Are the Blue Zones BS or Not?

PS

Paul Saladino1h 15m · 2022-02-01

Claims Made

153

Claims Supported

96

Support Rate

63%

Support rate

96 of 153 claims supported

96 supported57 partial / not

Claims from this content

111

Well SupportedIn Eastern epidemiological studies, higher red meat consumption in men was associated with lower rates of heart disease, and in women with lower rates of breast cancer.Well SupportedThe longevity observed in Loma Linda, California, is likely due to the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol by Seventh-day Adventists, not the avoidance of meat.Well SupportedHeart & Soil's 'Mood Memory and Brain' supplement contains desiccated brain, which includes nutrients like phosphatidylserine and BDNF, supported by clinical data.Well SupportedFour out of five Blue Zones consume significant amounts of meat central to their culture and traditional dishes.

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AV

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.

Well Supported

A fasting insulin level below 3 micro IU/mL is ideal, below 5 micro IU/mL is acceptable, and above 5 is unacceptable.

Well SupportedDNA damage is a foundational piece of aging, and sirtuins, PARP enzymes, and NAD+ are involved in DNA repair.

Well SupportedHumans evolved to thrive by consuming readily available whole foods, particularly meat and organs, rather than supplements or a wide variety of plant foods.

Well SupportedEnvironmental hormesis, such as sun exposure, exercise, cold, and heat, activates Nrf2 without the negative side effects of exogenous foreign molecules.

Well SupportedMeat provides essential nutrients like carnitine, carnosine, tyrosine, and glutathione that are not found in plants and are crucial for bodily functions.

Not SupportedFeeding the global population solely on grains and plant-based foods would lead to widespread micronutrient deficiencies.

Not SupportedHigh meat consumption in Hong Kong does not contradict the idea that meat absence is associated with longevity.

Not SupportedThe classification of red meat as a probable carcinogen is based on weak evidence with limited statistically significant associations.

Partially SupportedEpidemiology studies can generate hypotheses about health outcomes, but only interventional studies can establish causality.

Well SupportedVegetarians and omnivores have similar all-cause mortality rates.

Well SupportedThe perceived health benefits of vegetarianism may be due to 'healthy user bias'.

Well SupportedSarcopenia is a greater threat to longevity than red meat consumption, and red meat is not detrimental to longevity.

Partially SupportedFructose consumed within a food matrix, such as in fruit, is likely different and potentially beneficial compared to isolated fructose or processed sugars.

Well SupportedOf the 14 studies used in the IARC assessment on red meat and cancer, eight showed no association, and five of the six showing an association were non-significant.

Well SupportedInadequate sperm hyperactivation in vegans may suggest compromised membrane calcium selective channels.

Well SupportedRaw dairy can be beneficial if tolerated, and bone meal can substitute for calcium if raw dairy is not an option.

Well SupportedOkinawan men, compared to men in Akita, derive a significantly higher proportion of their energy from protein and fat, and a lower proportion from carbohydrates.

Well SupportedCGMs can be used to track glucose metrics, with a focus on insulin sensitivity rather than just glucose levels.

Well SupportedThe supplement 'Whole Package' from Heart and Soil Supplements can lead to noticeable results within hours, including increased energy, libido, and muscle density.

Well SupportedThe optimal foods for humans are those available to wild humans: meat, organs, fruit, honey, and possibly tubers and vegetables as fallback foods.

Well SupportedExercise significantly increases NAMPT levels, thereby upregulating the NAD+ salvage pathway and increasing NAD+ production.

Well SupportedBeneficial longevity pathways like Nrf2 and sirtuins can be activated by environmental hormetic stressors without plant molecules.

Well SupportedClaims that meat is bad are often based on misleading epidemiological data due to factors like healthy user bias.

Well SupportedSome epidemiology studies show no mortality benefit to vegan or vegetarian diets due to potential healthy user bias.

Well SupportedMeat and organs are key for nutrient intake, and desiccated organ supplements are an alternative if fresh organs are unavailable.

Well SupportedPaul Saladino's plan includes sun exposure, ocean swimming, consuming liver, heart, and raw testicle.

Well SupportedDesired biochemical pathways can be activated through environmental hormetics such as heat, cold therapy, exercise, and ketosis, without relying on plant molecules.

Well SupportedNAMPT is the primary enzyme for NAD+ regeneration in humans, and its reduced function contributes to NAD+ depletion with aging.

Not SupportedPaul Saladino avoids mushrooms and foods like leaves, stems, roots, and seeds that contain defense chemicals.

Well SupportedThe traditional diet in Sardinia includes dairy products, cereal-derived foods, and meat, with shepherding people in the hills consuming significant amounts of meat.

Partially SupportedIn the Nicoya Peninsula and Sardinia, males exhibit significant longevity compared to females.

Well SupportedHumans are intrinsically directed to seek animal meat, organs, fruit, and honey for vitality, virility, and longevity.

Well SupportedIn the Singh and Frasier (1998) study, individuals who ate the most red meat were also found to be the fattest, most obese, and most insulin resistant, suggesting that obesity and insulin resistance, rather than red meat itself, may be the cause of increased cancer risk.

Partially SupportedHumans can obtain omega-3 fatty acids from sources other than fish, such as butter, animal fat in steaks, and egg yolks.

Partially SupportedHeart and Soil Supplements uses grass-fed, grass-finished, regeneratively raised animals from New Zealand for their products, which are freeze-dried and encapsulated.

Partially SupportedMeat is consumed in most Blue Zones, not solely as a condiment.

Well SupportedMetabolic health is a predictor of longevity and being metabolically unhealthy accelerates aging.

Partially SupportedWhite meat consumption was inversely associated with total mortality in men in the NHANES 3 study.

Partially SupportedOcean pollution leads to bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish, posing a health burden.

Partially SupportedEating salmon led to a return of normal hormonal function for one individual after years of veganism.

Partially SupportedEating salmon reportedly led to a return of physical vigor, vitality, and mood improvements for one individual.

Partially SupportedNutrients in red meat like creatine, carnitine, choline, and taurine may improve longevity and DNA protection.

Partially SupportedMany metrics suggest improvements in human health, including fertility and average male height, are associated with higher meat consumption.

Partially SupportedIn the NHANES 3 study, overall meat consumption, including red meat consumption, was not associated with mortality.

Partially SupportedHealth-conscious religious groups exhibit substantially reduced mortality rates.

Not SupportedConsuming fish more than once a week increases the risk of accumulating heavy metals.

Partially SupportedBerberine may cause side effects similar to Metformin, including diarrhea, constipation, gas, and upset stomach.

Partially SupportedIceland's diet is rich in animal products including fish, lamb, pork, fatty meats, and dairy.

Not SupportedBlue Zones are not uniquely healthy, as evidenced by poor sperm quality in one area and similar longevity in meat-eating populations.

Not SupportedPotential side effects of plant compounds sold as supplements are often ignored in research.

Partially SupportedObservational studies should not be used to draw causative inferences about health outcomes because correlation does not imply causation.

Well SupportedDNA damage is a key factor that hardcodes aging into cells.

Not SupportedThe Okinawan diet includes meat consumption and Okinawans eat more meat than comparable Japanese cohorts.

Partially SupportedOkinawan populations have significantly higher serum HDL cholesterol across age groups compared to Aita populations.

Partially SupportedNo vegetarians were found among Okinawan centenarians in surveys from 1975-1976.

Partially SupportedPescetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, and vegetarian diets are not associated with improved mortality compared to omnivores.

Not SupportedEpidemiological studies on red meat and health outcomes can be misleading due to confounding factors.

Partially SupportedThe hypothesis for the benefit of the Mediterranean diet in the Di Leon study is the removal of seed oils and the reduction of polyunsaturated fats.

Not SupportedEpidemiology studies claiming meat is bad for health are often funded by industries with an agenda and used to confuse the public.

Partially SupportedIn Loma Linda, California, men and women live approximately seven years longer than the average Californian population.

Partially SupportedHigh consumption of corn flakes or a plant-based diet can reduce nutrients needed for sex hormone production, potentially leading to chemical castration.

Partially SupportedIndividuals who are thriving and do not have specific health issues can choose to eat vegetables if they enjoy them.

Partially SupportedMen in the Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica) exhibit more favorable aging and stress markers, including telomere length and DHEA sulfate levels, and are leaner, taller, and suffer fewer disabilities than men in the Costa Rican general population.

Partially SupportedHeavy metal toxicity from fish can be assessed by checking blood levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, with provoked tests potentially offering a more long-term measure.

Partially SupportedThe D.I.E.T. L.E.A.N. study found the most effective intervention for a Mediterranean diet was the elimination of seed oils and their replacement with olive oil.

Partially SupportedInhabitants of Loma Linda, California, tend to live seven years longer than the average Californian.

Partially SupportedA key benefit of the Mediterranean diet is the removal of seed oils, making it a low seed oil diet.

Partially SupportedIncreased red meat consumption is associated with increased male height, which correlates with lower infant mortality and improved developmental index.

Partially SupportedMeat consumption is significant in Ikaria, Greece, Sardinia, and Okinawa, including traditional dishes and celebrations.

Partially SupportedThe traditional diet of Nicoyan males consists of rice, beans, and meat, utilizing a significant amount of animal fat.

Partially SupportedBritish vegetarians have lower mortality than the general population, but similar death rates to comparable non-vegetarians, suggesting other lifestyle factors contribute.

Partially SupportedLongevity observed in the Nicoya Peninsula is specific to males, not females.

Partially SupportedConsuming meat and organs improves telomeres due to their nutrient density.

Partially SupportedHigher serum HDL cholesterol in Okinawans may suggest greater insulin sensitivity, potentially contributing to their improved longevity.

Partially SupportedVegetarian and vegan diets may be effective in curbing libido.

Partially SupportedFormer vegans experienced a resurgence in libido and sex hormones after incorporating meat and salmon into their diets.

Partially SupportedIn the Nicoya region of Costa Rica, animal foods form the central part of the diet.

Partially SupportedMeat consumption is associated with increased overall health, healthspan, robustness, and resilience to injury.

Partially SupportedA 60-year-old Nicoyan male has a seven times higher probability of becoming a centenarian than a mainland Japanese male.

Partially SupportedCumulative lifetime stress may accelerate epigenetic aging.

Partially SupportedLiving in a less frenetic, less stressful region like Costa Rica, with activities like surfing and sun exposure, contributes to a slower, less stressed lifestyle.

Partially SupportedOkinawans historically ate more meat than other Japanese cohorts, and no vegetarians were found among Okinawan centenarians in one study.

Partially SupportedLongevity may be driven by favorable genetics, lifestyle, sun exposure, or decreased seed oil consumption, rather than plant-based diets.

Partially SupportedCarnitine, found only in meat, is necessary for sperm hyperactivation, and its deficiency in vegan diets may contribute to reduced sperm quality.

Partially SupportedThe proportion of proteins of animal origin was 52.9% of total proteins in recent Japanese diets compared to national averages in 1989.

Partially SupportedIn Western populations, the perception that meat is bad leads risk-taking individuals to consume it, while health-conscious individuals avoid it.

Partially SupportedEmbracing meat and organs, maintaining metabolic health, and avoiding seed oils are key to living long and well.

Not SupportedNAD or NMN supplementation may cause issues like anxiety due to potential depletion of methyl groups.

Not SupportedPesco-vegetarian diets can be a source of heavy metal toxicity.

Partially SupportedCommon factors across longevity-promoting regions include exercise, a reasonable diet of simple foods, absence of seed oils, community, and a slower pace of life with lower stress.

Partially SupportedA large Australian cohort study found no evidence that vegetarian, vegan, or pesco-vegetarian diets independently protect against all-cause mortality.

Partially SupportedOmega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from ruminant animal meat and organs like lamb, beef, and bison, and are not uniquely required from fish.

Partially SupportedCreating personal 'micro blue zones' involves a nutrient-rich diet devoid of processed foods, seed oils, and sugars, combined with healthy community, sun exposure, exercise, and environmental hormetics.

Partially SupportedExclusion of meat may be harmful to sperm quality, as strict vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians showed decreased sperm quality compared to non-vegetarians.

Partially SupportedPlant foods may not be beneficial for individuals with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or psychiatric issues without improvement.

Partially SupportedIn Sardinia, Italy, a traditional dish called 'sarda pig' is consumed, indicating widespread meat consumption.

Partially SupportedThe traditional diet in the Nicoya Peninsula includes rice, beans, and animal protein, with a low glycemic index and high fiber content.

Partially SupportedMaintaining metabolic health ensures proper NAMPT enzyme function, which is necessary for NAD production, thus potentially negating the need for NAD supplements.

Partially SupportedThe association of white meat consumption with lower mortality in men is likely due to healthy user bias rather than the chicken itself being beneficial.

Partially SupportedRed meat consumption was not associated with mortality in the NHANES III study.

Not SupportedDeclining NAD levels with age is not considered normal.

Partially SupportedThe five Blue Zones are Sardinia, Ikaria, Loma Linda, Okinawa, and the Nicoya Peninsula.

Partially SupportedThe concept of 'Blue Zones' was coined in 2005 by Dan Buettner and other researchers, identifying five regions with populations that live longer than average.

Partially SupportedModifiable risk factors like physical activity, diet, smoking cessation, and midday naps may explain the longevity of Ikaria's inhabitants.

Not SupportedComponents of a Western hamburger meal like special sauce, tomatoes, gluten buns, processed sugar, milkshakes, fries, and coke can cause GI distress, leaky gut, and high sugar intake.

Partially SupportedSome studies do not show a mortality benefit for vegan or vegetarian diets due to potential healthy user bias in sampled populations.

Not SupportedBenefits of plant compounds can be obtained from healthy living without side effects.