Human health

Animal source foods are evolutionary foods and provide key nutrients. There is no reason to eliminate their consumption from a health perspective, well on the contrary. People who nonetheless decide to do so on ethical or environmental grounds should keep in mind that the robustness of such restrictive diets depends on knowledge, resources, and careful supplementation. Although it needs to be acknowledged that omnivore diets are often not well-formulated either, eliminating some of the most nutrient-rich foods from the human diet would further undermine the prospect of adequate essential nutrition in an already problematic foodscape. Moreover, restricting or eliminating animal source foods may not be suitable for everyone, potentially causing damage in populations with elevated needs, such as the young, pregnant and lactating women, older adults, and the metabolically challenged.

Adequate essential nutrition

Human biology is adapted to meat and animal fat

Human biology is adapted to meat and animal fat

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Not all (micro)nutrients are easily obtained from plants

Not all (micro)nutrients are easily obtained from plants

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Animal source foods bring in high-quality protein

Animal source foods bring in high-quality protein

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Benefiting populations with elevated needs

Benefiting populations with elevated needs

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Restricting animal source foods puts the young at risk

Restricting animal source foods puts the young at risk

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The evidence for restriction or avoidance is insufficient

Animal source foods: the health controversy

Animal source foods: the health controversy

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Observational evidence is mostly of low certainty

Observational evidence is mostly of low certainty

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The Blue Zone argument for plant-based diets is flawed

The Blue Zone argument for plant-based diets is flawed

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Intervention studies do not suggest harm

Intervention studies do not suggest harm

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Biochemical mechanisms for harm are uncertain

Biochemical mechanisms for harm are uncertain

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Perspectives in the era of nutritionism

Redefining healthy diets?

Redefining healthy diets?

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 Ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods

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The Nourishment Table

The Nourishment Table

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