Why is the human body designed to be vegeterian?

Question

So many people reckon that the human body is designed to be vegetarian, why aren't our closest relatives vegetarian, chimpanzees eat bugs and have been known to hunt other smaller primates. Why should we be vegetarian when they aren't.

Answer 1

Your premise is erroneous. Our bodies are obviously omnivorous, you can tell that much just from our dentition. Exclusive vegetarians don't need canine teeth.

Answer 2

Most of our closer relatives are herbivores, or at least eat mostly a plant diet. Hence the long digestive tract and appendix, lots of molars etc. and lack of sharp teeth and claws and really harsh stomach acid (hence a lot of meat isn't properly digested by humans, I forgot how many pounds the average American takes to the grave in their body)

Are you suggesting that if another animal does something, then why shouldn't we do it? Some animals rape and kill each other, e.g. chimps, should we do it too? Some animals eat their babies, why don't you give that a go? Looking for moral guidance from those who you consider lessers is really illogical: 'I eat them because they eat each other so why shouldn't I, and I eat them because they're lesser than me' - doesn't make a lot of sense.

Answer 3

well it's not about if we are made to do it, it's that we are doing it, if my body was made to eat meat wouldn't I be craving it I hate the taste of meat and so I think every one is different my teeth are not normal they are not are pointy as other peoples so I think I was made to be a vegan so make you own choice but you have to live with yourself if you make the wrong one =^..^=  

Answer 4

It isn't designed to be vegetarian, it's designed to be an omnivore because throughout our history we were opportunists, eating what was available.

But design has nothing to do with out diet today. Like my daily vehicle is an SUV designed to carry 6 or more people in comfort across rough terrain. But most often,I'm the only one using it over smooth city roads. It can go off roading if I want to but I don't. It can do both or just one. That's fine.

Our bodies can be omnivores if we want to. But some of us choose to be vegetarians and that's just fine.

Answer 5

That is a silly argument. I could also argue that Chimpanzees don't wear clothes, so why should we? (It make no difference to me if your name is Gym Nudist.)

Answer 6

It isn't, it's designed to be omnivorous. As such it can survive healthily on a diet that includes meat or a diet that is plant-based.

Some people make one choice, some make another - simple as that and no 'should' about it.

Edit** ok, designed is a poor choice of word; no Satan's Angel you're not the only one!

Answer 7

  Rabbits, Cows, horses, goats, sheep  are all vegetarian

  So why shouldn't we too be vegetarian?

Also we are suppose to be the caretaker of animals  we

  aren't suppose to be eaters of them!  Genesis: 1:29   God

says: I have given thee  Every herb and fruit bearing seed

let be thy meat!    Also  near the beginning of Genesis

God say:  You are given dominion over every fowl and creature above and on the firmanents.    Also elsewhere God says: As Ye treat even thee Lowliest  shall I treat thee!

    So maybe God will eat you if you eat Animal!

Answer 8

Because we understand the difference.If one says 'other animals eat meat so why shouldn't i do the same?'you are effectively saying that we should look to other animals as moral guides.We are considered superior to the other animals as we are more intelligent,but we also do wrong knowingly, where as animals cannot,which proves us to be inferior.Also,why look to the carnivorous lion and not the vegan animals.If we are meant to consume meat then surely it would be good for our health,but virtually every scientest and nutritionist worth their salt will tell you vegetarian and vegan diets are much healthier.Also,when you see a live animal do you thing it looks like dinner as other carnivors do?And if you see road kill does it make you hungry?If meat is 'Natural' then why not so?Also,no one eats raw meat,straught from the body,we cut it,drain the blood,seal itin a plastic package,buy it,cook it,and then season it.Why be thoughtless,cruel and selfish when we can be polite and good andkind?

Answer 9

Okay, I think by now most of us have come to the conclusion humans are natural omnivores. But that fact doesn't justify animal cruelty and consumption for me. It wrong and not something I want anything to do with, that's my MAIN decision for being veg@n. I didn't become veg@n because I think we are natural vegetarian or because I think God doesn't want us to eat animals , I did because I want nothing to do with animal cruelty and death. Oh and Chimpanzees eat meat because they have to for survival. They don't because they like the taste like humans do when choosing between chicken and the hamburger. And though humans are natural omnivores if we weren't meant to be vegetarians like Lions for example we veg*n would be dead. Hope your mind could understand all that.

Answer 10

Forget all those bullsh*t religious answers.

The truth is, the Appendix in ANY animal has only ONE USE... and that is to digest GRASS.  Man has an Appendix, so at some point in the past.. man was a PLANT EATER.

HOWEVER... since Man is a PRODUCT of EVOLUTION... he developed the PREDATOR FORM... A predator has eyes that FACE FORWARD... A predator WALKS UPRIGHT... a predator has teeth for both KILLING by biting... the Canine teeth and teeth for grinding and tearing.

ALL ANIMALS have EVOLVED over the centuries and man is no exception... MAN has EVOLVED... and in EVOLUTION it's the survival of the fittest... the reason that Man has reached the top of the food chain is that he EVOLVED to a higher level than other animals.

There is now EVIDENCE that MAN was on this world at LEAST 70,000 YEARS AGO.  He was shorter, the head and brain were smaller and his other features differed from modern man... but the latest thinking is that MAN first showed up about 70,000 years ago and has EVOLVED into his present appearence... but that early man and modern man were BOTH IDENTICAL in their abilities and thinking.

And GOD had nothing to do with it... It's just been plain old EVOLUTION.

Answer 11

I don't know who "so many people" are but the human body is not designed to be vegetarian.  Go smile in the mirror.  Those pointy teeth are called canines and are used for chomping meat.  You are on the right track, but I am not real sure about the chimp thing! A big old steak sounds better than a fist full of bugs!

Answer 12

Well we're able to digest both meat and plant life. It's not like vegetarians are eating dirt (well...I'm not) which I'm sure you shouldn't digest. I mean, as long as you're not eating anything like plastic or metal, the body can do it. Our body is not designed to be vegetarian, but our minds can be designed to be vegetarian.

Answer 13

Well, we're not chimpanzees, in case you haven't noticed.  We're similar, but certainly not alike.

Our teeth and hands are not meant for tearing the flesh of animals as a carnivorous animal's are.  Our digestive tracts are long, like an herbivorous animal; the digestive tracts of carnivores are short to expel the rotting flesh of the animals they consume,  We also have weaker stomach acid than those of carnivores.

One more thing: the way primates and other carnivores eat animals is far different from what humans do to turn animals into meat.  But if you want to eat bugs and hunt animals, be my guest.  But don't compare chimps eating bugs to you eating a steak.

Answer 14

Humans have intellect (supposedly), chimpanzees do not, plus the human body continues to evolve which is why we are no longest stuck in caveman mode.

btw, the human body was also designed to reproduce so are you saying that homosexuality is wrong?

The human body was not designed to wear clothes either ..... it's called evolution.

No one is forcing you to be a vegetarian we all have the right to live how we want.

Answer 15

am i the only vegetarian here who doesn't believe in god?

Answer 16

From a religious point of view God said for us to rule over and eat the meat of animals.

Answer 17

Animals don't have the same mentality, or morals that humans do. Humans can understand that we are inflicting pain on animals that no matter how humane the killing is- is still killing and cannot ever be 100% painless... I have not eaten meat since I was 10 and I am now 26 and perfectly fine, omitting meat didn't hurt anything so there is no reason humans need meat. It's just a personal choice in order for vegetarians to have a guilt free conscience knowing they are not participating in the slaughter of innocent animals

Answer 18

God gave us canine teeth to eat meat with. We are not meant to be vegetarians. You need DHA for your brain. It comes from fish, eggs, and nuts. Nuts have low DHA amount, and you must eat large amounts. Eat some meat!

Answer 19

The fact that we have long intestines means we should not eat meat because meat should not stay that long in the body.

Answer 20

We did not evolve from Chimpanzees so anything they have does not mean we have to have it we both evolved from a same ancestor not eachother.

Our bodies are not designed to be vegetation but it has features which shows our ancestors were vegetarians ie Appendix

If mans appendix was once used for plants why is it not still used today for leafy vegetables instead of being a vestigial organ?

Because we had evolved to be predators for a long time you know we have had teeth and walking up right for hundreds of thousands of years only recently in our evolution spend have we been able to eat both. Basically we have not used the appendix for so long that it has evolved to become out of use

Answer 21

Think about this:

Show a big pile of dead animal carcus to a meat eating animal like a dog, and then show it to a human being.  Who is more inately tempted by that?

And humans so-called "canine" teeth - do they look ANYTHING like a  lion or tiger or even domesticated dog?  No.

The simple point is that we are supposed to be plant eating beings.  Protein from animal products robs calcium from our bones.  Protein from animal products clogs our arteries.  Protein from animal products makes us gain weight.  Protein from animal products makes us sick.

Answer 22

The human body was not designed.

The human body is capable of being omnivorous but it was not "designed".

The appendix houses beneficial bacteria as backup in case the digestive system is flushed out and empty causing the main supply to die off.

Answer 23

Because we are not chimpanzees. In the bible it  actually says that in the beginning we didn't eat meat and that we lived with animals in peace, it wasn't until after man sinned did we start to eat meat. If you don't believe me read the bible.

Answer 24

That's what animals are put on Earth for... to eat and in Biblical times, etc, they had no other option but to eat meat and use the skins/furs as clothing