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To: Hugin
The original human diet would have been plants, insects and lots of meat.

The ape/human digestive system is evolved for a vegetarian diet. Meat was added later and the addition of protein to the diet probably added to the eventual increase in brain size.

15 posted on 12/26/2005 10:57:05 PM PST by shuckmaster (An oak tree is an acorns way of making more acorns)
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To: shuckmaster

Chimpanzees eat plants, insects and meat. They also hunt in groups using clubs.


16 posted on 12/26/2005 11:36:45 PM PST by Hugin
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To: shuckmaster

Also in most places fruit is only available for a few weeks or months at most each year. Survival on a diet of fruit is not practical. Even in the tropics there just isn't enough fruit for it to be a primary source of nutrition.


17 posted on 12/26/2005 11:42:01 PM PST by Hugin
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To: shuckmaster
Meat was added later and the addition of protein to the diet probably added to the eventual increase in brain size.

Eating animal flesh and fats provides the long chain fatty acids (DHA & DTA) required for brain growth. Additionally a nutritionally dense diet requires a less energy-intensive gut which frees up energy for the larger brain.

The four most expensive (energy-wise) organs are the heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and the brain.

The organ-body mass ratio of heart and liver are roughly similar amongst all the great apes, the main difference is the GI and brain ratios.
Meat eating humans have the smallest GI tract and largest brain. The fruit (& meat) eating chimpanzee has a smaller gut and larger brain than the leaf eating gorilla.

32 posted on 12/27/2005 10:56:38 AM PST by dread78645 (Sorry Mr. Franklin, We couldn't keep it.)
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