posted on Oct, 10 2008 @ 03:31 PM
I personally do not judge a person on whether or not they eat meat or not. My opinion of someone entirely transcends what foods they choose to put in
their body. However, there is great evidence that we are neither herbivores, carnivores, or even omnivores. Our natural sweet tooth lends us to be
part of the frugivore classification. Since cellulose cannot be effectively be broken down by our digestive tracts, vegetables are not prime sources
of nutrients for the human race. By the same token, our digestive tracts are far too long for meat digestion to be efficacious, and this often results
in its putrefaction in our digestive tracts. Additionally, the slightly alkaline acid/base balance of our bodies strongly suggests that our digestive
juices are more suited to dealing with the acidity of fruit. Furthermore, every single essential nutrient can be met by the consumption of raw fruits
and nuts (it can safely be assumed that mankind began evolving before the advent of cooking), except for B12; the only nutrient we derive solely from
animal products. This nutrient is necessary in such small amounts daily (less than a millionth of a gram daily), that I hardly think meat consumption
is physiologically justified for the human species. However, if a mental dedication to meat consumption is present, then by all means eat meat. I
however, being a follower of Jainism, derive all of my nutrients from fruits, grains, legumes, and dairy; all are ecologically sustainable and do not
require intensive processing or the death of the host. So yes, in response to the initial post, we do not need to - nor are we physiologically adapted
to - eating vegetables. I think it should also be said that I was not always this way; I grew up in America, and like most Americans, I ate meat,
potatoes, and vegetables. I now walk a different path, and encourage others who are interested in an alternate approach to experience it before fully
developing their opinions on diet.