Paul Saladino, a doctor, promotes a diet that focuses on eating meat and organs while discouraging vegetables. He believes that the traditional food pyramid is upside down and that meat and organs are essential for health and vitality. He is not the only one advocating for a meat-centric diet, as influencers on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are also promoting similar ideas. These influencers, known as “meatfluencers,” claim that an ancestral diet consisting mainly of meat is the key to optimal health.
However, studies of human ancestors and observations of living primates and hunter-gatherer societies suggest that our ancestors had a more varied diet than what the meatfluencers are promoting. While meat played a significant role in human evolution, it does not mean that we are meant to eat a diet primarily focused on animal products. Research shows that early humans were omnivores, consuming a variety of plant and animal foods. The idea that meat alone made us human has been challenged by new evidence that suggests our ancestors ate a diverse range of foods.
Anthropologists and archaeologists have found evidence of early hominins consuming plant foods as well as animal products. Fossil discoveries, DNA analyses, and studies of ancient teeth provide insights into the diets of our ancestors. It is clear that our early human relatives were not strict carnivores and that they consumed a wide range of foods to meet their nutritional needs. The ability to adapt to different food sources likely contributed to our success as a species.
Proponents of animal-based diets often point to modern hunter-gatherer societies like the Hadza in Tanzania as examples of humans thriving on meat-heavy diets. However, research shows that the Hadza and other hunter-gatherers consume a balanced diet that includes both plant and animal foods. The key to their diet’s success lies in its diversity and adaptability to different environments and seasonal variations in food availability.
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all diet that nature has prescribed for humans. Our ancestors had a diverse diet that included plant and animal foods, and their ability to adapt to different food sources contributed to our evolutionary success. Rather than following strict dietary rules, individuals should feel empowered to explore different diets and find what works best for their health and well-being. The key is to focus on a balanced and varied diet that meets nutritional needs and promotes overall health.
