How Meat made us Human

Eating more meat made us human. Now our survival demands we eat less of it.

How did we become human? I’m not talking about primitive Homo sapiens, I’m talking about the recognizable humans we think of today, ones with expansive languages, cultures, and social dynamics.

You might think the answer is the simple, straightforward one we’ve all heard before, the answer repeated in mythologies around the world: Fire.

Fire lit up the night and allowed us to stay awake longer, telling stories and constructing tools. It kept us warm in cold climates and warded off predators who might otherwise sneak into our encampments for a late-night snack; it allowed us to harden the tips of our spears and become more effective hunters.

And while fire played a significant role we should never underestimate, science points to another catalyst of human progress: Meat.

Today, I see many people, particularly environmental activists and die-hard vegans, shaming people for eating meat. They say it’s immoral and needlessly cruel. And maybe it is. I don’t know.

However, I do know that it’s all too easy to dismiss the benefits of meat when you live in an era where a vast variety of vegetables from around the world are easily accessible in grocery stores down…