Why I Quit The Carnivore Diet

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Paul Saladino24m · 2024-05-30

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63

Claims Supported

44

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70%

Support rate

44 of 63 claims supported

44 supported19 partial / not

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58

Well SupportedDiabetic patients consuming high amounts of honey (up to 180+ grams/day) in a study lost weight and became more insulin sensitive, despite an increase in hemoglobin A1c.Well SupportedInsulin plays a role in renal sodium transport, leading to sodium retention.Well SupportedThe free testosterone to cortisol ratio is a useful marker for training stress and requires a moderately high carbohydrate intake for validity.Well SupportedConsuming fructose in fruit, along with nitric oxide precursors and fiber, may be evolutionarily consistent and beneficial.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

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Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

Stress hormones like catecholamines, epinephrine, and cortisol can increase during fasting or carbohydrate restriction to help liberate stored glycogen.

Well SupportedFruit and honey are considered the least toxic sources of carbohydrates due to lower levels of plant defense chemicals.

Well SupportedCarbohydrate intake should be adjusted based on activity level, and most people benefit from some carbohydrates, though bio-individuality exists.

Not SupportedThe argument that most insulin resistance is induced by hyperinsulinemia from eating more carbohydrates is false and lacks good evidence in free-living humans.

Well SupportedProlonged ketosis can adjust thyroid hormone levels and impair carbohydrate management upon reintroduction.

Well SupportedIndividuals on ketogenic diets may need to increase salt intake due to insufficient insulin signaling at the kidney for electrolyte retention.

Partially SupportedThe speaker experienced palpitations, leg cramps, and sleep disturbances while on a carnivore diet before reintroducing carbohydrates.

Well SupportedIndividuals with significant autoimmune disorders or digestion problems may benefit from an elimination diet like a carnivore diet.

Well SupportedHoney consumption is associated with increased testosterone, improved gut microbiome, enhanced oral health, and better insulin sensitivity and metabolic function.

Not SupportedKetogenic diets increase advanced glycation end products, specifically methylglyoxal, which is detrimental to aging and oxidative stress.

Well SupportedIndividuals should experiment with their diet by cutting out and reintroducing foods to observe how they feel.

Well SupportedReverse T3 does not elevate on ketogenic or low-carb diets; elevated reverse T3 and decreased free T3 characterize starvation.

Partially SupportedConsuming up to 125g of honey daily in diabetics resulted in a small increase in A1C, a decrease in fasting glucose, and improved insulin sensitivity.

Well SupportedFor those who are metabolically unwell, consuming a few pieces of fruit and a few tablespoons of honey daily can be acceptable and will not negatively impact health.

Partially SupportedFruit is considered the least toxic source of carbohydrates and is preferred for energy and exercise performance.

Not SupportedGrains, roots, and seeds contain plant defense chemicals, making them less desirable carbohydrate sources.

Partially SupportedIncreasing carbohydrate intake to 150-200 grams per day from sources like honey, maple syrup, fruit, or fruit juice can improve thyroid function and potentially lipids.

Partially SupportedIncluding some sources of carbohydrates in the diet is likely to improve overall health.

Partially SupportedWhole food fructose from fruit and honey does not cause pathological levels of hemoglobin A1c.

Partially SupportedEliminating grains like oats, wheat, and rice may be beneficial for many individuals.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates are beneficial for ketogenic diets concerning exercise performance, thyroid hormone status, electrolyte levels, and sex hormones like testosterone.

Not SupportedConsistently elevated cortisol levels due to carbohydrate limitation are likely detrimental for many humans long-term.

Partially SupportedRaw and fresh fruit juice appears to be healthy for humans and improves various health markers.

Well SupportedLow carbohydrate diets (fewer than 30% of calories from carbs) can lead to a statistically significant increase in cortisol for the first three weeks.

Not SupportedStudies showing negative metabolic outcomes with fructose may be misleading due to isolated fructose, excessive amounts, or lack of whole food matrix.

Partially SupportedShort-term ketogenic diets can impair markers of bone health and bone remodeling.

Partially SupportedPressure-cooked white potatoes can be better tolerated than grains or beans for some individuals.

Partially SupportedAdding carbohydrates from fruit, honey, and raw dairy resolved issues experienced on a ketogenic carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedThe speaker's total testosterone levels were below 500 on a strict carnivore diet but are now around 800 depending on sleep.

Partially SupportedConsuming carbohydrates from fruit and honey is not the cause of diabetes or obesity, and moderate consumption is possible even with these conditions.

Partially SupportedOptimal thyroid function is desirable for maintaining leanness, energy, libido, and facilitating weight loss.

Not SupportedBeans can cause gas, bloating, and contain anti-nutrients like lectins that should be detoxified.

Partially SupportedThe speaker's primary sources of carbohydrates are fruit, honey, and raw milk.

Partially SupportedThere are no well-conducted human studies demonstrating that fruit or fruit juice induce metabolic dysfunction.

Partially SupportedSome toxins may remain in grains and beans even with ancestral methods like sprouting and pressure cooking, though these methods significantly reduce them.

Partially SupportedCutting out grains such as wheat, oatmeal, quinoa, and rice can help individuals who are not thriving.

Not SupportedWhite rice is avoided by the speaker due to negative personal effects compared to other carbohydrate sources.

Partially SupportedStrictly eating meat or meat and organs may not be sufficient long-term for many individuals, as carbohydrates are a valuable part of human physiology.

Partially SupportedCarnivore and ketogenic diets do not work for everyone, and bio-individuality plays a role in dietary adaptation.

Partially SupportedFruit and honey are unlikely to have a significant effect on deuterium levels in people with good metabolic health and mitochondrial function.

Partially SupportedGlucagon remains elevated in individuals on low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets.

Partially SupportedSuboptimal thyroid function is linked to increased rates of cardiovascular disease.

Partially SupportedIndividuals experiencing issues like sleep problems, muscle cramps, or low libido on a carnivore or ketogenic diet should reconsider their nutritional assumptions.

Partially SupportedContinuing a carnivore or ketogenic diet is recommended for individuals thriving on it.

Not SupportedGrains like oatmeal and quinoa contain saponins and phytic acid, which are not significantly degraded by cooking and require rigorous preparation methods to reduce.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates are valuable for most people, and insulin signals kidneys to retain electrolytes.

Not SupportedWhite potatoes may re-trigger eczema in some individuals, suggesting nightshade-type roots may not agree with their immune system.

Partially SupportedEating carbohydrates is necessary for the mitochondrial electron transport chain to produce deuterium-depleted metabolic water, which lowers body deuterium levels.

Partially SupportedMagnesium IVs may remedy hypnagogic jerks and poor sleep, with ketogenic diets potentially causing magnesium deficiency.

Partially SupportedThe carnivore diet is a valuable and powerful way of eating for many people.

Partially SupportedThere are better dietary approaches than the carnivore diet for most humans.

Partially SupportedThe human body synthesizes glucose, indicating its essentiality.

Partially SupportedIn healthy males, diets with 2% carbohydrates lead to increased protein catabolism and lowered T3 hormone levels.

Partially SupportedIn obese men, low carbohydrate diets for four weeks increase cortisol levels by enhancing regeneration and reducing inactivation of steroids in the liver.