When man met meat: meat in human nutrition from ancient times till today

Abstract

Meat is one of the most valuable sources of proteins, and also contains fats, B vitamin complex, vitamins A and D, large amounts of iron, zinc, and other mineral substances. Although nowadays meat consumption is associated with a number of diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, meat has a significant role not only for maintenance of proper growth, development and health, but in human evolution as well. There is evidence that meat consumption has had an influence on cranial-dental and intestinal morphologic changes, human erect posture, reproductive characteristics, longer lifespan, and maybe most importantly, on brain and intellectual development.