Did Cooking Give Humans An Evolutionary Edge?

Did Cooking Give Humans An Evolutionary Edge?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112334465

Cooking, it turns out, is a uniquely human thing claimed by Richard Wrangham, an author.

... it's essential. It's what made us human, Richard Wrangham argues, ... this custom of cooking our food has not only changed our bodies over the years, giving us smaller mouths and smaller guts. It's given us an evolutionary advantage: bigger brains, more time to use those brains and less time wasting time foraging and chewing all day long.

Humans began with fire and there's an evidence that our ancestors would have enjoyed cooked food as soon as they experienced it. That is to say if they were siting by a fire and take food after it has been heated. Immdiately enjoyed? No, with that said, there were tests on the great apes and they uniformly show a preference for cooked food over raw, sometimes no preference, but they never prefer raw to cooked. And it is likely that our ancestors would have been the same.

Just put them next to a fire, drop something in by accident, and bingo, cooking gets going.

Is it what made us evolve from apes to humans? In my view, no, I disagree. Why? Cuz we don't just evolve from a single sponteneous point, but something bigger behind this great scheme, our unqiue consciousness. Have you ever experienced aha moment when you suddenly understand something at a deeper level? For example, as you know, as a teenager you went through a hard emotional time, trying to making life decisions, which you geniuely thought were good whereas when you got older, you all of a sudden realized all the decisions you've made as a teenager were impulsive and weren't wise at all. That's the aha moment I'm talking about with consciousness. It always evolve with you and age with you. It's not like you have 100% choice over that. Same concept with apes to humans evolvement. Consciousness aha moments are what made it happen, not the mere cooking skill.

What do you think?

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[AppleSouffle]

It would be helpful if this video had subtitles. I don't speak sign language. And it should say - Sign Language it the title.

You might be saying - My jeans are too tight! Why is it so difficult to fine a proper fighting pair of pants in Latvia? My people have been smugglers for generations. And the stuff they call orange juice here, oh, it's truly awful!

[indumamoon]

@AppleSouffle Sorry it took me a long time to reply! Yes, true. Unfortunately, I find it to be very costly in energy to use my time to make a transcription and convert it into subtitles lately. Plus, I haven't been very active in keeping up with my video lately so there is even less reason to do it. However, your 'imagination' of what I say is hilarious! Love that! ♥ Putting sign language in the title is a nice idea; however, isn't it enough to mention it in the description?

[LaughHeorte]

I'm glad I found you! You are one of vloggers I really like to watch because you are true to yourself. One day, I would like to visit you in Netherlands! ;)

[indumamoon]

Woohoo! I'm glad you found me because believe it or not, you're one of my favorite vloggers too! I knew you have left DVTV, but I was too late in subscribing you before I lost you.. shoot! Yeah I can be that slow sometimes...

Now I got you subscribed, we all live happily ever after :-) Hehe, and yes why not? Come over, it'd be fun! :D

[aguabo]

Interesting article.... I could agree with what Richard Wrangham wrote that we humans do enjoy cooked foods more than raw foods... I was on Raw diet before but didn't enjoy... I became more healthy conscious. What do you cook with?The quality of foods? What kind of pans? oil? spices? They all are key elements to eating cooked foods that should be safe for our health. You presented valid info.. =D

[indumamoon]

Interesting! I have considered raw food diet as well, but I have decided that it would be too much work to make it happen so I end up being raw, veggian and meat eater combo ;) Most of the time I'm a veggian. I go by with my philosophy, everything is ok in moderation. Inspired by water, it can be toxic when taken too much at once! ^^ Thx for your comment and indeed interesting article! :)

[ToolsnFire]

Are you still a teenager???? I think the case made is very strong about the enormous impact that cooking has had in the evolution and development of Humans.