Why ruminant animals have historically been a primary food source for humans?
First, let's recognize the vast amount of knowledge we've accumulated from thousands of years of hunting, gathering, and progressing to modern agriculture, including crop farming and cattle rearing. In ancient times, collecting resources and information was far from easy.
Indeed, plants and grains have sustained numerous populations throughout history, but that doesn't necessarily make them the perfect diet or easily accessible. Want apples? You would need to plant a tree and wait five to ten years for it to bear fruit. Desire grain? You have to till the land, plant seeds at the appropriate times, hope for rain, and fend off pests all year long. Numerous factors could destroy a crop.
Consider how frequently you or your community might face hunger. Reflect on what was available locally and seasonally, and what was indigenous to a particular region before the advent of global trade, markets, and smuggling. The variety of foods we have today was unimaginable back then.
Also, consider the appearance and nutritional value of fruits and vegetables before genetic modifications made them bigger, more appealing, and more "edible." This perspective helps understand why many ancient foods were far from ideal or nutritious.
Consider the vast array of food varieties we have today that didn't exist just a few hundred to a thousand years ago; many of the larger vegetables that can feed a family today simply weren't available back then.
Reflect on the fact that tens of thousands of plants, seeds, and raw nuts are toxic or deadly. While most plants serve medicinal purposes and can be beneficial in correct dosages, they are not necessarily suitable for regular consumption.
In contrast, ruminant animals and wild game are self-sufficient, roaming freely and available throughout the year, almost as if they are naturally inclined to be consumed. Hunting or farming meat is more straightforward, sustainable, and environmentally friendly compared to relying solely on plant sources.
Meat is packed with nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, saturated fats, protein, and branched-chain amino acids. It contains nutrients in forms that are highly bioavailable, meaning that humans can absorb and utilize meat's nutrients more effectively than those from any other food source.
Meat satisfies all the essential nutrients required for humans to operate at optimal health, preventing deficiencies. Regardless of the availability of fruits and vegetables, indigenous peoples of any region would have always relied on some form of meat as a primary food source and would have been deeply appreciative of the sustenance it offers.
