Did Grok Really Eat That Much Meat?
We get this question from time to time, and perhaps many of you, Primal Blueprint fans, do as well. Sometimes it comes as earnest curiosity, other times as a skeptic’s challenge. Either way, we think it’s an inquiry worth delving into. Care to join us?
First off, one note of reality/clarification. Sometimes we hear the criticism that the Primal Blueprint means eating obnoxious amounts of protein. This really isn’t so. In fact, in the scheme of diets out there, the Primal Blueprint doesn’t really qualify as a high protein diet. We usually recommend between 0.7 and 1.0 grams of protein per pound of lean mass. For the average person (i.e. not competing in the body building realm), this really isn’t that much. Check out Mark’s daily diet breakdown and our “How to Eat Enough Protein” posts for a brush up with more info and cool graphs.
But back to the common criticism… Paleo critics often argue that Grok and his clan would’ve never eaten as much meat as the paleo diet recommends – usually, they add, because they never could have caught that much. (Grok takes offense at their low estimation of his hunting talents, by the way.) We’ll give the critics this: it’s true that the evidence suggests variation among the eating habits of both ancient and modern hunter-gatherers. Some groups, typically those closer to the equator, consume more plants and less protein. Others, typically those at higher latitudes, consume fewer plants and more animals. The reason behind this divergence is, of course, the availability of year-round plant sources for foraging (or lack thereof). The savannahs of Africa offer more consistent plant abundance than, say, the tundra of North America where you only get limited seasonal offerings. It’s little surprise that the diets of their respective hunter-gatherer peoples show it. Furthermore, estimating the protein intake of ancient groups is hardly an easy or exact endeavor. Nonetheless, here’s why we think Grok was a meat lover.
First, we can examine the evidence surrounding the growing importance of meat during and for human evolution. Plant-based foods were, as we said, only seasonally available in many regions. Some scientists speculate that developed reliance on animal-based energy sources allowed humans to migrate into these areas that offered only limited and seasonal plant food sources. These migrations, particularly those far northward, would have meant significant reliance on animal fat and protein in dietary breakdown.
Likewise, researchers have the ability to compare what is known about human evolution and dietary shifts with physiological patterns seen in other primates today. From this kind of analysis, researchers have determined early humans’ development of “meat-adaptive” genes that helped humans uniquely process the natural fat and (in those days) inevitable parasites in meat, an ability that isn’t found to the same degree in other related primates. Once humans began consuming meat as a central diet staple some 2 ½ million years ago, the species experienced a surge in life span and competitive benefits in the fight for survival.
But as for the amount of meat, what is the significance of animal sources in Grok’s diet? Research of ancient and existing hunter-gatherer societies offers some expansive and telling contexts. Analysis suggests (PDF) that prehistoric hunter-gatherer groups, allowing for regional variation, generally received around 50% of their nutrition from animal sources (both protein and fat from land game and fish). Modern hunter-gatherer societies obtain 56-65% of their nutritional intake from fish and hunted game.
Other analyses reveal similar results. An often referenced study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition estimates hunter-gatherer animal food sources constituting between 45-65% of their total energy intake. The researchers point out that previous research had only taken into account the muscle tissue of game animals as nutrition source, whereas most hunting societies typically used the full potential of the “edible carcass,” which included organ meats, fat, and even bone marrow. (No use wastin’ good eatin’!) Their efficiency meant a higher nutritional gain per hunt than researchers estimated in the past. The researchers also believe that tribal societies likely relied more on large game hunt than others have previously suggested. The added fat in larger animals, they say, would have offered a better energy gain (eating) versus energy expender (hunting) opportunity. All that sprinting about had to be worth it, and a mammoth just offered more bang for the buck than a jack rabbit. Grok was no simpleton, mind you.
Finally, what’s pretty certain is the inherent variability of Grok’s daily diet. When it came to meat in those good old, primal days, it was likely feast or famine when it came to game flesh. Without the benefits of a deep freezer or even simple ice house, meat could go bad quickly. (Of course, this presents one of the benefits of living in the brutal tundra.) Grok and his entourage chowed down the day of the hunt, likely gorging themselves because they knew it behooved them to do so. (A large hunt wasn’t the stuff of every day.) In more recent pre-agricultural times (and in many remaining hunter-gatherer groups) the following days would involve the laborious work of drying meat for longer term use. In between larger hunts, it’s likely that the group used the dried meat as well as smaller game for daily subsistence.
Because Grok’s daily diet was varied, so too is the PB plan. Enter the concept of Intermittent Fasting. Though fasting may conjure associations of new age, the PB includes it (intermittent style) precisely because it’s reflective of the primal age. Likewise, we put less emphasis on day to day caloric breakdowns – and schedules – than we do on long term dietary patterns (i.e. how much protein you tend to eat in a given week or two week period). Check out our Context of Calories post for more on the concept.
What’s clear from the research is this: protein (along with animal fat) was a much more significant part of hunter-gatherer diets than it is in today’s dietary recommendations. The human body evolved to allow for and strategically use (and release when necessary) additional protein intake. Sure, our dear Grok may not have had the benefits of readily available, packaged meats at all hours of every day like we do; however, is it unreasonable to consider the possibility that modern day availability of meat offers us the most ideal (physiologically speaking) opportunity? With some key gestures toward ancient eating patterns (e.g. IF), perhaps we have the chance to eat enough quality meat consistently enough to achieve truly optimal functioning, a state Grok would’ve tipped his hat to. (Well, if he’d had one, we suppose.) Hmmm. Interesting idea. (Sometimes we tend to get so down on modern living and all….)
So, heard or considered this question before? What are your thoughts on how Grok had it and what we can glean from his Primal model?
Luna Park, oudodou, Alaina B. Flickr Photos (CC)
Further Reading:
Would Grok Chow the Cheese Plate?
The Primal Eating Plan for Dogs
High Fat and Healthy: The Maasai Keep on Walking
Cranky Fitness: Calorie Restriction, Protein and Longevity
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Posted By: Worker Bee
As I’m still trying to wrap my head around eating meat any day I want, I’ve always been taught to eat meat sparingly. Recently, I read “The Food Revolution” by John Robbins and there was some very convincing data on the downside of eating meat versus plant proteins. Also, what about the empiricial studies such as the Oxford-Cornell China Project or Dr Fuhrman author of “Eat to Live” and many others showing evidence that meat and dairy lead to high rates of cancer, heart disease and autoimmune disorders. I love the information and principles taught in Primal Nutrition and am following them but still trying to find comfort with the meat concept. I’m happy to hear the Blueprint includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc but eating meat any day is still not 100% in my mind. Does it just come down to “everything in moderation?”
Brett, the problem with having a blog that’s four years old and has thousands of posts is that much of what I’ve already written and explained in excruciating detail has been relegated to the archives. China Study is a joke, Robbins has always had a veg*n agenda (and no good science) and I just plain don’t agree with Fuhrman, Esselstyn, McDougall, Pritikin or Ornish. In fact, I don’t understand how they haven’t recanted everything they’ve ever said as the research continues to show that fat is king, meat is good and grains are terrible. Many PBers eat meat several times a day and thrive.
Thanks Mark! I appreciate the comments and reply. Just needed that additional confirmation and clarification. Grok on!
Mark
I’m slightly with Brett here until I research it myself in more detail, however I am leaning towards this way of life as it just makes more sense. There was always something not quite right with the Raw Food lifestyle and vegetarianism
I just stumbled across MDA a couple of days ago and thrown myself into PB (wonderful site by the way).
Fortunately I have seen the science behind the grains issue, having been to a seminar by a chiropractor Dr. James Chestnut http://www.thewellnesspractice.com/, and it really shifted the paradigm that I held about what was healthy and what wasn’t.
Research is nothing until it is proven long term. Japanese eat tons of rice and have done for thousands of years yet have the highest life expectancy. Explanation?
They don’t eat sugar. Show me one Japanese, who has eaten a ton of rice. Their servings are like 1/2 cup per meal. They eat a lot of vegetables and some meat. Asians are not eating huge meals like Europeans and Americans.
A friend once told me, that “the human being only needs a serving of meat the size of a golf ball per day.” That is probably true. Grok might have had to eat 100 golf balls per monthly serving. Who knows? Reminds me of bears, wolves and lions. They eat until they can’t hold anymore and they desert the kill. The jackles and vultures get the rest. So, if you kill a mammoth you eat until the remainder is rotten or you just cannot eat anymore.
I have nothing intellectual to add so here’s an ode to meat to the tune of “Beans, beans…”
Meat meat nutritional food
If you avoid it, you are screwed
To get a good steak, Grok would kill
So cook up some meat and eat your fill!
Meat is not easy to come by, traditional hunters today can go weeks without kill, it’s really strange but antelopes don’t just stand there and wait to be killed. The run! Obviously their families at home have to eat something in the meantime, plants. I don’t think meat was the main part of Groks diet at all and if we are in fact descended from apes then shouldn’t we be eating an all plant diet like they are? Our brains grew larger and we evolved differently from apes as a result of getting the ability to digest starch, something the apes don’t do very well. Suddenly we didn’t need to spend 16 hours a day grazing on grass and leaves, we had a dense form of calories that we could carry around with us. Meat is a very poor calorie source for the nomadic man, it goes bad in a day or two, unlike starchy tubers etc.
I once saw a gorilla eating bananas. Then it pooped and ate that, too. Is that what you want for your life?
I really agree with your plan for healthy eating and exercise. However, I cannot agree on the evolution thing. Regardless of how mankind came to be, the theory of evolution is preposterous. During the time of recorded history (5,000 years?) nothing has evolved. Humans have bred mutant plants and animals for their own uses. These mutants of food are for the good of humanity. Grok never ate most of the vegetables and fruits, that we eat today. If Grok ever had a “day”, I am sure he had a very hard time finding anything to eat. Think about the Bushmen of the Kalahari. How many of you want to chase off lions to get a hindquarter of wildebeast? Anyway, back to what I was saying. I agree with the plan of vegetables, fruits, and meat as the best way to feed the human body. Exercise is good in moderation. When you get old like me, you really wish that you could get more aeorobic exercise. I really recommend, that you stay away from marathons, triathlons, bicycle marathons and the like. You only have one body. Why ruin it with excessive exercise?
Awesome article mark, I wouldn’t have known that during the paleo times, having a diet is being practice by then although its not yet a proper one. But they did survive on it.
You said it yourself. Paleoman ate diverse amount of proteins carbs and fats depending on their environment. So if your contention is that man adapts and I agree with that, every animal adapts under the rules of natural selection, therefore your self contracting. There is nor was there since humans migrated to different environments, such thing as a one size fits all nutritional approach to nutrition, and that includes the Paleo Diet.
But great article you just need to take the next “Evolution”
wow that’s wired