Most animals eat only a few foods. Sharks? They eat mostly fish or seals. Pandas? Almost all their diet is bamboo. Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves, cows eat grasses and grains, and robins eat insects and worms.
If you tried to list what people eat, you’d have a much more difficult time. Humans eat a wide range of foods, everything from meat and vegetables to fruits and grains.
But what are humans designed to eat? Are we herbivores, who eat a plant-based diet, carnivores, who eat a meat-based diet, or omnivores, who eat both.
Herbivores have a long digestive tract to break down plant material. Plant material can remain in their digestive tract for some time so that it can be fully digested. Herbivores have very wide, flat teeth that start the process of breaking down plant material in their mouths. They also have an enzyme in their saliva to help digest tough plant cells.
Carnivores have strong stomach acids and a short digestive tract. This quickly breaks down meat so it doesn’t stay inside them long enough to rot. Carnivores have sharp, pointed teeth to rip and tear at meat. These sharp teeth also help kill their prey.
Humans eat both animals and plants. So are we true omnivores? Are our bodies designed to eat meat and plants?
herbivore: an animal that eats only plants.
carnivore: an animal that eats other animals.
omnivore: an animal that eats both plants and animals.
digestive tract: the passage between the mouth and the anus, including the stomach and other organs that food passes through for digestion and elimination as waste.
prey: an animal caught or hunted for food.
Like herbivores, we have flat teeth that are close together. However, like carnivores, we struggle to digest foods like grass or raw wheat, because we lack the special enzyme that herbivores have for this process. Sometimes we also have difficulty digesting raw vegetables and beans, too. The length of our digestive tract falls somewhere between the very short one of a true carnivore’s, such as a cat’s, and the very long one of a true herbivore’s, such as a cow’s.
So if you look at the design of our bodies, it makes sense that we are true omnivores, who can eat meat and many plants.
Some people choose not to eat meat at all. They become vegetarians. They make this decision for many different reasons. They might stop eating meat for ethical reasons, such as being morally opposed to eating other animals. Or they might become vegetarians for health reasons, believing that plant-based diets are better for their bodies. Maybe they believe it’s better for the environment. There are also religious reasons for choosing not to eat meat.
Whatever the reason, most vegetarians primarily eat fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.
A cow’s stomach has four compartments to process the plants it eats.
Within vegetarianism, there are groups of people who are even more specific about what they can and cannot eat. Vegans, for example, reject any products that come from animals, including dairy, eggs, and honey. They may also refuse to wear animal-based clothing, such as leather, wool, or down items.
Vegetarianism isn’t a new way of life. It’s been around since ancient times. Some famous vegetarians in history include:
Some countries generally eat a more plant-based diet than Americans. This may be because meat is very expensive in these areas. It’s also because of ancient tradition. For many Asian people, noodles or rice form the main part of the meal, while soy products, such as tofu and miso, are also very important.
vegetarian: someone who eats a plant-based diet.
ethical: acting in a way that upholds someone’s belief in right and wrong.
vegan: a vegetarian who won’t eat anything that comes from an animal, like dairy or eggs.
Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, people eat large quantities of pasta, bread, cheese, and vegetables. In India, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and flatbreads dominate the menu. Central and South American meals are based on beans and tortillas.
So can you stay healthy eating a vegetarian diet? Generally, diets rich in plant-based foods are low in fat and high in fiber, which is good. Fruits and vegetables also supply many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help fight diseases like cancer.
However, vegetarians need to be aware of what’s missing in a meatless diet. To fill in any gaps in nutrition that might develop as a result of their restricted diets, vegetarians need to make sure to eat certain foods to get enough vitamins and minerals.
With care you can obtain all the nutrients you need from a vegetarian diet. So should you stop eating meat right now? Not necessarily. Before you make any changes in your diet, you should do your own research, explore all of your options, and reach your own conclusions.
One fast food chain sells around 5 million hamburgers every day.
legumes: plants with seeds that grow in pods, like peas and beans.
antioxidant: a substance in food that helps fight disease.
fortified: when a food has nutrients added to it.
CALCIUM. If you don’t eat dairy products, you must find another source of calcium. This essential mineral helps build strong bones and teeth, move muscles, and keep nerves functioning.
WHERE TO GET IT: Greens like kale, broccoli, and turnip greens are a good source of calcium. Some juices and cereals are also fortified with calcium.
VITAMIN B12. Unfortunately for vegans, animal products are the only natural source of this vitamin. B12 assists the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system.
WHERE TO GET IT: Vegans can use vitamin supplements to get enough B12 in their diets, while other vegetarians can eat dairy products and eggs.
VITAMIN D. Time in the sun gives you Vitamin D, which helps your bones and teeth absorb calcium. If you wear sunscreen or live in a northern or cloudy environment, you’ll need to add extra Vitamin D to your diet.
WHERE TO GET IT: Milk is fortified with Vitamin D, as are some cereals.
VITAMIN C. Humans also need Vitamin C, a substance that helps boost your immune system and aids in the absorption of iron.
WHERE TO GET IT: Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. Strawberries, kiwi, and broccoli are also all excellent sources of vitamin C.
IRON. This mineral helps your blood transport oxygen around your body. If your body doesn’t have enough iron, you’ll feel sluggish and weak.
WHERE TO GET IT: Broccoli, spinach, and seeds are good sources of iron. Whole grains and iron-fortified foods are great ways to get iron, too.
The decision to eat or not to eat red meat can be a controversial one, with animal rights and environmental activists squaring off against people in the beef industry, for example.
Why? Just as farming has moved from small-scale farming to mega-farming, so has the raising of livestock. Today, most chickens and pigs are raised in massive metal buildings. Most cattle spend their last months in giant pens called feed yards. For this reason, many people prefer buying their meat from small farms with freerange animals that are slaughtered on an as-needed basis.
Other people are concerned about the large amounts of grain used to feed these animals. They argue that it would make more economic and environmental sense for people to eat more grain than meat, that the land taken up by raising livestock could be better used to grow more crops. But is it always possible to grow crops on the land used to raise animals? Not necessarily.
free-range: animals who are allowed to graze in open areas instead of being confined to an enclosure.
pharmaceuticals: drugs used for medications.
humanely: treating a living creature with compassion.
People in the livestock industry don’t like the idea of consumers cutting back their meat consumption. Selling meat is how they earn their living.
And what are the alternative plant-based sources of protein? Tofu is highly refined and requires large amounts of farmland, perhaps more than what is needed to raise meat. The issues are complicated with no easy answers.
There are many people who are concerned about hormones and other pharmaceuticals given to the animals to increase their growth and production. They are afraid that these chemicals will make their way into the systems of the people who eat the meat of these animals.
What if you just can’t bring yourself to stop eating hamburgers, or pepperoni on your pizza? How can you eat meat and still help animals and the environment? One option is to support local farmers. Another is to only buy meat from free-range animals that were treated humanely.
When planning your diet, remember that it’s most important to be aware of what you’re putting into your body. Then you can make your own choices about the food that works best for you.
