From: Damien Sullivan (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Mon Apr 28 2003 - 11:37:36 MDT
On Mon, Apr 28, 2003 at 12:37:14PM -0400, gts wrote:
> Also we have relatively compact intestinal tracts when compared to the
> bloated guts of herbivores. Some herbivores even have multiple stomachs.
> This difference suggests very strongly that we are not natural vegetarians;
> we were selected by nature to consume a significant percentage of calories
> from animal sources.
This seems simplistic to me. You're conflating different kinds of herbivory.
The animals I think of with bloated stomachs (gorillas) or multiple stomachs
(bovines) eat primarily leaves and grass. Very low energy food items, needed
in huge bulk. (There's also the sloth/koala adaptation of not moving fast
much.) But I don't remember monkeys or chimps needing bloated stomachs, which
makes sense given diet with higher energy fruits and such. (Also bugs.) But
very few if human vegetarians are trying to eat like gorillas; most are eating
more like monkeys, with fruits and nuts and eggs.
-xx- Damien X-)
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