[dualogy]

> Considering that many essential nutrients are provided by plants

None that I can think of that are proven "essential" in the absence of all carbs. "Phytonutrients" aren't proven essential. Vitamin C ("ascorbic acid") is 100% inessential & optional in the presence of plenty of the (actually essential) ascorbic molecules that are all furnished by fresh meat, including carnitine, creatine etc.

For homo sapiens, there is no essential carbohydrate and no essential plant food. Something to chew on!

[dualogy]

Late edit: of course none of this disputes or negates "that many essential nutrients are provided by plants" --- many indeed are. Just none that are essential that aren't furnished in sufficient amounts in a sizable helping of fresh-fatty-mammal-meat =) but the parent didn't even say "only by plants" so not sure why I reacted as if he did