The point is that if we were vegetarian we would have a different dentition than we have..............bigger molars, definite third molar, larger jaw structure. We are omnivores and a lot of our eating has been meat, fish, etc, so our teeth wouldn't have to be burdened with such a heavy load of vegetable matter to process..............although it could do the job if it had to in a pinch. P ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marilyn Harris" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 7:09 AM Subject: Re: Naked with a .. stick and fire? > Hello Wally; > > >inescapable fact remains that the human animal has evolved relatively > >little in terms of dentition and metabolism since the advent of those > >technologies. > > The dentition pattern does not suggest a pure carnivore but an animal who > consumes vegetation or hard food. But it does not exclude meat in the form > of carrion, insects and small animals as a food source as you suggest. In > fact I would say that we *require* meat since one of the B vitamins is not > found in any vegetable (as I understand it). > > However because of the shape of our teeth and our elongated bowel it's my > opinion that we are physiologically capable of eating vegetation and doing > so is absolutely natural and beneficial. Whether that includes grain > products is another issue. > > >These are the most basic concepts behind "paleo." It's not a game, it's > >not fiddling with numbers... If you can't deal with it, why are you > >here? > > I'm an omnivore amd I enjoy the emphasis on natural as possible food sources > discussed here on the list. In fact, I have emailed one of the large grocery > store chains here in Ottawa giving them contact information about grass-fed > beef produced elsewhere in Ontario. > > Marilyn > >