Can a human live on nothing but meat?

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I was reading about this explorer who lived with the Inuit/Eskimos decades ago and lived on their diet which if I read correctly consisted almost completely of meat and blubber/fat from the various animals they hunted, without alot of plant and vegetable matter, and he was healthy, as far as he was medically tested. And the American natives themselves were also healthy according to him and others.

Does this mean it is possible for a human to live that way, and acclimate to this diet, or is this a rare exception? What do you all think of this and would that only be doable in that very cold enviroment?

[Sequimite]

Many humans have done this, at least seasonally, for all of human history. The question is not whether you can live on nothing but meat, you can. The question is, what are the long term health effects? I don't think the anecdotal evidence gives the answer. What was their life expectancy?

[Holland]

brock lesnar lacked fruit and vegetables in his diet and his colon nearly fell out

[Blerv]

It's doable if you enjoy scurvy :D . I have to think indigenous people find some type of vitamin c unless I know nothing about the health benefits of blubber.

[uncleduncle]

Your body will certainly do what it must to survive but the sheer amount of protein and lack of fiber would make it very uncomfortable in the bathroom. There are also very little vitamins and minerals in meat, so I would never recommend it even though it is possible.

[The Deacon]

Even obligate carnivores don't "live on nothing but meat". They eat entire animals, including the stomach contents of herbivores and omnivores. I would not be terribly surprised to learn that Inuits/Eskimos do the same.

[Evil D]

Yeah, how many people have seen cats and dogs eating grass?

[chuck_roxas45]

Yeah, how many people have seen cats and dogs eating grass?

They do on occasion. According to my vet, it's a way of self medicating.

[Blerv]

They do on occasion. According to my vet, it's a way of self medicating.

My cat drinks whisky and complains about life. Oh wait...

[springnr]

The Inuit show it is possible, they adapted out of necessity. Some fruit or veggies here an there to go with the fat and meat is nice though.

Meat does not just mean muscles though, one must eat head to tail and savor the squeal too, as offal is where it's at for vitamins and minerals.

[The Deacon]

Yeah, how many people have seen cats and dogs eating grass?

Not just grass, either. Dogs, at least, are omnivorous. Even the best dry dog foods contain a fair percentage of grain and veggies. Bear loves carrot, potato, sweet potato, apple, peach, banana, and pizza crust. The Mini Daschund I had 50 years ago would eat corn right off the cob.

[chuck_roxas45]

My cat drinks whisky and complains about life. Oh wait...

Ha! :D

[kbuzbee]

My cat drinks whisky and complains about life. Oh wait...

He probably drinks because you're driving him nuts shining that flashlight on the wall

Ken

[Blerv]

He probably drinks because you're driving him nuts shining that flashlight on the wall

Ken

No shortage of neuroticism at our house. :p

[angusW]

One of the first things the Inuit would do when they made a kill, especially in the winter, was to go for the gallbladder for it's vitamin D. Also a lot of animals can make vitamin C in their bodies unlike Humans. If your just eating pork chops and bovine steaks then that isn't going to be too healthy but if you're utilizing most of the beast then you'll do alright. Animals not only have protein but a lot of minerals and vitamins in different parts of their bodies.

Even if you eat your veggies and fruit your probably not getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals. An animal that hasn't grown up on a farm eating gmo's grains or candy probably has more to offer than what a lot of people eat on a daily basis even with eating plant matter.

[Bladekeeper]

The narwhale contains vitamin d and c so that's the source also the communities have a chance on certain low tides to actually climb under the ice into caverns where mussels grow very dangerous but an important part of the diet.

[Evil D]

They do on occasion. According to my vet, it's a way of self medicating.

I always thought it was simply to add fiber bulk to their diet to clean out their insides.

[Bladekeeper]

Depends what kind of grass grows in your garden I suppose :D it is a digestive aid D for dogs at least cats prefer catnip which is the flower of spearmint plant.
Although not all cats are affected by it its a recessive gene mine get really whacked out on it.

[Bladekeeper]

A bit ot but an interesting aside a group of scientists studied a colony of chimpanzees that as a group over decades had become more resourceful and intelligent.
They found that whilst most chimps hunt and eat other monkeys and also can be canibles this particular group would only eat the brain of other monkeys.
Obviously a source of something in that food was good for brain function like oily fish is for us.

[Minibear453]

A bit ot but an interesting aside a group of scientists studied a colony of chimpanzees that as a group over decades had become more resourceful and intelligent.
They found that whilst most chimps hunt and eat other monkeys and also can be canibles this particular group would only eat the brain of other monkeys.
Obviously a source of something in that food was good for brain function like oily fish is for us.

So maybe those zombies are on to something...