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

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Karl@literature.cafe to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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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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[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 23 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We eat the seeds, I presume OP refers to the leaves/blades of grass which are also present in species that aren't cereals

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Good point. This made me look further, but some of these also are just the seeds:

Bamboo
Bluegrass
Crabgrass
Foxtail Grass
Goosegrass
Lemongrass
Wood Millet
Orchardgrass

https://smartgardenhome.com/edible-plants/grasses/

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 7 points 1 month ago

Bamboo shoots are a common ingredient.

[–] CanadaPlus@futurology.today 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Plants are selected to not be great to eat, basically. Cellulose in particular is almost impossible to biochemically break back down (but not completely), and is a pretty good structural material, too.

Seeds are often still palatable once you get through the shell, basically because turning into a baby plant is an already tough design constraint. Some plants still have tricks - notice that it's the spiciest part of a hot pepper.