The Carnivore Code AMA (Ask Me Anything) from Ben Greenfield Episode!

PS

Paul Saladino2h 17m · 2020-08-04

Claims Made

253

Claims Supported

164

Support Rate

65%

Support rate

164 of 253 claims supported

164 supported89 partial / not

Claims from this content

195

Well SupportedExcessive lipolysis and broken fat cells, potentially caused by polyunsaturated fatty acid breakdown products like linoleic acid, can lead to insulin resistance.Well SupportedAll vitamins and minerals found in plants can be obtained from animal sources in more bioavailable forms.Well SupportedGrass-fed, grass-finished, regeneratively raised organs are preserved to maintain maximum nutrients.Well SupportedIt is possible to obtain 60 mg of vitamin C daily by eating animal foods nose-to-tail, with liver being richer in vitamin C than muscle meat.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.

Including organ meats in the diet mimics ancestral eating patterns and provides nutrients without plant toxins.

Well SupportedEating saturated fats like stearic and palmitic acid leads to insulin resistance in fat cells.

Not SupportedSulforaphane may scavenge iodine and act as a goitrogen, with toxic effects.

Well SupportedRegenerative agriculture where cows graze land in an ancestrally consistent manner can sequester more carbon into the soil than they produce.

Well SupportedA carnivore diet constructed as nose-to-tail eating aligns with how ancestors and indigenous peoples consumed animals.

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

Well SupportedOrgan meats are crucial for filling nutritional gaps not met by muscle meat or plants and are historically treasured for their nutrient density.

Well SupportedPlants contain toxins like oxalates, lectins, and tannins that can be harmful to some people.

Well SupportedNatural folate precursors and riboflavin, abundant in organ meats like heart and liver, are crucial for supporting MTHFR function.

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

Well SupportedStearic acid, enriched in animal foods and absent in plant foods, signals the body to burn fat, and its deprivation leads to fragmented mitochondria.

Well SupportedOrgan meats like liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and pancreas were considered part of 'meat' by ancestors and should be included in the diet for improved quality of life.

Well SupportedVisceral adipose tissue should be insulin resistant to prevent its growth and subsequent signaling of insulin resistance to the rest of the body.

Not SupportedCruciferous vegetables like kale and cauliflower contain goitrogens that can block iodine absorption and negatively impact thyroid function.

Well SupportedAdding 600 grams of fruits and vegetables per day to the diet of healthy non-smokers did not change markers of oxidative DNA damage or repair over 24 days.

Well SupportedReplacing grain-based carbohydrates with 200g of red meat resulted in lower inflammation levels in an 8-week human trial.

Not SupportedResveratrol reduces circulating androgen precursors without affecting testosterone levels, which is considered a negative effect.

Well SupportedThe speaker's fasting insulin is less than 3 micro IU/mL and C-peptide is less than 0.43, indicating no evidence of insulin resistance, despite daily honey consumption.

Well SupportedDietary stearic acid regulates mitochondrial function in humans, with stearic acid deprivation leading to decreased mitochondrial activation and fragmentation.

Well SupportedCombining carbohydrates with polyunsaturated fatty acids causes insulin resistance and weight gain.

Well SupportedA 10-week diet devoid of fruits and vegetables decreased oxidative damage and altered antioxidant defense.

Well SupportedHumans require either carbohydrates or fat, as consuming only protein can lead to problems like 'rabbit starvation'.

Well SupportedPlant foods exist on a spectrum of toxicity and can contribute to chronic disease.

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

Well SupportedRed meat and organs are considered incredibly health-promoting for humans when consumed within the context of a healthy diet.

Well SupportedThe inclusion of meat in the human diet was a key evolutionary factor that allowed for the growth of our brains and the development of the neocortex.

Well SupportedCold stress can induce oxidative stress in the human body, similar to molecules like sulforaphane.

Partially SupportedThe primary question regarding plant consumption is whether an individual can adequately detoxify plant toxins.

Well SupportedModern domesticated plants may lead to overconsumption of toxins due to a lack of dietary diversity compared to ancestral diets.

Not SupportedThe claim that resveratrol activates sirtuins has been questioned by biochemists, and original data on worms showing its efficacy has been disconfirmed by multiple labs.

Well SupportedRaw organic honey, when consumed in moderate to large amounts, does not negatively impact blood sugar levels for the speaker.

Well SupportedAnimals provide nutrients not found in plants, and humans can obtain all necessary nutrients from animals.

Well SupportedHeart and Soil offers organ supplements from grass-fed, grass-finished, regeneratively raised cattle.

Well SupportedInsulin resistance primarily occurs at the mitochondrial level, impairing ATP production.

Well SupportedPostprandial insulin signaling is valuable for humans, especially in the context of overall insulin sensitivity.

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

Well SupportedEndemic goiter in rural Africa is prevalent due to diets high in goitrogenic foods like millet and cassava, which inhibit iodine absorption, especially when combined with low iodine intake.

Well SupportedCats, as obligate carnivores, can metabolize high amounts of meat because their argininosuccinate synthase is constantly active.

Well SupportedDietary stearic acid reduced visceral adipose tissue by 70% and increased lean body mass in rats compared to oleic and linoleic acid diets.

Well SupportedVegetarians' brains respond positively to meat at a neural level, suggesting humans are hardwired to eat meat.

Well SupportedLow cellular energy increases the NAD+/NADH ratio, signaling sirtuin expression and activity.

Well SupportedIncreasing daily vitamin C intake from approximately 70mg to 270mg through fruits and vegetables over 12 weeks did not change antioxidant capacity.

Well SupportedIndigenous people recognize the necessity of fat on animals or carbohydrates in the diet, as lean animals alone are insufficient.

Not SupportedCurcumin has potential side effects, including affecting the p53 tumor suppressor gene, thyroid oxido-reductase, topoisomerase 3, and potassium channels.

Well SupportedIt is easy to obtain 50-70mg of vitamin C daily from an animal-based diet if the meat is fresh, not overcooked, and includes organ meats consumed nose-to-tail.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates can exacerbate insulin resistance in individuals who are already insulin resistant.

Well SupportedAnimal foods contain unique compounds essential for optimal human health, including B12, creatine, carnitine, choline, anserine, taurine, vitamin K2, and riboflavin.

Well SupportedWhite Oak Pastures uses regenerative agriculture practices pioneered by Allan Savory, which have been shown to be carbon neutral.

Well SupportedSpinach is high in oxalates and kale contains goitrogens and isothiocyanates.

Well SupportedRed meat contains unique nutrients such as taurine, alanine, carnitine, carnosine, B12, 4-hydroxyproline, and creatine, which are not found in plant foods.

Partially SupportedSulforaphane acts as a pro-oxidant, acutely causing oxidative stress, which then stimulates the body to produce more glutathione.

Not SupportedSoy isoflavones can mimic estrogen and cause adverse effects, including anti-thyroid activity.

Well SupportedPlant foods contain defense chemicals such as oxalates, phytates, saponins, lectins, isothiocyanates, polyphenols, salicylates, and phytosterols.

Well SupportedA paleolithic ketogenic diet was used in a patient with PKD for 20 months without symptoms or side effects, halting tumor progression.

Partially SupportedLowering omega-6 fat intake can improve insulin resistance, even on a high-carbohydrate diet.

Not SupportedConsuming multiple tablespoons daily of reishi, chaga, and lion's mane mushrooms triggered a severe eczema flare.

Not SupportedConsuming excessive amounts of plant compounds like sulforaphane or resveratrol can be detrimental.

Partially SupportedPiperine in black pepper inhibits UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, a phase II detoxification enzyme, which can impair the body's ability to process compounds like curcumin.

Not SupportedConsuming more than 35% of daily calories from protein can lead to adverse health effects including hyperammonemia, hyperinsulinemia, nausea, diarrhea, and potentially death.

Not SupportedHigh-dose resveratrol treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) failed to show consistent therapeutic effects.

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates, including honey, do not cause insulin resistance; other hidden factors do.

Partially SupportedTallow is preferred as a primary fat source due to its higher stearic acid content, which is beneficial for visceral fat and whole-body insulin sensitivity.

Partially SupportedA Tier 1 carnivore diet prioritizes animal foods and organ meats, while incorporating well-tolerated plant foods.

Partially SupportedScavengers and carnivores have significantly higher stomach acidities (lower pH) compared to herbivores or carnivores feeding on phylogenetically distant prey.

Not SupportedResveratrol treatment did not result in changes to glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, weight, blood pressure, or lipid profile in human studies.

Well SupportedStearic acid improved mitochondrial structure and function after oral ingestion.

Partially SupportedSaturated fat from animals does not cause inflammation or endotoxemia in individuals with a healthy microbiome but can cause issues with dysbiosis.

Partially SupportedElevated Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels can indicate increased protein consumption as the body upregulates the urea cycle to excrete excess urea.

Partially SupportedA dietary intervention of folic acid, B12, and flavonols modified DNA methylation age.

Partially SupportedMolecular hormesis, like taking sulforaphane or resveratrol, involves exogenous molecules acting as stressors with potential side effects.

Partially SupportedIncreasing vitamin C intake from 70 mg/day to 250 mg/day showed no change in antioxidant capacity or DNA damage in one trial.

Not SupportedThere are no controlled human studies demonstrating that red meat is detrimental to health.

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

Partially SupportedRegeneratively farmed meat from White Oak Pastures is high quality due to soil regeneration practices enhancing soil microbiome and mineral content.

Partially SupportedCurrent hunter-gatherer tribes are shorter than previous generations, potentially due to marginalization.

Partially SupportedRuminant agriculture can be regenerative, restore soil quality, and decrease atmospheric carbon.

Partially SupportedAn observational study shows telomere length is directly correlated with meat consumption.

Partially SupportedPlants contain toxins that some people tolerate poorly due to varying detoxification abilities and thyroid robustness.

Partially SupportedFor a 75-80 kg individual, the maximal daily protein intake based on urea excretion capacity ranges from 221 to 301 grams per day.

Partially SupportedHumans have a maximum rate of urea synthesis which acts as a ceiling for protein intake due to energetic bottlenecks in the urea cycle.

Partially SupportedThe urea cycle requires four units of ATP to convert ammonia into urea.

Partially SupportedCarnivore diets and animal-based diets do not accelerate cancer progression and are safe in this situation.

Partially SupportedFiber is not necessary for normal bowel movements in individuals on a carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedMetabolically healthy and sensitive individuals can consume carbohydrates without fear, especially in certain situations.

Partially SupportedLimiting omega-6 intake and not overdoing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered the two main drivers of insulin resistance.

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

Partially SupportedCarbohydrates become a significant problem for individuals with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, exacerbating insulin production and fat storage.

Partially SupportedVisceral fat's insulin sensitivity is determined by lipokine signals originating from that fat.

Not SupportedNegative effects of goitrogen-rich foods on thyroid function are only seen in specific circumstances like insufficient iodine intake.

Partially SupportedLeafy greens, nuts, and seeds may cause significant health problems for many individuals due to poor detoxification of their inherent toxins.

Partially SupportedVisceral adipose tissue insulin sensitivity is the primary determinant of whole-body insulin sensitivity.

Partially SupportedDavid Sinclair's research on resveratrol is primarily based on mouse studies, not human clinical trials, and he is not a medical doctor.

Partially SupportedA nose-to-tail carnivore or carnivore-ish diet is an evolutionarily consistent way to achieve an optimal diet.

Not SupportedChaga mushroom consumption can lead to oxalate nephropathy and kidney damage.

Well SupportedEnvironmental hormesis, such as heat stress, can induce autophagy and improve survival and proteostasis.

Partially SupportedA baseline recommendation for a carnivore diet is to start with one gram of protein per pound of gold body weight.

Partially SupportedA paleolithic ketogenic diet led to the cessation of recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia over 26 months.

Not SupportedMassive doses of vitamin C above what can be obtained from fresh animal foods are not necessary for optimal antioxidant status in metabolically healthy individuals.

Partially SupportedHumans require fat to complement protein and/or carbohydrates in their diet.

Partially SupportedPlants are considered survival or fallback foods, providing just enough calories to sustain individuals until they can hunt again.

Partially SupportedThe decline in human height and health with agriculture is likely due to decreased dietary quality from plant agriculture.

Partially SupportedThe shift to horticulture and pastoralism approximately 10,000 to 15,000 years ago led to declines in human health.

Partially SupportedThe carnivore diet can be structured into five tiers, from 'carnivore-ish' with some plant foods to a strict carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedThe Nrf2 pathway can be activated by cigarettes, alcohol, lead, mercury, sunlight, cold exposure, and ketosis.

Well SupportedMeat consumption is linked to a higher cancer risk.

Not SupportedResveratrol may have adverse side effects and not live up to its hype.

Partially SupportedAnimal foods are rich in nutrients that help maintain insulin sensitivity and potentially lower epigenetic age.

Partially SupportedFolate from leafy greens is less bioavailable than folate in animal foods.

Partially SupportedThe acidity of the human stomach is linked to long-term consumption of animal products, which helps maintain gut microbiota consistency.

Partially SupportedFruits can be included in a tier-one carnivore diet if an individual is not insulin resistant.

Partially SupportedWithout access to large amounts of fat from large game, humans may rely more on plant foods and carbohydrates due to biochemical needs.

Partially SupportedGreater than one gram of protein per pound of gold body weight is not necessary for maximal muscle growth.

Partially SupportedForce of Nature offers regeneratively raised exotic meats such as elk, deer, and buffalo.

Partially SupportedElevated AST, ALT, GGT, or consistently high BUN may indicate excessive protein intake.

Partially SupportedUnrendered fat is preferred over rendered fat.

Partially SupportedFat and/or carbohydrates are necessary alongside protein for metabolic health.

Partially SupportedUnrendered fat may be better tolerated than rendered fat for individuals experiencing a strong bile response.

Partially SupportedExtremely avoiding fat and carbohydrate while consuming high protein can lead to metabolic and hormonal cliffs, a state that can be temporarily sustained through protein-sparing modified fasting but is essentially self-starvation.

Partially SupportedCycling in and out of ketosis or intermittent fasting can activate sirtuin genes.

Partially SupportedSkeletons from the Dixon Mounds show a decrease in size and an increase in lesions over 1,000-2,000 years, indicating a decline in human health associated with the move towards farming.

Partially SupportedNutrients found in animal foods, particularly in those with MTHFR polymorphisms, decelerated DNA methylation age.

Partially SupportedMitochondria become fragmented on low-fat vegan diets but fuse again upon reintroduction of stearic acid.

Partially SupportedImprovements in vascular function can be achieved through a 'radical life' without the side effects associated with resveratrol.

Partially SupportedGluconeogenesis, the conversion of amino acids into glucose, requires ATP input.

Partially SupportedDiets including low-fat, Mediterranean, carbohydrate, omega-3, whey protein, navy bean powder, rice bran, and cruciferous vegetables did not affect telomere length in a meta-analysis.

Partially SupportedBioactive peptides such as BPC-157, thymus and alpha-1, and pancreatic polypeptide are found in animal tissues and not in plant species.

Partially SupportedHuman stomach acidity is approximately a thousand times greater than that of chimpanzees, associated with consuming phylogenetically distant and potentially rotting foods.

Partially SupportedConsuming excessive amounts of a single plant or a plant an individual is sensitive to can overwhelm detoxification systems and lead to health problems.

Partially SupportedThe urea cycle converts ammonia into urea for excretion, measured as BUN.

Partially SupportedEvent-related potentials (ERPs) measured via EEG can indicate how the brain responds to different foods.

Partially SupportedThe combination of polyunsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates may contribute to insulin resistance.

Partially SupportedEnvironmental hormesis does not introduce side effects, unlike xenohermetics which can have negative side effects.

Partially SupportedChanges in stomach acidity affect gut bacterial pathogens and communities, consistent with the stomach acting as an ecological filter.

Not SupportedMethylfolate or other biologically relevant folate forms would be better than folic acid in studies on methylation age.

Partially SupportedB12 is a nutrient that occurs only in meat.

Partially SupportedTotal urinary resveratrol metabolite concentration was not associated with inflammatory markers, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or all-cause mortality in older Italian adults.

Partially SupportedResveratrol levels achieved through a Western diet did not substantially influence health status or mortality risk in the studied population.

Not SupportedResveratrol has failed in human trials, with few showing beneficial effects.

Not SupportedResveratrol may cause DNA damage, worsen mutagenicity, and DNA breakage.

Partially SupportedEliminating carbohydrates from plants can be beneficial for insulin-resistant individuals by removing an additional insulin signal.

Not SupportedMainstream oncologists often incorrectly recommend protein restriction for cancer patients, potentially accelerating decline due to cachexia.

Not SupportedElevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), AST, ALT, or GGT may indicate excessive protein intake.

Not SupportedMental clarity, strength, libido, and stomach acidity can be maintained into old age.

Partially SupportedFirestarter, a supplement made from high-stearic acid suet, is designed to shrink visceral adipose tissue.

Partially SupportedThe type of fats consumed determines whether mitochondria become insulin resistant or insulin sensitive.

Partially SupportedLean chicken breast and lean red meat diets are not sustainable long-term without fat and carbohydrates due to human biochemistry.

Partially SupportedLow carbohydrate diets can be beneficial in the short term for individuals with metabolic dysfunction.

Partially SupportedStearic acid reduced visceral fat in mice by inducing apoptosis and cytotoxicity in pre-adipocytes.

Partially SupportedMost plants do not cause an appreciable insulin spike when consumed.

Partially SupportedEnvironmental hormesis, such as sunlight, exercise, sauna, cold plunging, and ketosis, activates molecular mechanisms that increase oxidative stress.

Partially SupportedFloating, sauna use, and ice plunging are beneficial practices.

Partially SupportedThere is essentially no good way to obtain adequate amounts of riboflavin from plant foods.

Partially SupportedConsuming protein above the amount that can be excreted as urea can lead to hyperammonemia.

Not SupportedProton pump inhibitors are associated with nutrient malabsorption, increased dementia risk, and pneumonia due to loss of stomach filtering function.

Not SupportedProton pump inhibitors should not be taken without understanding the root cause of GERD, which is often preventable and treatable through diet.

Partially SupportedEnvironmental hormesis, such as sauna and cold plunging, activates the Nrf2 pathway and increases antioxidant enzymes.

Partially SupportedSoy isoflavones bind to the 17 beta estradiol receptor.

Not SupportedProton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers negatively affect the gut microbiome by reducing stomach acidity.

Not SupportedXenohormesis is a flawed concept that conflates benefits from environmental hormesis, which can be achieved optimally through a lifestyle of sunlight, heat, cold stress, exercise, and occasional fasting.

Partially SupportedA highly acidic stomach is evolutionarily important for nutrient absorption and preventing microbial issues.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet has been associated with improved quality of life and dormant cancer in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Not SupportedProton pump inhibitors should not be taken without understanding the root cause of GERD, as GERD is often caused by dysbiosis and loss of microbial diversity, which can be corrected by diet.

Partially SupportedResveratrol has been shown to improve vascular function but not glucose metabolism in older adults.

Not SupportedFoods containing goitrogens like millet and cassava can inhibit iodine absorption and cause thyroid hypertrophy, especially on low-iodine, plant-based diets.

Partially SupportedRabbit starvation occurs when insufficient fat or carbohydrates are consumed for ATP production.

Not SupportedMushroom compounds may have side effects and are not ideal for human consumption.

Not SupportedLoss of stomach acidity with age is likely connected to nutrient loss and the development of insulin resistance.

Not SupportedMushrooms, including chaga, contain high levels of oxalates and may not be beneficial for human biology, potentially acting as survival foods.

Not SupportedLow dietary doses of soy isoflavonoids can affect synaptic spine density in the hippocampus of rats.

Not SupportedMany mainstream grain-based carbohydrates contain toxins that cause significant health issues.

Not SupportedFruit seeds contain toxins, lectins, oxalates, and phytic acid and should not be consumed.

Partially SupportedA minimum of 10-30% of daily calories should come from fat or carbohydrates to avoid metabolic issues.

Partially SupportedThe acidic stomach acts as a filter against pathogenic microorganisms.

Not SupportedSupplementing with monomeric or oligomeric flavanols caused hypomethylation, potentially affecting DNA methylation enzymes negatively.

Partially SupportedIn hospitalized diabetics, 75mg of vitamin C is superior to 25mg, but these individuals have inflammation and insulin resistance, impairing vitamin C utilization.

Partially SupportedCertain plant foods may cause problems for individuals not thriving due to inadequate detoxification.

Partially SupportedOleosans in oils like coconut and olive oil are generally fine and better than vegetable oils.

Partially SupportedIn humans with optimal antioxidant capacity from nutrient-rich diets and environmental hormesis practices, adding fruits and vegetables with polyphenols or isothiocyanates does not further increase antioxidant capacity.

Partially SupportedPaul Saladino's personal labs show normal 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, no elevated lipid peroxides, and minimal CRP, indicating no oxidative stress despite a lack of plant-derived polyphenols and isothiocyanates.

Partially SupportedModern humans consume a limited variety of hybridized plant species repeatedly, unlike ancestors who consumed a much wider variety.

Partially SupportedRuminant animals can detoxify many plant toxins through specialized bacterial systems and enzymatic pathways, a capability humans lack.

Partially SupportedFruits can be included in a tier-one carnivore diet if one is not insulin resistant, but the seeds should be avoided due to toxins like lectins, oxalates, and phytic acid.

Partially SupportedInsulin signaling in adipocytes promotes growth by activating lipoprotein lipase, which pulls chylomicrons from circulation for fat uptake.

Partially SupportedAmino acids can be used as building blocks for tissues, oxidized to glucose, or converted to ketones, with some yielding exclusively glucose and others exclusively ketones.

Not SupportedThe benefits of resveratrol are redundant as sirtuin activation can be achieved through fasting and ketosis without resveratrol's molecular side effects.

Partially SupportedPlaying outside in the sun, working out, and swimming in lakes and rivers are beneficial activities.

Partially SupportedHumans have historically occupied a high-level trophic carnivore position, indicated by stable isotope analysis of their bones and teeth.

Partially SupportedSome animals, like rabbits, have adaptations such as chewing grass excessively with an open mouth to allow toxic compounds to aerosolize.

Partially SupportedPlant foods are considered fallback foods for humans, supported by studies showing significant meat consumption in Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens.

Partially SupportedLow insulin signaling activates hormone-sensitive lipase in adipocytes, leading to fatty acid breakdown.

Partially SupportedResveratrol can ameliorate anemia in beta-thalassemic mice by activating Foxo3 and accelerating erythroid maturation.