Tag: Kuru disease

According to a 2017 study published in *Scientific Reports*, the caloric value of a single human body is significantly lower than that of many prehistoric megafauna, providing surprisingly low nutritional return. This fact is a central piece of information when considering the question: does eating humans have any nutritional value, and why was it practiced historically?

According to a 2017 study, consuming human meat is not especially nutritious, offering fewer calories per pound than wild game like boars and beavers. This surprising fact challenges common assumptions about the motivations for anthropophagy and reveals the true protein and calorie content within human flesh.

The disease Kuru, documented in the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, was transmitted through the ritualistic consumption of infected human brain tissue. This practice highlights the significant health risks associated with eating brain, particularly human brain, though various cultures incorporate animal brains into their cuisine as a delicacy.