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Why aren't we evolved to eat grass? (literature.cafe)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by Karl@literature.cafe to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

61 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It's everywhere. Why not just eat it instead of searching for veggies and meat which are more difficult to have?

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[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 24 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Grass is mostly cellulose and lignin. Those molecules are difficult to break down.

Animals that can digest the cellulose either need a really long digestive track or to do something really gross to keep the stuff in their digestive track longer.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

or to do something really gross to keep the stuff in their digestive track longer.

Looking at you, rabbits.

[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 4 points 4 months ago

Deer too, but slightly less gross, and some others.

[–] NKBTN@feddit.uk 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Any chemistry we could perform to make it more viable? E.g. cook it with alcohol?

[–] INeedANewUserName@piefed.social 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Folks have looked at it with acid or enzymes to try and produce fuel ethanol from the sugar forming the cellulose. Humans use the chemistry of grazing animals.

[–] NKBTN@feddit.uk 1 points 4 months ago

Yeah the grass to milk, meat and hide pipeline is a great one