From: Eric Armstrong
> Frankly, I find I do a lot better when meat is part of
> my diet. But when I look at the anatomical analysis
> (length of digestive tract, etc.) it surely *looks*
> as though we're not built for that.

One needs only to read the Aiello or Leonard articles listed in the
bibliography of NeanderThin (also on my web site).

Human upper/lower gut ratios are much closer to those of meat eaters.  The
Human large intestine is much shorter relative to the small intestine than
is found in any any other Primate (actually closer to that of the dog than
to any other Primate).

Those Primates who eat an exclusive meat diet (several species of Tarsiers)
share our gut ratios.  Other species of Primates who eat relatively large
amounts of meat (Capuchins in the New World and Babbons in the Old) also
have relatively short large intestines.  All of these Primates have much
more opposeable thumbs and more human-like hands than do other Primates
(including chimps and other great apes).  This is an adaptation for holding
things that are trying to squirm away.

A sharp stone or stick is much more effiecient for dispatching and
butchering prey than fangs and claws.  We were thus very effiencient hunters
long before we were truly human.

Ray Audette
Author "NeanderThin"
http://www.neanderthin.com