars

 

 

Jaw Motion

Carnivore

Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion

Herbivore

No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back

Omnivore

Shearing; minimal side-to-side

Human

No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back

 

 

Major Jaw Muscles

Carnivore

Temporalis

Herbivore

Masseter and pterygoids

Omnivore

Temporalis

Human

Masseter and pterygoids

 

 

Mouth Opening vs. Head Size

Carnivore

Large

Herbivore

Small

Omnivore

Large

Human

Small

 

 

Teeth (Incisors)

Carnivore

Short and pointed

Herbivore

Broad, flattened and spade shaped

Omnivore

Short and pointed

Human

Broad, flattened and spade shaped

 

 

Teeth (Canines)

Carnivore

Long, sharp and curved

Herbivore

Dull and short or long (for defense), or none

Omnivore

Long, sharp and curved

Human

Short and blunted

 

 

Teeth (Molars)

Carnivore

Sharp, jagged and blade shaped

Herbivore

Flattened with cusps vs complex surface

Omnivore

Sharp blades and/or flattened

Human

Flattened with nodular cusps

 

 

Chewing

Carnivore

None; swallows food whole

Herbivore

Extensive chewing necessary

Omnivore

Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing

Human

Extensive chewing necessary

 

 

Saliva

Carnivore

No digestive enzymes

Herbivore

Carbohydrate digesting enzymes

Omnivore

No digestive enzymes

Human

Carbohydrate digesting enzymes

 

 

Stomach Type

Carnivore

Simple

Herbivore

Simple or multiple chambers

Omnivore

Simple

Human

Simple

 

 

Stomach Acidity

Carnivore

Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach

Herbivore

pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach

Omnivore

Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach

Human

pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach

 

 

Stomach Capacity

Carnivore

60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract

Herbivore

Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract

Omnivore

60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract

Human

21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract

 

 

Length of Small Intestine

Carnivore

3 to 6 times body length

Herbivore

10 to more than 12 times body length

Omnivore

4 to 6 times body length

Human

10 to 11 times body length

 

 

Colon

Carnivore

Simple, short and smooth

Herbivore

Long, complex; may be sacculated

Omnivore

Simple, short and smooth

Human

Long, sacculated

 

 

Liver

Carnivore

Can detoxify vitamin A

Herbivore

Cannot detoxify vitamin A

Omnivore

Can detoxify vitamin A

Human

Cannot detoxify vitamin A

 

 

Kidney

Carnivore

Extremely concentrated urine

Herbivore

Moderately concentrated urine

Omnivore

Extremely concentrated urine

Human

Moderately concentrated urine

 

 

Nails

Carnivore

Sharp claws

Herbivore

Flattened nails or blunt hooves

Omnivore

Sharp claws

Human

Flattened nails

To read the full article by Dr Mills, click here
   

 
Breaking Medical News
Plant-Based Diet Helps Reduce Premature Aging and Disease Risk

In a study released today by The Lancet Oncology, Dean Ornish, M.D., and colleagues found that comprehensive lifestyle changes, including a low-fat vegan diet, increase the body’s ability to fight premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Twenty-four men participating in a prostate cancer study switched to a plant-based diet and added daily exercise and relaxation techniques. Among other beneficial effects that were previously reported, the intervention led to increased levels of telomerase, an enzyme that protects and repairs DNA. Blood levels of telomerase increased by an average of 29 percent during the study.

Ornish D, Lin J, Daubenmier J, et al. Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. Lancet Oncol [advance online publication]. September 16, 2008; DOI 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70234-1.

For information about nutrition and health, please visit www.pcrm.org/.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,
5100 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.
 
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20016

Phone: 202-686-2210
E-mail: info@pcrm.org