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> The zero-carb community believes that we evolved to mainly eat meat, and that ancient humans turned to plants only in times of near-starvation. Correct me i

> The zero-carb community believes that we evolved to mainly eat meat, and that ancient humans turned to plants only in times of near-starvation. Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't most scientific studies of our evolutionary process revealed the opposite of this? For example, actual carnivores that have evolved over time don't require dietary supplements of vitamin c. Or if you look at the structure and prominence of our teeth they are clearly not designed to be solely for eating meat...

watertom 9y ago
Most animals make their own Vitamin C in their liver. Humans, guinea pigs, a couple of monkeys, and fruit bats are the only animals on earth that don't make their own L-Ascorbic Acid.
blacksmith_tb 9y ago
Chimps and Bonobos are our nearest relatives, so presumably we might look at their diets for pointers[1] - 50% figs, 3% meat, the remainder from other plants. I do like figs, but I don't think I can quite manage that... still, it's more sensible than eating nothing but meat (which is as you say nutrient deficient, has long-term risks for cancer, and clearly is not a viable option for a global population of 7.6B) 1: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/how-to-eat-like-a-chimpanzee/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/how-to-eat-l...
- AstralStorm 9y ago
  Apes are closer. Plus humans are different enough from any still existing apes that the dietary comparison is quite worthless. It is as if you were comparing tigers with house cats on diet based on hunting behaviour.
  - blacksmith_tb 9y ago
    We're all apes[1]. And chimps are indeed our closest relations[2]. The tiger and my housecat are both obligate carnivores, so that comparison seems accurate to me (though I don't want him bringing down deer, there's a problem of scale). 1:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hominidae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hominidae 2: https://www.livescience.com/7929-human-evolution-closest-living-relatives-chimps.html https://www.livescience.com/7929-human-evolution-closest-liv...
armenarmen 9y ago
One I've heard is that when you move to an all meat diet is that you actually require less vitamin c. I've got no source but it's what I'd heard
gopalv 9y ago
> Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't most scientific studies of our evolutionary process revealed the opposite of this? "Human beings evolved to eat X" sounds wrong to me from the get go, because people all across the planet eat so many different diets and do that while being healthy. The only assumption I can make is that we have evolved to eat cooked food (based on our jaw size), but beyond that human beings evolved to eat pretty much anything and live on. The most significant difference I notice about living in the first world is the absence of hunger. Going hungry is probably a big part of our common evolutionary adaptations, more than the actual food that fills us back up (not malnutrition, just hunger, get food while hungry and eat well when you have it).
acconrad 9y ago
Just think about it logically - people live all over the world. In all sorts of climates. How can it even be possible that a native Hawaiian would have the same diet as an Inuit? The tundra of northern British Columbia has far less vegetation available to eat and larger animals. That's a diet totally different from the Japanese, or the Indians, or the Greeks. The only thing that is true is that we have evolved to handle a diversity of flora and fauna, that is why we are classified as omnivores. And each sub population has further been accustomed to tolerate higher quantities of the foods native to those lands.
ha8o8le 9y ago
Not correct - this is (very successful) vegan propaganda. Look into it more. I interviewed Dr. Shawn Baker MD who has done this for a year now. As carb intake decreases the need for vitamin C decreases. He takes no supplements and is in perfect health. The real problem is carbs and sugar. I don't believe anyone needs to take it the extreme of going all meat - just cut down/out carbs and sugar and you will have lifelong health.

watertom 9y ago

Most animals make their own Vitamin C in their liver. Humans, guinea pigs, a couple of monkeys, and fruit bats are the only animals on earth that don't make their own L-Ascorbic Acid.

blacksmith_tb 9y ago

Chimps and Bonobos are our nearest relatives, so presumably we might look at their diets for pointers[1] - 50% figs, 3% meat, the remainder from other plants. I do like figs, but I don't think I can quite manage that... still, it's more sensible than eating nothing but meat (which is as you say nutrient deficient, has long-term risks for cancer, and clearly is not a viable option for a global population of 7.6B) 1: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/how-to-eat-like-a-chimpanzee/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/how-to-eat-l...

AstralStorm 9y ago
Apes are closer. Plus humans are different enough from any still existing apes that the dietary comparison is quite worthless. It is as if you were comparing tigers with house cats on diet based on hunting behaviour.
- blacksmith_tb 9y ago
  We're all apes[1]. And chimps are indeed our closest relations[2]. The tiger and my housecat are both obligate carnivores, so that comparison seems accurate to me (though I don't want him bringing down deer, there's a problem of scale). 1:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hominidae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hominidae 2: https://www.livescience.com/7929-human-evolution-closest-living-relatives-chimps.html https://www.livescience.com/7929-human-evolution-closest-liv...

armenarmen 9y ago

One I've heard is that when you move to an all meat diet is that you actually require less vitamin c. I've got no source but it's what I'd heard

gopalv 9y ago

> Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't most scientific studies of our evolutionary process revealed the opposite of this? "Human beings evolved to eat X" sounds wrong to me from the get go, because people all across the planet eat so many different diets and do that while being healthy. The only assumption I can make is that we have evolved to eat cooked food (based on our jaw size), but beyond that human beings evolved to eat pretty much anything and live on. The most significant difference I notice about living in the first world is the absence of hunger. Going hungry is probably a big part of our common evolutionary adaptations, more than the actual food that fills us back up (not malnutrition, just hunger, get food while hungry and eat well when you have it).

acconrad 9y ago

Just think about it logically - people live all over the world. In all sorts of climates. How can it even be possible that a native Hawaiian would have the same diet as an Inuit? The tundra of northern British Columbia has far less vegetation available to eat and larger animals. That's a diet totally different from the Japanese, or the Indians, or the Greeks. The only thing that is true is that we have evolved to handle a diversity of flora and fauna, that is why we are classified as omnivores. And each sub population has further been accustomed to tolerate higher quantities of the foods native to those lands.

ha8o8le 9y ago

Not correct - this is (very successful) vegan propaganda. Look into it more. I interviewed Dr. Shawn Baker MD who has done this for a year now. As carb intake decreases the need for vitamin C decreases. He takes no supplements and is in perfect health. The real problem is carbs and sugar. I don't believe anyone needs to take it the extreme of going all meat - just cut down/out carbs and sugar and you will have lifelong health.