Marc Bates, MPH, has released a YouTube video presenting scientific evidence that humans evolved as "facultative carnivores" rather than omnivores, fundamentally challenging conventional nutritional wisdom. The research draws from multidisciplinary evidence spanning anatomy, physiology, and archaeology to argue that humans are primarily adapted for consuming animal fat, with plant consumption serving as a survival backup strategy.

The research centers on what Bates describes as the critical "evolutionary trade-off" between gut size and brain size that occurred when early humans transitioned from tree-dwelling to hunting.

"The moment that first made me question everything we've been taught about human dietary evolution was reading the evolutionary trade-off that led to our smaller guts and larger brains," Bates stated. "This trade-off meant we had to abandon a fermentation-based, plant-heavy digestive strategy like other primates."

According to the research, humans lost the capacity to extract adequate energy from fibrous plant material when their digestive systems evolved to prioritize brain development over fermentative gut capacity. This biological change necessitated reliance on nutrient-dense animal fat and protein for optimal metabolic function.

Archaeological evidence supports this theory, with hunting tools dating back 1.5 million years compared to plant processing tools appearing only 40,000 years ago. Stable isotope analysis reveals early humans maintained diets similar to apex predators, consistently prioritizing large prey consumption.

The research implications directly challenge current plant-focused dietary guidelines, suggesting optimal human health may require reconsidering animal fat consumption patterns that align with evolutionary biology rather than modern nutritional recommendations.