Evolutionary Carnivores

[talon]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34433388/ns/technology_and_science-science/

An omnivorous diet which includes meat may have given humans a longer live span, bigger brains, and better health. This isn't to say a purely carnivorous diet is good for us, nor is eating too much meat, but eating meat is obviously a benefit to our species if not to specific individuals. We are a large enough species that there's room for all manner of experimental diets. I don't think anyone should be attacked for their diet, called names, have blood (real or fake) thrown on them, or be made to feel uncomfortable for their dietary choices. I also don't think people should make a big deal of their diet unless it involves a life-threatening allergy - a real one, not one summoned up to avoid eating a food one dislikes.

When I was growing up, we were taught that when we ate at someone else's home, we ate what we were served politely, graciously, and with an outward show of praise and enthusiasm. I ate a lot of terrible food that I shudder over - once, I was served pancakes made almost entirely of cornstarch, and more times than I care to count, I've eaten okra! Of all the foods in the world, I absolutely hate okra and will do anything to avoid eating it, except when it's served in someone else's house. Then I eat as little as I gracefully and politely can. I've eaten food that still gives me nightmares, and food that made me ill. I attribute my up-bringing to providing me with a mostly cast-iron stomach, since I ate away from home a lot and obeyed my mother's manners lesson on eating.

I've experimented with numerous diets over my long life, as well. Let me hasten to say that not one of my diets has ever been for weight loss. I'm rather pleased with my weight and intend to keep it. But, I've tried vegan, vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, pisce-vegetarian, omnivore, locavore, domovore, grain, fruit, caveman, macrobiotic, Pleistocene, medieval, Japanese, French, German, survival, wildcrafted, home-grown, and more. None of these diets has changed who I fundamentally am. Therefore, I feel we shouldn't judge others by what they do or don't preferentially eat - only their manners in eating. We certainly shouldn't judge someone by their medically required diets (allergies, celiac's, etc.). and I don't feel we need to accommodate any diet except those that are medically required. If people feel they have to be rude about their eating habits, then I say - don't eat with them! They need to learn dining manners or lack for dining companions.

Which has led me far astray from the intent of the article I cited at the beginning, which is that meat eating was a defining and important part of our development as a long-lived, healthy, smarter species. Meat is good for most humans - we developed because of and for meat and that development laid the groundwork so modern human individuals can choose whatever diet they choose for whatever reason they choose.

Just don't yell at me when I savor a nice, well-done steak or a bubbly Hawaiian-style pizza or make stock with knock-your-socks-off delicious chicken feet. I will respect your choices and expect you to respect mine.