CARNIVORE DIET MYTHS DEBUNKED w Dr Paul Saladino

PS

Paul Saladino2h 21m · 2019-08-04

Claims Made

225

Claims Supported

131

Support Rate

58%

Support rate

131 of 225 claims supported

131 supported94 partial / not

Claims from this content

175

Well SupportedAll vitamins and minerals found in plants can be obtained from animal sources in more bioavailable forms.Well SupportedIncluding organ meats in the diet mimics ancestral eating patterns and provides nutrients without plant toxins.Not SupportedSulforaphane may scavenge iodine and act as a goitrogen, with toxic effects.Well SupportedFruit is generally less toxic than leaves, seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

4h

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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N. Park

2d

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

Fasting insulin is the best test to assess insulin sensitivity, which is the most important metric for human health.

Partially SupportedSulforaphane is released from glucoraphanin in crushed or chewed broccoli sprouts as a plant defense mechanism.

Well SupportedAnimal foods are a superior choice over plant foods when both are available.

Not SupportedSulforaphane is directly toxic to the thyroid gland, inhibiting iodine uptake and thyroid hormone production.

Well SupportedBacteria causing gum disease were found in the brains of 96% of people with Alzheimer's disease and associated with worse pathology.

Partially SupportedThe unhealthy user bias suggests that individuals who disregard mainstream health advice and consume red meat may also engage in other risky behaviors.

Well SupportedIndigenous cultures like the Inuit historically preferred animal-based diets when possible.

Well SupportedAnimal foods provide all essential nutrients for optimal health in bioavailable forms, without plant anti-nutrients and toxins.

Not SupportedMedical school curricula teach little about nutrition, including the nutrients in meat and organs, and the value of animal foods.

Well SupportedHumans are likely facultative carnivores, meaning meat is their primary optimal food source.

Well SupportedStudies show resolution of idiopathic constipation when fiber is removed, contradicting the necessity of fiber for bowel movements.

Not SupportedThe idea that diverticulosis is caused by insufficient fiber intake is not supported by literature; higher fiber intake is associated with more diverticulosis.

Well SupportedHeme iron from animal foods like spleen and liver is more bioavailable than plant-based iron and is necessary for repletion.

Well SupportedSubsidizing fasting insulin tests could allow identification of metabolic dysfunction due to high reference ranges.

Partially SupportedWhen ldl increases, particle size typically increases, and particle number may not be as critical as metabolic health.

Well SupportedElevated TSH levels with high broccoli sprout consumption may indicate sulforaphane inhibiting thyroid hormone production.

Well SupportedStratifying Framingham study data by HDL cholesterol reveals a different relationship between LDL and cardiovascular disease risk compared to analyzing LDL alone.

Well SupportedThe carnivore diet may be helpful for individuals with colitis or Crohn's disease.

Not SupportedSpinach contains 545mg of oxalates per 100g, which are not degraded by cooking and contribute to calcium oxalate kidney stones.

Not SupportedA raw vegan diet can cause excessive gas, loss of muscle mass, feeling unwell, and no improvement in eczema.

Well SupportedPlants have evolved defense chemicals over millions of years because they are immobile and cannot escape predators, unlike animals which can run, kick, or bite.

Well SupportedVitamin K2 (menaquinone MK-4, MK-7, MK-11) is not present in plants, and the conversion rate of K1 to K2 in humans is likely insufficient.

Partially SupportedSome individuals on a carnivore diet experience a large increase in LDL cholesterol and LDL particle count, while others have normal lipid levels.

Partially SupportedInsulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction may play a significant role in the accumulation of LDL in arterial walls.

Well SupportedDietary changes to a carnivore or animal-based diet can lead to improvements for individuals with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.

Well SupportedIntroducing liver as a first food to infants around six months old can lead to acceptance of its taste later in life.

Not SupportedWestern medicine often errs by addressing symptoms with medications without tackling the fundamental imbalance that caused the illness, leading to future health issues.

Well SupportedDaily ingestion of glyphosate acts as an antibiotic in the gut, decimating the microbiome.

Well SupportedMany psychiatric illnesses are inflammatory and autoimmune in nature, involving activation of the immune system in the central nervous system.

Well SupportedMinerals, including selenium and zinc, are generally more bioavailable in animal foods because they are not chelated by phytic acid and oxalates.

Not SupportedThe medical system often fails to address the root cause of illness, prompting a shift towards root cause medicine.

Well SupportedVitamin C can be obtained from animal sources like liver and brain, negating the need for it from plants.

Well SupportedIndividuals with inflammatory bowel disease may experience negative effects from increased fiber intake.

Well SupportedMost individuals on a carnivore diet with fresh, gently cooked meat marinated in an acidic medium likely consume enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy.

Well SupportedIndividuals on carnivore diets often clinically experience resolution of GI inflammation and significant improvements in gas and bloating.

Well SupportedMost people would feel better without plants in their diet due to anti-nutrients and toxins.

Well SupportedThe speaker's hs-CRP inflammatory marker is consistently very low, often below 0.03, while following a carnivore diet.

Not SupportedIn individuals without hemochromatosis, heme iron is not a significant carcinogen.

Well SupportedPhytic acid in pumpkin seeds reduces zinc bioavailability.

Well SupportedKetosis activating longevity genes like sirtuin 1 can achieve beneficial effects similar to polyphenols.

Partially SupportedSulforaphane is highly oxidatively active and is released when Brassica vegetables are chewed as a plant defense mechanism.

Partially SupportedBeta-hydroxybutyrate spills into the gut and feeds the gut microbiota during extended fasting.

Well SupportedFeeling better on a carnivore diet is likely due to the removal of aggravating foods, not inherent benefits of the diet itself.

Partially SupportedElevated ferritin on a carnivore diet may be linked to inflammation, but generally, high meat intake does not cause iron stores to become excessively high.

Partially SupportedHumans transitioned from plant hunting to animal hunting, leading to biochemical and physiological adaptations where plant toxins became more impactful.

Well SupportedThe majority of the body's immune cells are located in the gut to monitor and control gut microbes.

Partially SupportedThe human body does not require sulforaphane for any biochemical reaction and perceives it as toxic.

Not SupportedFiber is not a nutrient for humans and is potentially detrimental, causing constipation, dysbiosis, hormonal changes, and reduced mineral/vitamin bioavailability.

Partially SupportedEliminating high-oxalate foods can improve issues like muscle pain, joint pain, and sleep disturbances.

Partially SupportedIndividuals who eat more red meat in epidemiological studies are often less healthy, more obese, exercise less, have more disease, smoke more, and drink more alcohol.

Partially SupportedPaul Saladino lost 25 pounds of muscle mass, became gaunt, and experienced severe gas during seven months on a raw vegan diet.

Partially SupportedSome human tribes, like the Maasai in Kenya, consume milk and blood from cows as a significant part of their diet.

Partially SupportedAn animal-based diet can increase the microbe Bilophila, which can degrade TMA to DMA, thereby reducing TMAO production.

Partially SupportedImproving dental health can be achieved by reducing processed foods and increasing fat-soluble vitamins from animal foods.

Partially SupportedAnimal meat consumed nose-to-tail is generally free of toxins, unlike plants which contain anti-nutrients and toxins.

Partially SupportedCultures like Italians historically peeled tomatoes and removed seeds to mitigate lectins.

Partially SupportedMany wild plants are toxic and can cause illness or death if consumed without proper identification and detoxification.

Partially SupportedSwitching to an animal-based diet or reducing plant intake can lead to improved gum health, reduced bleeding, and decreased or reversed gum recession.

Partially SupportedBioavailable vitamin A (retinoic acid) and vitamin K2 are primarily found in animal foods.

Not SupportedHeme iron has only been shown to be carcinogenic in rodent models fed calcium-deficient diets, with no evidence of teratogenicity in humans on nutrient-adequate diets.

Partially SupportedCarnivore diets can produce short-chain fatty acids that colonic epithelial cells can utilize.

Partially SupportedA strict carnivore diet for six months improved the speaker's dental health, including reducing teeth film and improving gum health.

Partially SupportedAn elevated LDL in the context of a carnivore or ketogenic diet represents a different scenario than elevated LDL in metabolic dyslipidemia.

Partially SupportedThere may be no net benefit, and potentially a net detriment, from consuming plants, especially when considering the removal of antinutrients and toxic compounds.

Partially SupportedThe transition to a carnivorous diet can cause loose stools or constipation.

Partially SupportedDetoxification of cyanide from cassava produces thiocyanate, analogous to isothiocyanates in Brassica vegetables.

Partially SupportedAnimals fed excessive grain can become sick, necessitating anti-nausea drugs to increase feed intake.

Well SupportedMicrowaving broccoli at an internal temperature not exceeding 70-80°C may minimize the destruction of myrosinase.

Well SupportedFunctional medicine aims to understand the root cause of illness rather than just treating symptoms.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate increases the trans epithelial electrical gradient (TEER), a correlate for leaky gut.

Not SupportedSpinach is a high-oxalate food and is not beneficial for health.

Partially SupportedTraditional cultures employed detoxification methods for plant foods, and failure to process foods like corn led to issues such as pellagra.

Partially SupportedCassava is toxic due to hydrocyanic acid and requires extensive processing to remove the toxin.

Partially SupportedExclusively plant-based diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies due to phytic acid and limited nutrient availability.

Partially SupportedDr. Burkitt observed a low incidence of diverticulosis in Tanzania, where people consumed a high-fiber diet, leading to the hypothesis that fiber prevents diverticulosis.

Partially SupportedSpinach, almonds, rhubarb, and beans are high sources of oxalates, and their role in the human body, particularly the thyroid, is not fully understood.

Partially SupportedStevia may act as a contraceptive and has evidence from animal models suggesting it interrupts fertility.

Partially SupportedTeeth can reform if cavities have not penetrated the enamel, and a diet including meat can resolve existing cavities.

Partially SupportedHeme iron is essential for making red blood cells and is the primary treatment for iron deficiency anemia.

Partially SupportedIndividuals with hemochromatosis consuming a high-iron diet should monitor iron status and undergo phlebotomy.

Not SupportedConsuming large amounts of sorrel (oxalis) can lead to fatal oxalate poisoning due to high oxalic acid content.

Partially SupportedHerbivorous animals have evolved mechanisms to cope with plant toxins by consuming small amounts of any given plant.

Partially SupportedAnimals like sheep, pigs, and goats stop eating plants when they reach a toxic or near-toxic level, experiencing nausea.

Partially SupportedFood molecules can act as signals to the body similar to drugs but are consumed in much larger quantities.

Partially SupportedSulforaphane's DNA-protective effects are mediated by the resulting increase in glutathione.

Partially SupportedApproximately 85% of individuals over 50 have detectable microcrystals of oxalate in their thyroid glands, suggesting the modern diet is too high in oxalate.

Partially SupportedThe book 'Nutrition and Physical Degeneration' by Weston Price is recommended for understanding diet and health.

Partially SupportedBroccoli is a safer plant food regarding oxalates compared to sorrel, spinach, and Swiss chard.

Partially SupportedLectins are a toxin found in plants that can be harmful.

Partially SupportedNMN is a precursor to NAD+, which fuels sirtuin enzymes and other cellular reactions.

Not SupportedRaw cassava is extremely toxic and will cause death if consumed, requiring careful processing to remove toxins.

Partially SupportedThere are no long-term studies observing heart disease development in humans fed red meat for ten years.

Partially SupportedPeople with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) often do not tolerate fiber well.

Not SupportedVegan diets are flawed because they omit essential nutrients like vitamin B12, carnitine, carnosine, taurine, riboflavin, zinc, and vitamin K2.

Partially SupportedCyanide is a potent inhibitor of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, likely blocking complex IV, and is instantaneously lethal.

Partially SupportedLectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins found in plants that can cause problems in humans due to differing biological operating systems.

Not SupportedPlant defense chemicals like curcumin and resveratrol may be bad for humans.

Partially SupportedLeafy greens, such as chard, contain anti-nutrients like oxalates which can cause a burning sensation in the throat.

Not SupportedConsuming hot sauce or pepper sauce, derived from Solanaceae plants, can increase gastrointestinal epithelial permeability.

Partially SupportedThere is a lack of studies demonstrating the benefit of resveratrol in otherwise healthy animals.

Partially SupportedDepression, gas, bloating, pain, and constipation can stem from the same underlying causes.

Partially SupportedCarrots are likely benign plant foods.

Not SupportedConsuming certain plant foods can negatively impact bodily function and well-being for some individuals.

Partially SupportedOxalates in spinach can cause nausea, which may be masked by other foods, preventing recognition of the plant's negative effects.

Partially SupportedConsuming 300 grams of fiber per day can result in excessive gas and unusual bowel movements.

Partially SupportedIncreasing quartiles of fiber intake correlate with increasing levels of diverticulosis in the US.

Partially SupportedSome plants, like cassava, contain cyanogenic glycosides, while others, like sweet potatoes, may contain toxins.

Not SupportedResveratrol's proposed mechanism of activating sirtuins is not unique and can be achieved through states like ketosis without plant toxin side effects.

Partially SupportedResveratrol administration normalized the physiology of rats fed a high soybean oil diet that induced metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and diabetes.

Partially SupportedIndividuals with hemochromatosis can absorb excessive iron from a high-iron diet, and the treatment is phlebotomy.

Not SupportedThe idea that carbohydrates or fiber are necessary for a healthy gut microbiome is unsupported by science.

Partially SupportedA physician should evaluate a patient holistically, considering gut, thyroid, and overall well-being.

Partially SupportedFasting insulin testing costs around $20-$40 in the US.

Partially SupportedPlant foods contain no available vitamin B12, taurine, L-carnitine, or carnosine.

Partially SupportedLow-carbohydrate diets can improve the health of the dental microbiome and decrease P. gingivalis.

Partially SupportedThe immune system is the ultimate mediator of health and disease, underlying conditions like depression, anxiety, and autoimmune diseases.

Partially SupportedOlder varieties of wheat and fermented grains may be less problematic than modern wheat varieties.

Partially SupportedCyanogenic glycosides found in stone fruit seeds and almonds break down into cyanide in the body.

Partially SupportedNitrates are naturally found in plants, while processed meats contain added nitrates from preservation processes.

Not SupportedGlyphosate is not the reason humans cannot tolerate plant toxins; this inability is likely evolutionary.

Not SupportedThe concept that plants are toxic and can trigger disease in humans is considered radical by mainstream functional medicine.

Not SupportedApricot kernels contain cyanogenic glycosides which can lead to potentially poisonous doses of cyanide if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Not SupportedThe association between higher fiber intake and better cardiovascular outcomes may be due to healthy user bias.

Partially SupportedOmega-3 fatty acids benefit brain function and memory but may not significantly prevent heart disease.

Partially SupportedDiverticulosis is likely an autoimmune process rather than a pressure-related disease.

Partially SupportedIron deficiency is common due to gastrointestinal issues, malabsorption, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Partially SupportedCarnivorous diets are associated with low DNA damage and high glutathione levels.

Partially SupportedEating one pound of meat per day provides approximately 10 milligrams of vitamin C, sufficient to prevent scurvy.

Partially SupportedThe earliest plants likely did not survive due to a lack of toxins, being readily consumed by animals and insects.

Partially SupportedA diet including butter, grass-fed liver, grass-fed meat, and bone broth can improve dental health and resolve dental caries.

Partially SupportedMainstream dental floss contains synthetic lubricants and chemicals.

Partially SupportedMinerals and vitamins are absorbed and incorporated into human biochemistry.

Partially SupportedSirtuins are NAD-dependent enzymes that act as deacetylases, turning on genes involved in insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and in doing so, they consume NAD+ which must be recycled.

Partially SupportedUncured pork belly, without added nitrates, is a preferable alternative to processed bacon.

Partially SupportedPears, apples, coconut, carrots, and squash are generally considered low-oxalate foods.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet has been used to manage chronic Lyme disease.

Partially SupportedNon-heme iron in plants can contribute to iron deficiency.

Partially SupportedDiverticulosis can lead to complications such as infection, bleeding, impaction, or rupture causing sepsis.

Partially SupportedFat does not cause heart disease.

Partially SupportedKale is considered toxic.

Partially SupportedLDL particle number is considered by some lipidologists to be the best predictor of cardiovascular risk.

Partially SupportedCooking meat rare or raw minimizes the destruction of vitamin C.

Partially SupportedThere is a strong association between heart disease and insulin levels.

Partially SupportedA non-Westernized, non-processed food diet is healthier than a Westernized diet and may explain lower incidence of heart disease in populations like the Inuit.

Partially SupportedCultures eating primarily animal foods with carefully prepared plant foods experienced better health in Western Price's research.

Partially SupportedRemoving plant toxins in a carnivorous diet can positively affect humans by altering gut immunologic signaling.

Not SupportedThe argument that ancestors primarily ate berries and occasionally entered ketosis is flawed.

Partially SupportedGroups consuming no fiber or reduced fiber had 0% incidence of bloating and straining to pass stools, compared to 100% in the high fiber group in one study.

Partially SupportedGenetic variations can inhibit the conversion of beta-carotene to retinol, making preformed retinol from animal sources more reliable.

Partially SupportedConsuming organ meats like liver provides vitamin C beyond that found in muscle meat.

Partially SupportedIndividuals on an animal-based diet have high LDL particle numbers but also high HDL and low triglycerides, with small, large LDL particles and no small dense LDL.

Partially SupportedOxalic acid is a two-carbon molecule found only in plants that does not participate in human biochemistry.

Partially SupportedOxalobacter formigenes is a gut bacteria that can break down oxalates, potentially allowing for increased oxalate consumption.

Partially SupportedPaul Saladino's childhood asthma resolved after adopting a diet free of dairy and other potentially problematic foods.

Partially SupportedGut issues like SIBO can lead to neuroinflammation by activating the immune system and causing cytokines to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Partially SupportedThe French paradox may be explained by saturated fat not causing heart disease, rather than red wine consumption.

Partially SupportedIn cassava, linamarin combines with linamarase to form hydrocyanic acid.

Not SupportedWhile some experts consider LDL particle number the best predictor of cardiovascular risk, Paul Saladino believes this may be an evolutionary fallacy.

Not SupportedHeme iron may be problematic when combined with N-nitroso compounds or synthetic nitrates.

Not SupportedMany Western medications do not fix underlying disease causes and can lead to progression.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate is a pervasive, water-soluble pesticide found in water supplies, making avoidance nearly impossible.

Partially SupportedConsuming spinach smoothies frequently can lead to calcium oxalate kidney stones.

Partially SupportedUsing a Waterpik is preferred over traditional floss for dental hygiene because floss can be traumatic to the gingival mucosa.

Partially SupportedNeem in dental products acts as an antibacterial and pesticide that can interrupt women's hormones.

Not SupportedThe idea that diverticulosis is solely a pressure-related process does not hold up in medicine.

Partially SupportedCassava is a toxic tuber, while sweet potato may be less toxic and a viable option during famine.

Partially SupportedOxalates were historically used as a poison because they were difficult to trace.

Partially SupportedPlants, which are associated with fiber, may cause autoimmunity.

Partially SupportedA psychiatrist should consider inflammation, neuroinflammation, thyroid issues, autoimmunity, SIBO, micronutrient deficiencies, and genetic polymorphisms when treating depression.

Partially SupportedA board-certified psychiatrist practicing functional medicine will evaluate all patients holistically, including their gut and thyroid function.

Partially SupportedGut bacteria produce many neurotransmitters.