Are Humans Frugivores—What Does Science Say About It?

Finally, some scientists argue that humans developed hands for picking fruit. The jury is still out on this one, but we know this much is true: Humans don’t have claws for catching prey as carnivorous mammals do.

Nevertheless, just because humans don’t have the traits of a carnivore doesn’t automatically make us a frugivore. 

When Did Humans Stop Basing Diet on Fruits?

Humans stopped basing their diet on fruits about two million years ago when Homo habilis started using stone tools.

But if you go back far enough, there’s evidence suggesting that our ancestors ate a primarily plant-based diet without as much fruit. A few million years ago, the Australopithecus species, which humans are related to, ate grass, nuts, seeds, and root vegetables. 

Nevertheless, chimpanzees and bonobos are the two modern-day mammals with which humans share a substantial amount of genetic material. These animals are frugivores, suggesting that in the not-so-distant past, humans may have also had a mostly frugivore diet.

Dr. Alan Walker is a scientist who launched the theory that any species before Homo erectus came about was a frugivore. He based his research around hominid teeth, though, so this is far from conclusive evidence. 

The reality is that whether or not modern-day humans should eat a primarily frugivorous diet is still inconclusive, as some scientists point towards it being the case while still maintaining some omnivorous eating habits. 

Others believe our protein and caloric requirements are too high to thrive as frugivores.

The Modern-day Frugivore

Nowadays, some people choose to eat a primarily fruit-based diet. However, we call such people fruitarians instead of frugivores. That’s because not only do these people eat fruit, but they also incorporate vegetables into their diet. 

In other words, fruitarians follow a diet similar to raw vegans.

You might be wondering—won’t eating a lot of fruit raise your blood sugar levels? It turns out a study analyzing overweight participants with type-2 diabetes didn’t achieve lower blood sugar levels by reducing their fruit intake. 

So, while you should always consult with your doctor before changing your diet, there’s research pointing to a fruitarian diet being safe for not raising blood sugar levels.

That said, it isn’t all sunshine and roses with a fruitarian diet. Most fruit doesn’t have a high protein concentration, although certain fruits like guava will give you 4.2 grams of it per one-cup serving. 

Nevertheless, even eating relatively high-protein fruits isn’t an ideal way to meet your daily protein needs. For this reason, fruitarians often lose muscle mass unless they supplement their diet with seeds and nuts.

Fat is another essential micronutrient for humans, and people following a fruitarian diet struggle to get enough of it. Your body can’t get essential fatty acids on its own, so it relies on outside sources from food.

In addition to cushioning your organs and preventing your skin from drying out, fat helps your body absorb several vitamins. So, should you decide to embark on a fruitarian diet, you should supplement with an omega-3 supplement. You can take one made from algae so that it’s vegan.