Jahcub: Animal flesh maybe a natural thing, but it is not natural for man to eat it. Man's anatomy and physiology proves this, showing man to be a frugivore. Man ate fruits and veggies long, long, long, time. Humans only began to eat meat in times of vegetation scarcity.
I disagree. Human anatomy proves that we have adapted to eating... everything. However, there are changes that came from the "invention" of agriculture and cooking, just like dietary changes that came with the "invention" of better tools to hunt.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/
Again... I'm not attacking anyone or their version/understanding of what's "natural". Feel absolutely free to disagree and let's have an amazing conversation to highlight our differences so that more knowledge and information can be shared to shed light on the subject. Not about who is right or who is wrong.
So with that said, if someone wants to forage for their food who am I to stand in their way? After all, if your goal is to be and eat like the "ORIGINAL" man then you do not need any tools at all, just rocks and pieces of wood. That is simply not for me. I am a fan of evolution because evolution itself is NATURAL. And that is my position.
Since I could never reject evolution as a natural process, I could never reject the invention of tools, the invention of language, the invention of scientific research and testing, the development of agricultural science, and the understanding of cooking and killing potentially deadly bacteria. The "ORIGINAL" man didn't have or know any of this. In fact, if said "OG" man came across an unknown species of fruit, he might eat the fruit not knowing that it was poisonous. This knowledge comes from EXPERIENCE. Unfortunately, we had to witness a lot of death (HUMAN) before we could know what foods we could eat. And now because of the inclusion of medical science, we can understand more about how our bodies handle different types of food and human lifespan has gotten longer.
However, another point to consider, is that viruses also mutate and evolve; including those that affect plants. If you ignore modern science and medicine you may also ignore that viruses evolve and get stronger. And if you're not living in the region where "OG" humans first breathed life the chances are you couldn't eat the same foods they ate. Some of the foods they ate may have even vanished from extinction or evolved into something else either more beneficial or even harmful.
Example. Did roses start out with thorns, knowing they would need them? Or did they adapt and grow thorns as a reaction?
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-thorny-truth-about-spine-evolution-20170614/
Jahcub: Brotha a person can easily get the most efficient protein requirements from plant-based sources. All of the essential amino acids are readily available in plants. Along with all the protein a person could need, plants also provide fiber and anti-oxidants; animal protein does not provide these nutrients.
You are correct. After all, these nutrients could not get into meat otherwise :)
But what I'm talking about is in the AMOUNT of plants you'd need to consume to equal the same amount of protein. Now, modern health will tell you that Broccoli (native to the mediterranean) contains more protein per calorie than steak and spinach (southwest Asia) is around the same as chick and fish.
ex: it takes 5 bananas to equal the calorie content of a hamburger
Of course, it all depends on whether you can get enough. My guess is that if all 7 billion people suddenly gave up all meat and switched to looking for the same plants only the rich would have these plants and the poor would get pigs feet yet again.
Jahcub: Everyone will lose muscle mass if they cannot keep up with their protein requirements. Those vegans that you are referring to are not eating healthy. They often do not eat enough calories in general or they often are eating a bunch of vegan junk food. What they are not eating is whole foods plant-based, which Ital is.
You are correct again, and sadly the only vegan role model I had as a child was a very thin man who I never wanted to physically resemble. I can't speak to the "vegan junk food" thing. He and his wife lived very similar to like an Amish family. But that's just a personal anacdote. I'm not judging. But that's why I am saying that one must get enough protein from plants to give their body what their bodies need.
As far as health risks, I grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist church. Those of you from Jamaica probably have a good idea of what that means. I grew up with vegetarians. My father was vegetarian before he died. Mother is now vegan. And so I have seen a fair amount of those elders die from different causes. The reality is backed up by my own observations. Vegans and vegetarians CAN live longer lives but it's often not because they don't eat meat. If you are a health-conscious meat eater you can outlive a vegan who doesn't exercise. So the stats are a little skewed because people who are vegans (especially converts) are more likely to be more health-conscious in general. But many of the elders I saw die, died at normal ages because they didn't have a similar faith in exercise. I hope to outlive my father because of this. Metabolism, for example, is a huge component. And metabolism has a lot to do with how much fuel your muscles use. Plus, it is also estimated that about 25% of the difference in our lifespan is pre-determined by genetics. So at the end of the day, I personally believe that you can eat meat and easily outlive many who don't. In fact, my own great-grandmother ate meat up until she was in her mid-90s. I think she mainly ate chicken though. I doubt she ate pork. I think she lived to be 101 if not mistaken.
Another big contributor to physical problems and shorter life is S-T-R-E-S-S. You can lose a couple of years off that alone. So the point is that there are many different factors and therefore, for me, since a big factor is quality of life, I personally, will take the -2 or -3 years from eating meat if that's what it ends up being. But at the same time, investing in cleaner air, cleaner water, a whole spa room dedicated to relieving stress, and lots of exercises to counteract my sedentary job. I think our jobs, more than most things, contribute to how we age, skin quality, etc.
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