Evolutionary biologist finds humans are omnivores with carnivorous adaptations

8 articles · Updated · Forbes · Apr 27

Drawing on over 400 scientific papers, the biologist cites fossil, genetic, and physiological evidence showing humans evolved as metabolically flexible omnivores with significant adaptations for meat consumption.
Key findings include ancient butchery marks, high stomach acidity, and brain development linked to animal foods, alongside genetic adaptations for digesting starchy plants and the transformative impact of cooking.
The report emphasizes that while humans evolved to eat both plants and meat, modern dietary choices should consider present-day health, environment, and ethics, as ancestral diets do not prescribe current nutrition.

Is our ancestral diet a blueprint for modern health or a biological trap?

Could an 'ancestral' diet be the worst possible choice for our planet's future?

Can we reprogram our ancient genes to survive in the modern world?

If meat built our brains, why does modern science warn it causes cancer?

Our stomach is like a carnivore's, so why do we have genes for eating starch?

Did mastering fire, not hunting, make us the planet's dominant species?