Anthropological investigations have confirmed many times over, through multiple fields of research the critical role of consumption of animal source foods (ASF) including meat in the evolution of our species. As early as four million years ago, our early bipedal hominin ancestors were scavenging ASFs as evidenced by cut marks on animal bone remains, stable isotope composition of these hominin remains and numerous other lines of evidence from physiological and paleo-anthropological domains. This ASF intake marked a transition from a largely forest dwelling frugivorous lifestyle to a more open rangeland existence and resulted in numerous adaptations, including a rapidly increasing brain size and altered gut structure. Details of the various fields of anthropological evidence are discussed, followed by a summary of the health implications of meat consumption in the modern world, including issues around saturated fat and omega-3 fatty acid intake and discussion of the critical nutrients ASFs supply, with particular emphasis on brain function.

人类学研究已经通过多个研究领域多次确认了食用包括肉在内的动物源性食物（ASF）在我们物种进化中的关键作用。早在四百万年前，我们的早期两足动物人鼻祖先就在清除ASF，如动物骨头残骸上的割痕，这些人鼻遗骸的稳定同位素组成以及来自生理学和古人类学领域的许多其他证据所证明的那样。这种ASF摄入量标志着从森林居多的俭朴生活方式到更开放的牧场生存的过渡，并导致了许​​多适应，包括脑尺寸的迅速增加和肠道结构的改变。讨论了人类学证据各个领域的细节，