The rumen detoxifies things that would hospitalise you.
— Sama Hoole (@SamaHoole) October 23, 2025
Here are 10 things cows safely convert into meat:
Mycotoxins - Breaks down 80-90% of aflatoxins from mouldy grain before absorption
Cyanide compounds - Detoxifies cyanogenic glycosides that are lethal to humans
Gossypol… pic.twitter.com/9jCUkqLy8C
The rumen detoxifies things that would hospitalise you. Here are 10 things cows safely convert into meat:
1. Mycotoxins - Breaks down 80-90% of aflatoxins from mouldy grain before absorption.
2. Cyanide compounds - Detoxifies cyanogenic glycosides that are lethal to humans.
3. Gossypol - Neutralizes cottonseed toxins that cause organ damage in humans.
4. Phytates - Breaks down 60-90% of mineral blockers in grains and legumes.
5. Nitrates - Converts fertiliser nitrates into protein instead of methemoglobinemia.
6. Oxalates - Neutralises kidney stone compounds from high-oxalate plants.
7. Tannins - Breaks down compounds that cause liver/kidney failure in humans.
8. Pesticide residues - Degrades organophosphates better than human organs can.
9. Lignin - Digests woody plant material humans can't process at all.
10. Linoleic acid - Saturates 70-95% of PUFAs through biohydrogenation before absorption. The rumen turns poison into protein. You're not eating what the cow ate: you're eating what the rumen made safe and bioavailable.
The rumen contains over 200 species of bacteria that can break down and detoxify compounds that would poison humans.
— Sama Hoole (@SamaHoole) October 23, 2025
Cows can eat plants with oxalates, alkaloids, and tannins that would make you sick, and convert them into perfectly safe, nutrient-dense meat.
The rumen is the…
