2025-01 - Three million years ago, our ancestors were vegetarian - Wits University
www.wits.ac.za

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/24943429

Human ancestors like Australopithecus – which lived around 3.5 million years ago in southern Africa – ate very little to no meat, according to new research published in the scientific journal Science. This conclusion comes from an analysis of nitrogen isotope isotopes in the fossilized tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus individuals. The data revealed that these early hominins primarily relied on plant-based diets, with little to no evidence of meat consumption.

    • AntiThesis@leminal.spaceEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago
      1. Learning to use fire also opened up a lot more nutrients from plants including legumes and tubers that are inedible or less nutritious without cooking.
      2. Increased brain size is beneficial for many things other than hunting, including cooperating to outcompete rival clans and other hominids like neanderthals.
      3. The carnist argument in question, when applied to argue against the efficacy of plant-based diets, is essentially an appeal to nature fallacy. Learning what happened in history is interesting, but does not tell us what is beneficial to do now. If what we care about is empirical health outcomes, we should look at health outcomes data rather than trying to replicate what our ancestors did in situations that were vastly different to the ones that we find ourselves in now. And the preponderance of evidence supports equal if not better outcomes for diets that are mostly if not completely whole foods plant-based, and shows increased risk of heart disease and cancer with increased red meat and processed meat consumption.
      • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
        2·
        5 hours ago

        1,2 totally agreed

        when applied to argue against the efficacy of plant-based diets

        I’m not making that claim

        If what we care about is empirical health outcomes, we should look at health outcomes data rather than trying to replicate what our ancestors did in situations that were vastly different to the ones that we find ourselves in now.

        100%

        shows increased risk of heart disease and cancer with increased red meat and processed meat consumption.

        https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/skeptical-doctors#cancer

        The science against meat is inconclusive

        Personally I don’t have a opinion about what a adult should eat. Every person is navigating their own journey through health and life and needs to find what works for them. I only take issue with trying to limit people’s options on none causal observational data.

        • AntiThesis@leminal.spaceEnglish
          2·
          3 hours ago

          When consumed in moderation it doesn’t always make the hugest difference, but the the claim that “science against meat is inconclusive” is overselling it. Decades of studies show that reducing meat, particularly red and processed meat, in favor of plant-based proteins consistently leads to better health outcomes.

          Health Outcomes: Cohort studies like Zhong et al. (2018) found that diets lower in red meat significantly reduce cardiovascular and mortality risks (DOI), while Kim et al. (2016)*linked animal protein to increased cardiovascular mortality and plant protein to lower all-cause mortality. (DOI) Similarly, the BMJ (2020) systematic review showed plant protein is associated with reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. (DOI)

          Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease: An umbrella review in PLOS ONE found plant-based diets are systematically linked to lower risks of heart disease and cancer. (DOI)

          RCT Support: Controlled trials also confirm these findings. For example, Zeraatkar et al. (2023) found replacing animal protein with plant-based protein improves cardiovascular markers. (DOI) Twin-pair studies further showed improved metabolic health with plant-based diets. (DOI)

          Nutritional Adequacy: Plant-based diets provide complete nutrition when planned well. Protein blends match whey in muscle synthesis (pubmed), while legumes and grains promote longevity (DOI, DOI).

      • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
        3·
        5 hours ago

        Better graph. The only data I’ve seen on modern brain size differences would be due to vitamin deficiencies.