Were the Gladiators Vegetarians?

Last night I caught the tail end of a show on History Television called "Gladiator Graveyards". Nothing I would ever turn on for myself, something *Steve* would watch. I care more for the useless banter on "reality" shows that make me dumb and dumber. What was amazing was how these archaeologists found the remains of several (68 to be exact) Gladiators. Exenius was the Gladiator who stuck out. He must have been a trainer they figure since he was at least 50 at the time of his death, while the other remains were of men around the age of 30. Now, scientists and the average person believe that these strong men would have to eat a primarily high protein diet consisting mostly of meat, right? Wrong. They studied their bones and checked for strontium levels. The higher the levels of strontium, the more the accumulation of vegetables in their diet and concluding the absence of meat. It turns out that these guys were running around fighting each other for entertainment in front of live audiences (not much has changed there) and they were almost completely, if not completely, vegetarians. Vinegar and ash drinks mixed with barley and beans would substitute for their pre-show Gatorade. Get it? Prior to a big fight night they'd be allowed to feast on some protein (i.e. meat). But up until that night, their diets were void of meat. These dudes were vegetarians. This interesting fact about strontium has led scientists to now research its effects on osteoporosis and the absence of calcium in the diet. Can you imagine if we eat our veggies like our mothers tell us to, we can avoid osteoporosis better then those who listen to their mothers who say "drink your milk"? Very interesting. Because we could hook a tap up to a cow in the backyard for someone in our family! And me, I'll take my veggies over milk any day of the week. Go Gladiators! You can read more about it here on bbc.

signed, the willow