Why cows can eat grass but humans can’t? Why is a grass-based diet unwise?
First of all, we can start with the fact that the grass contains a high concentration of compounds that are difficult to digest. These are organic polymers that help form the cell walls of plants, such as lignin and cellulose. Lignin is particularly problematic, as it acts as a hard component that gives plants their woody texture, and grasses are full of it.
While there is some evidence that our gut contains bacteria that can break down lignin, our digestive system is not full of enzymes that can break down this compound. Humans cannot digest cellulose properly. It passes directly into the stool without dissolving in our intestines.
The fruits and vegetables we eat also contain cellulose and lignin, but in much more manageable concentrations for our digestive system. Grass consists largely of water and lignin. To give an example, only 1-2 percent of a carrot consists of cellulose, the rest consists of water and carbohydrates, most of which we can digest.
In a nutshell, you can eat grass if you want… But this will most likely cause stomach upset, tooth decay and ultimately malnutrition. That’s why experts recommend eating vegetables instead of grass.
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