Evolutionary Explanations to Food Preference

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Over the years we have found fossil evidence that proved our ancestors ate meat. It was thought that they ate meat due to a decline in forestation, meaning they couldn't get the vital nutrients they needed from a vegetarian diet any more. This is thought to have influenced our preference for meat in today's life. Milton (2008) said that it was very important that our ancestors ate meat, as it acted as a catalyst for the brains development and turned us into the intelligent species that we are today. This statement would suggest that humans have a need for meat in order to grow and develop physically and intellectually, so it would follow that we have a preference towards meatier foods. Abrams (1987) and other researchers made it clear that societies of our ancestors preferred meat and animal fat and there was anthropological evidence to prove it. However, Cordian (2006) claims the opposite, saying that our ancestors mainly ate vegetation and plants. This is slightly controversial because it is scientifically proven that there aren't enough nutrients or calories in plants alone to allow us to survive and there is more evidence towards a preference of meat. Therefore Cordian is proved wrong in this research. This type of approach would be assumed to be deterministic and show we all have an innate liking for fatty, salty and meaty foods. On the other hand, all food preferences cannot be predetermined because some major popular food and seasoning's have no survival qualities or importance the way meat does. For example chilli is the second most popular seasoning worldwide, but the evolutionary theory doesn't offer a reason why it would be a predetermined preference. From this you can assume that some of our preferences must also be moulded by modern experiences and a humans nature to explore new foods. Taste aversion is also said to be a product of evolution. If we
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