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News & ArtsThursday, December 3, 2009
Health Why Meat Is Good
Posted by Charles Mudede on Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Vegans! Why do humans live much longer than chimps—almost twice as long? The answer appears to be meat...
(Science News) In spite of their genetic similarity to humans, chimpanzees and great apes have maximum lifespans that rarely exceed 50 years. The difference, explains USC Davis School of Gerontology Professor Caleb Finch, is that as humans evolved genes that enabled them to better adjust to levels of infection and inflammation and to the high cholesterol levels of their meat rich diets......William F. Kieschnick Professor in the Neurobiology of Aging and a distinguished University Professor, argues that a major contributor to longevity for humans is the genes that adapt to higher exposure to inflammation.
"Over time, ingestion of red meat, particularly raw meat infected with parasites in the era before cooking, stimulates chronic inflammation that leads to some of the common diseases of aging," Finch said.
So, there...
And why did our ancestors need to eat meat? Because the human brain is so expensive. The brain is only 5 percent of the body and yet it demands 20 percent of the energy from food.
1
This logic is completely flawed. Chimps also eat meat - they just haven't adapted to deal with the problems caused by meat. Logically, not eating meat would also result in avoiding the chronic inflamation/high cholesterol caused by red meat.
2
Not to mention that, now that we have evolved this way, we no longer need to eat meat to reap the benefits.
3
You might be interested in a study published in 2005 about vegetarians in Loma Linda, CA, among other sub-groups around the world. Studies overall have found that human vegetarians live longer, on average 11 years more, than the average life span. Here's one link to that info:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/centena…
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/centena…
6
Nor do we any longer have the large gut for digesting the large amounts of plant material. This has allowed us a more upright posture.
7
@ 1, that's a red herring. Red meat only causes problems when consumed in excess (see typical American diet), but doesn't when consumed in moderation.
Eat small amounts of meat, and get it from truly humane sources. Cutting it out altogether isn't necessary to live a healthy and humane life.
Eat small amounts of meat, and get it from truly humane sources. Cutting it out altogether isn't necessary to live a healthy and humane life.
8
Humans are omnivores by design. Eating healthy is not about meat or vegetables. It's about nutrients.
9
Given that the world is exactly the same as it was when we were fighting for our lives on the plains of Africa, I guess I'm going to have to pick up a steak.
I also used to shit my pants as a child - and you know what, I didn't waste ANY money on toilet paper.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE LOGIC.
I also used to shit my pants as a child - and you know what, I didn't waste ANY money on toilet paper.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE LOGIC.
10
Neotony is why humans live longer than predicted based on our body size.
Teeth/Gut also make us clearly omnivores. Vegans and vegetarians are just wrong on this point.
Teeth/Gut also make us clearly omnivores. Vegans and vegetarians are just wrong on this point.
11
I say we act like Sarah Palin and just stop using our brain until its energy demands are adjusted.
13
Based on the way your writing has gone downhill in the last 3 years, I'd say you've become a vegetarian?
14
Yes, it is smart to eat lots of meat. Especially raw. Especially if it is crawling with parasites. Long life!
15
More good news for meat lovers -- soon, it will be grown as needed, without the need for slaughtering anything:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/scien…
This could also be good news for cannibals...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/scien…
This could also be good news for cannibals...
16
As a lifelong vegitarian myself, I'm with 8. Being healthy requires eating right, vegan, vegitarian, or meat consumer.
17
Humans didn't live much longer than 50 years before modern medicine. There weren't many 100 year old hunters and gatherers.
18
#17 beat me to it. Before the industrial revolution, life expectancy was more like 40 years. So other great apes appear to be doing much better. They live 50 years without clean water, proper hygiene, or antibiotics.
This is an even stupider study than the porn one posted this morning.
This is an even stupider study than the porn one posted this morning.
19
Almost forgot to add, most of the worst human viruses originated with domesticated animals. We never would have contracted those diseases without meat consumption requiring the domestication of cows, pigs, and chickens. Epic fail.
21
Cooking meat creates it's own carcinogens, but they tend to hit much later in life.
Nothing like a good barbecue.
Nothing like a good barbecue.
22
One of my favorite bumper stickers ever - "If God didn't want us to eat animals why did he make them out of meat?"
23
Our brain-meats are very expensive, nutritionally, to run. It's true! Though, it runs primarily on Carbohydrates... not found in a steak.
I'm not a vegetarian.. but your just wrong.
I'm not a vegetarian.. but your just wrong.
24
The true epic fail occurs @ 19. It wasn't eating meat that brought us these diseases, it was cohabitating with them. We're (for the most part) much more sanitary now. Also, it takes true leaps of logic to believe that there would be no severe diseases if we were vegetarians - bubonic plague comes from rats, who are attracted to our grain stores.
26
@14 pretty much seals the deal for me. I'm now in the process of replacing my oven with a rotting cow on a spit. See you in a hundred years, suckas!
27
The sentence beginning "The difference..." from the snip is run-on unless one gets rid of the "as."
@ 8 --
"Design" arguments are shaky. Evolutionary traits supposedly arisen from millenia ago have little if anything to do with present health, environmental, ethical or moral issues regarding modern meat consumption and production.
Even if the typical human's long-life is the only ethical base-line one wishes to consider, the impacts of modern production and the resources diverted from other life-enhancing opportunities should give meat-eaters pause.
This is more likely just the typical Stranger insecure omnivore stuff they post from time to time -- looking for any argument to ignore the multitude of reasons to drastically cut down meat consumption or end the practice altogether.
@ 8 --
"Design" arguments are shaky. Evolutionary traits supposedly arisen from millenia ago have little if anything to do with present health, environmental, ethical or moral issues regarding modern meat consumption and production.
Even if the typical human's long-life is the only ethical base-line one wishes to consider, the impacts of modern production and the resources diverted from other life-enhancing opportunities should give meat-eaters pause.
This is more likely just the typical Stranger insecure omnivore stuff they post from time to time -- looking for any argument to ignore the multitude of reasons to drastically cut down meat consumption or end the practice altogether.
28
@24: Actually, from what I know, the plague comes from fleas, which are most commonly carried by rats. No real argument here; just being insufferably pedantic.
@19: I think that only applies to things like Mad Cow disease. Example: Some have falsely believed that eating pork could give you H1N1. Not true; it's contact with pigs, etc.
@19: I think that only applies to things like Mad Cow disease. Example: Some have falsely believed that eating pork could give you H1N1. Not true; it's contact with pigs, etc.
29
The sad part is that Mudede thinks he's being clever, throwing out inflammatory and incomplete information as a cover-up for the fact that he lacks the ability to convey a single coherent thought.
32
Charles, explain this to me: how does a careful thinker fail to consider all the relevant evidence? What would motivate a careful thinker to ignore plausible alternate explanations for evidence?
I usually find great interest in your writing, but you have lost a lot of respect.
Unless your post is intended as irony? Some sort of parody of those who have no concept of science?
I usually find great interest in your writing, but you have lost a lot of respect.
Unless your post is intended as irony? Some sort of parody of those who have no concept of science?
33
Veganism is largely a reaction to industrial farming / hoofstock rearing practices, not something as simple as "meat is bad".
Also: cooking would eliminate infectious problems. Except, of course, for prions. Ah well. Can disinfect them all. :D
Also: cooking would eliminate infectious problems. Except, of course, for prions. Ah well. Can disinfect them all. :D
34
Charles, as usual your failure to grasp even the most basic of facts astounds me. Give the linked article another read-through. Humans AND chimps eat meat- humans outlive chimps because of genetic variation that allows our bodies to better fight and handle the negative effects of meat (ie, inflammation and high cholesterol).
I almost forwarded your post to my brother, who is a vegan, and who I believe could greatly benefit from reintroducing meat into his diet given how malnourished he looks. I'm so glad I spent 30 seconds to read the actual article on Science Daily because it actually proves my brother's point that meat has harmful effects on the body.
Please go back to 8th grade science and reading comprehension classes and do not pass go until you have mastered the basic ability to read, comprehend, and correctly cite other published works.
I almost forwarded your post to my brother, who is a vegan, and who I believe could greatly benefit from reintroducing meat into his diet given how malnourished he looks. I'm so glad I spent 30 seconds to read the actual article on Science Daily because it actually proves my brother's point that meat has harmful effects on the body.
Please go back to 8th grade science and reading comprehension classes and do not pass go until you have mastered the basic ability to read, comprehend, and correctly cite other published works.
35
Most people don't realize that a "moderate portion of meat" is 4 oz. or about the size of a deck of cards per day.
That being said the average lifespan of a chimp in the wild is 40-60 years, while in captivity it appears to be 53 years. Modern medicine doesn't seem to be doing them much good....especially since most of the ones in captivity are used in medical research. Human lifespan has been extended by mass vaccination, better hygiene (indoor plumbing, garbage men, soap etc), and better nutrition. Unfortunately, junk food is a little too plentiful in industrialized nations so our lifespans are starting to get shorter along with our height.
That being said the average lifespan of a chimp in the wild is 40-60 years, while in captivity it appears to be 53 years. Modern medicine doesn't seem to be doing them much good....especially since most of the ones in captivity are used in medical research. Human lifespan has been extended by mass vaccination, better hygiene (indoor plumbing, garbage men, soap etc), and better nutrition. Unfortunately, junk food is a little too plentiful in industrialized nations so our lifespans are starting to get shorter along with our height.
37
@32, the article made me laugh. i actually think meat and the modern human is not the same as meat and the prehistorical human.
38
I am with @33. I am not a vegan because I want to live longer but because I am against killing and bad treatment of animals.
And this article is clearly a flame bait - With the picture of a cow in the middle. Vegans/Vegetarians - Please stop responding to this article with flames.
You know why you are vegan/vegetarian. Preaching only turns off people. Everyone has to find their own wisdom.
And this article is clearly a flame bait - With the picture of a cow in the middle. Vegans/Vegetarians - Please stop responding to this article with flames.
You know why you are vegan/vegetarian. Preaching only turns off people. Everyone has to find their own wisdom.
39
No matter what you eat, everybody dies! If you know anyone over 90, you know that longevity is its own punishment. So, eat what you want and quit worrying about consequences -- you're only along for the ride, anyway.
40
" Chimps don't eat meat. Tell that to the lady with no face & hands."
Priceless, absolutely priceless. You totally win "sall".
Finger-lickin' good has a whole new meaning!
Priceless, absolutely priceless. You totally win "sall".
Finger-lickin' good has a whole new meaning!
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