Why Human Nutrition Is Different Than Carnivore Nutrition

I recently had a thought provoking discussion with my 19‑year‑old grandson who believes humans should eat only meat, eggs, and fruit. While his idea comes from a desire for simplicity and health, it’s important to understand that humans and carnivores have very different nutritional needs—based on how our bodies are built.

Why These Differences Matter

Each feature reflects dietary adaptation: carnivores are built for meat-only diets—fast, efficient, no fermentation. Humans evolved for a mixed diet—requiring grinding teeth, longer digestion, and diverse nutrient processing. Understanding these anatomical distinctions helps guide optimal nutrition and feeding strategies for both pets and their people.

• Carnivores (dogs, cats): Strong, forward-facing jaws for biting and tearing; large muscle attachments like crests.

• Humans: Weaker jaws, flexible hinge-and-grind joints, and smaller muscle crests—built for variety.

2. Teeth & Their Role

• Carnivores: Big canines for grabbing, sharp carnassials for shearing meat, small incisors for grooming.

• Humans:

  • Incisors (8): Cut food

  • Canines (4): Smaller, for tearing

  • Premolars & Molars: Flat teeth ideal for grinding plants and mixed foods

3. Digestive System

• Carnivores: Short gastrointestinal tract, ultra-acidic stomachs, built for quick protein/fat digestion.

• Humans: Longer, more complex intestines, slower digestion, salivary enzymes (like amylase), and beneficial fiber fermentation.

4. Eye Placement & Vision

• Carnivores: Front-facing eyes for depth and precision hunting.

• Humans: Also front-facing, but with a wider view—optimized for hand–eye coordination and spatial awareness.

5. Brain vs. Face Ratio

• Carnivores: Small braincase, long muzzle—indicating muscle and smell reliance.

• Humans: Large braincase vs. shorter face—signifying advanced thinking and less focus on jaw power.

6. Intestinal Length Comparison

• Cats (true obligate carnivores) have a short small intestine, usually 1–1.5 ft .

• Dogs (Faculitive carnivore) have a small intestine that ranges from 3-6 ft-

  A facultative carnivore is an animal that:

  • Primarily eats meat, meaning it prefers animal-based food.

  • Can survive on plant-based or non-meat foods when necessary, unlike obligate carnivores that must eat meat to meet their nutritional needs

• Humans typically have a total intestinal length of about 30 ft in autopsies, with living estimates around 18 ft or more, including 20–23 ft of the small intestine and 5 ft of the large intestine

• Why it matters:
  Longer intestines give humans more time and surface area to digest complex carbohydrates, ferment fiber, and absorb nutrients—key for an omnivorous, plant-inclusive diet. In contrast, shorter tracts in carnivores speed up the digestion of meat and reduce exposure to pathogens.

Quick Takeaway
Humans are built for flexibility—cutting, grinding, digesting plants and proteins—unlike strict meat-eaters. This shapes our whole nutrition system.

Nutrient Variety Matters

• Carnivores thrive on raw meat, organs, and bones, extracting essential proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals designed for their metabolism.

• Humans require a broader range: proteins, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins A, E, B complex, iron, iodine, magnesium, antioxidants, and more. These come from vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, and quality meat or fish.

My Personal Nutrition Journey - Why I Feel Qualified to Share This Information?

Health and diet has been my entire life field of study.

I’m a seasoned holistic practitioner in natural, holistic health care for humans and pets, with decades of practical experience. This is my credentials/resume:

Rhonda Jewel - Holistic Health Educator & Animal Naturopath

• 50 years of health and nutrition exploration, spanning raw food, keto, Whole30, vegan/vegetarian, organic, holistic, and traditional practices.

• Early roots in organic living: Began gardening and healthy cooking at 13, growing her own food by 16.

• Certified holistic practitioner: Graduated from 1 year training as Body/Massage Therapist in (1979), and certified as a holistic health practitioner, then focusing on skin and nutrition (ICOHS, early 1980s).

• Herb farm educator (since 1993): Studied herbalism under Juliette de Baïracli Levy’s Natural Rearing principles, blending raw feeding and herbal remedies for animals.

• Homeopathy & animal nutrition training: Completed veterinary homeopathy course with England School of Homeopathy; learned raw feeding and TTouch techniques and many other animal healing modalities since 1993-1998.

• Certified Raw food chef & educator: Led workshops in 1999 on raw fruits, seeds, my take away is still to this day, juicing, sprouted buckwheaties, and green smoothies.

• Animal Naturopath certification (2016): Expert in an all natural, naturopathic lifestyle for pets where the cornerstone to this is raw meat, bone, and organ diets for carnivore pets.

• Personal and professional journey: Overcame food addictions through years of experimentation, detoxes, fasting, and holistic self-care.

• Balanced nutrition philosophy: Advocates for a plant-strong diet with occasional clean protein for humans, and species-appropriate raw diets for pets.

4. The Right Diet for Carnivore Pets

Our pets are naturally built for a raw meat diet—it supports their energy, coat, digestion, and overall health. Cooked kibble simply doesn't provide the living enzymes, micronutrients, and healthy fats they need to thrive.

5. A Vision of the Future

I believe we are evolving toward a higher vibration and frequency—eventually, a way of being that transcends food altogether. Where killing of animals or each other will be a thing of the past.  Until then, we continue to nourish our bodies in the best natural way we know how:

• For humans: a plant-strong diet, largely raw or minimally cooked, balanced with nourishing animal proteins as needed. BALANCE BEING THE KEY!  I feel that organic juicing with fruits and veggies is one of the best ways to cleanse and heal the body. Taking nutrients with blended fruits, seeds and nut milks with certain organic green supplements is a great addition to my personal diet and it seems to be the easiest way to get health nutrition for me. 

• For carnivore pets: a raw meat, organ, bones and some greens and supplements when appropriately added-type diet designed for their unique anatomy.

6. Practical Guidance

• Interested in a plant-strong, raw food approach or thoughtful inclusion of animal proteins? Check out Whole30—especially the plant-based version—as a tool to discover what foods support your vitality 

• For your pet, a raw diet with muscle meat, organs, bones, and high living enzymes is ideal.

What’s right for one species isn’t always right for another. Humans and carnivores have different biology and dietary needs. My personal journey has shown me the value of balance—plant-based meals as a foundation, with occasional clean animal proteins. And as always, our pets flourish on diets tailored to their natural design.

• #holistic cat care
• #holistic dog care