Why do humans have teeth for tearing flesh as well as for grinding vegetables?!

I'm not so sure about that. Compare your so-called canine teeth with those of a true carnivore - or even an animal like a dog who can reasonably be called an omnivore. Human canines are pitifully small and blunt in comparison. Human teeth are closer to those of, say, a horse - and even horses have pointier "canines" lol Also, those sorts of teeth can be used in display - other primates can bare their teeth as a warning, and pointy teeth look more impressive and scary :)

Other than that, the omnivore stuff people already said covers it.


EDIT: The comment about horses' canines was just as an example - I know they aren't that sharp, but they are at least as sharp as a human's (I was referring specifically to equine canines, not incisors or molars). They are used by male horses in defending the herd (most mares don't have them, maybe about 25-30%), and if you've ever seen a stallion with his neck drenched in blood from the tearing teeth of a rival (unfortunately in some countries they think horse fighting is a great "sport"), you wouldn't want to dispute how sharp they are! Again, just an example of a herbivorous animal using canines for reasons other than eating meat (although admittedly they're still tearing flesh). I was just making the point that humans don't have whacking great big fangs and that there are more reasons for teeth being the way they are than simply what food one eats - though obviously that's the most important factor. As to our front teeth being like a wedge, that's also the perfect shape for biting into an apple :D

You obviously want to know so you can pick a fight with a vegetarian. What you should be asking is why you care about someone elses diet. At any rate humans were evolved to be omnivores as a matter of survival - however if you look at the skulls of humans over the last few million years you'll see a reduction in the severity of the canines. This is a remenant if an evolutionary need that is no longer required - humans are designed to survive so the body can consume meat if necessary but it is no longer the optimal source if nutrition. The same theory applies to the appendix

High school science

Because we are omnivores. We eat meat and vegetables.

How can my answer be voted down? Is it disputed by vegetarians that we are supposed to be herbivores? And to the person who said our teeth are less sharp than a horse, you are wrong. A horses tooth may appear sharp, but it is actually dull and does not have a single point it comes to. Our front teeth, however, are shaped like a wedge, perfect for eating meat. It is true, we don't necessarily have to tear flesh off of bones anymore, but we most certainly did centuries ago. In terms of evolution, this is not long. Man is actually made to hunt just as well has he is made to eat plants.

C- My wife is a horse trainer. I have 6 in my barn at this time. I am 100 percent sure their teeth are not made for tearing flesh as a humans are. Canines or whatever tooth you may speak of.

Speaking as a vegetarian - it's because we're evolutional omnivores. Our bodies are designed to eat both meat and veg. We have forward-facing eyes for depth perception for the same reason - to hunt.

I'm not aware of any vegetarians who dispute this; it's a tired old trope commonly trotted out by meat-eaters as a triumphant reason why vegetarians are somehow "wrong" to be so.

EDIT: DeerHunter said "Well Cougar its seems you don't spend much time in this section. I have heard MANY times in this section veg*ns saying humans were Not meant to eat meat"

On the first point, correct, it's my first day reading here. On the second, I was referring to other veggies I've met and I don't tend to associate with idiots. (-:

Humans need a daily supply of protein, and meat is the most ready supply of that basic need. It's called being an omnivore.

Our teeth can tear flesh? When was the last time you killed a cow and teared up his raw flesh with your teeth?

vegan :D

good luckt trying to tear uncooked, raw meat with your teeth, because that's so natural isnt it!

we are omnivores, even if you r a vegitarian or vegan ur body doesn't know that.

Evolution or God depending on what you believe

because we are omnivores

Well Cougar its seems you don't spend much time in this section. I have heard MANY times in this section veg*ns saying humans were Not meant to eat meat and that humans are herbivores.

But to answer the question, its because humans are omnivores.

Because my dear friend, that's how the Big Guy upstairs made us.
:)

My intuition

Cause we're meant to eat vegetarians.