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Is a Carnivore Type Diet the Real Paleo Diet? With Loren Cordain, PhD

PS

Paul Saladino2h 18m · 2020-07-14

Support Rate

79%

178 of 225 claims supported

Support rate

178 of 225 claims supported

178 supported47 partial / not

Claims from this content

173

Well SupportedContinuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can influence behavior, such as preventing the consumption of high-sugar snacks.Well SupportedIf an individual is thriving, no dietary changes are necessary; if not thriving, question dietary assumptions and continue learning.Well SupportedRotational bison grazing increased soil organic matter from 1% to 5% over 20 years at White Oak Pastures, improving water retention.Well SupportedFasting insulin is the best test to assess insulin sensitivity, which is the most important metric for human health.Well SupportedThousands of people are following a carnivore diet and experiencing changes in various diseases, including autoimmune disease.

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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.

Well SupportedEating whole animals, including organs, provides a complete spectrum of micronutrients.

Well SupportedAvoiding seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes may be beneficial due to their defense chemicals that humans process less effectively than other animals.

Well SupportedSystolic blood pressure does not significantly increase with age in the Hadza population.

Well SupportedLiver and egg yolks are rich sources of folate.

Well SupportedAdopting a carnivore diet followed by an animal-based diet for four years resolved the speaker's eczema and asthma.

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

Well SupportedHypertension is primarily caused by insulin resistance unless a secondary cause is identified.

Well SupportedA well-constructed carnivore diet following a nose-to-tail template is the ideal diet for all humans, with some individuals able to tolerate additional plant foods.

Well SupportedA nose-to-tail carnivore diet provides the highest amount of bioavailable micronutrients with the least amount of toxins.

Well SupportedFree-living human populations exist that are free from chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmunity, cancer, depression, and dementia.

Partially SupportedThe spectrum of plant toxicity is challenging to define on an individual basis due to variations in genetic susceptibilities and detoxification abilities.

Well SupportedFruit may be acceptable for humans within an animal-based diet.

Well SupportedSeeds, grains, nuts, and legumes are toxic plant parts that eliminating can improve health issues.

Well SupportedEliminating nightshades like tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants may benefit individuals with autoimmune conditions.

Well SupportedHunter-gatherers who survive childhood have a life expectancy comparable to modern Westerners.

Well SupportedHuman dietary patterns are heavily influenced by geographic latitude, with more plant food available near the equator and more animal food in the Arctic.

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

Well SupportedCalcium intake on an animal-based diet can be supplemented with raw dairy or bone matrix supplements to reach recommended levels.

Well SupportedSodium intakes around 700 milligrams per day are associated with inducing high insulin resistance.

Well SupportedA fasting insulin level above 4 or 5 micro IU/mL warrants consideration of insulin resistance.

Not SupportedInterventional trials show no benefit for higher doses of vitamin C.

Well SupportedWhen managing autoimmune conditions, cleanse the system and reintroduce foods one at a time to identify offending agents.

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

Well SupportedThe desire for salt is a strong human desire because it is a critical nutrient that was rare in ancestral environments.

Well SupportedLectins are generally most concentrated in plant seeds, including beans, nuts, and grains.

Well SupportedSome plant foods can trigger immunologic reactions and cause inflammation, particularly in individuals with autoimmune tendencies.

Well SupportedIn healthy, insulin-sensitive individuals, sodium intake does not cause chronic hypertension, although it may temporarily increase blood volume and pressure.

Well SupportedPlant toxins are a greater concern for individuals with autoimmunity, immune dysregulation, or gastrointestinal issues compared to generally healthy individuals.

Partially SupportedIngested fructose is converted to approximately 41% glucose and 25% lactate in humans.

Well SupportedIn animals that cannot metabolize fructose, salt intake does not lead to obesity, hypertension, or left ventricular hypertrophy.

Partially SupportedLow sodium diets may cause the body to retain sodium and other substances, potentially leading to subclinical hyperinsulinemia.

Partially SupportedA low-level ketogenic state likely represents an ancestral norm, with humans potentially being in ketosis 80-90% of the time at low levels.

Partially SupportedFructose enters glycolysis directly below phosphofructokinase, leading to increased lactate or pyruvate and subsequent de novo lipogenesis.

Partially SupportedSome hunter-gatherer societies avoid most vegetables due to anti-nutrient content.

Partially SupportedOpening of gut tight junctions allows water and immune cells to enter the gut, potentially triggering an immune response.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet provides all necessary nutrients for optimal human function in the most bioavailable form.

Partially SupportedReintroducing acorn squash into the diet triggered a return of severe eczema within five days for an individual on a strict carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedThe Huaorani tribe can identify and reject foods with undesirable phytochemicals using over 30 words for phytochemical taste.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet eliminates all plant foods, removing the need for plant-derived nutrients.

Partially SupportedAn Amazonian tribe consumes over 70 different types of fruit annually, compared to approximately 10 types available in Western supermarkets.

Partially SupportedA high-salt diet can disrupt the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, leading to increased intracellular sodium and decreased intracellular potassium over decades.

Partially SupportedIn hunter-gatherer societies, fruits constituted 41.3% of total plant food intake, followed by nuts, seeds, and leaves.

Partially SupportedHunter-gatherer diets may have varied by latitude, with equatorial populations consuming more animals and fruit, and northern populations consuming more animals.

Not SupportedPlant-derived molecules like resveratrol and curcumin have side effects that are often not emphasized or disclosed.

Partially SupportedA meat-based diet may lead to the complete remission of multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Partially SupportedHunting large animals like buffalo can provide organ meat, such as a 12-pound liver.

Partially SupportedNutrients like selenium, magnesium, and B vitamins are abundant in nose-to-tail animal foods, including organs.

Partially SupportedTo thrive, one should limit consumption of plant leaves, stems, and roots and focus on fruit.

Partially SupportedMeat is a good source of potassium, and ancestral magnesium intake may have come from spring water.

Well SupportedIngesting upwards of 30-40 grams of fructose per day could negatively affect the liver and hepatic de novo lipogenesis.

Well SupportedA micronutrient smoothie can deliver approximately 588 mg of magnesium.

Partially SupportedHumans evolved a predilection for sweet, salty, and umami foods, and an avoidance of bitter foods, due to survival values.

Well SupportedHigh-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) for 12-20 minutes per week with 60-second all-out sprints can improve insulin sensitivity.

Partially SupportedMagnesium's primary historical source was likely water, and plant-based magnesium is not highly bioavailable due to oxalates and phytic acid.

Partially SupportedSeeds and nuts can be problematic for some individuals, though generally less so than wheat or grains.

Partially SupportedIncreased consumption of animal foods by hunter-gatherers generally correlated with better health outcomes.

Partially SupportedNon-sweet fruits like avocado and squash are hypothesized to be less toxic to humans than sweet fruits.

Partially SupportedLectins are plant proteins resistant to digestion that can cause problems, especially in individuals with leaky gut.

Not SupportedThe sodium-potassium ratio has been widely misinterpreted, and there is likely a need for potassium in the human diet, but not necessarily a specific ratio.

Well SupportedGliadin binds to the CXCR3 receptor on intestinal epithelial cells, triggering the release of zonulin.

Partially SupportedThe glycemic index is impractical to test for foods like watermelon due to the large amount of carbohydrates required for testing.

Partially SupportedThe Maasai people, who consume an animal-based diet, are taller and stronger than the Kikuyu people, who consume more plants.

Partially SupportedThe fruit of plants is much less likely to contain anti-nutrients compared to other plant parts, with the exception of fructose.

Partially SupportedMilk consumption can lead to a 5,000-fold increase in epidermal growth factor, which may upregulate receptors and allow more lectins into the systemic system.

Partially SupportedDiet significantly influences health, autoimmune illness, and inflammatory illness.

Partially SupportedCooking destroys approximately 75% of lectins, but a significant amount can still remain.

Partially SupportedWinter squash can trigger eczema flare-ups in some individuals due to lectins and fiber.

Partially SupportedAnimal foods were historically considered superfoods that fueled human evolution and brain growth.

Partially SupportedA patient with multiple sclerosis had a severe reaction to a DHA supplement attributed to carob extract in the capsule.

Not SupportedResearch vilifying sugar often uses animal studies with faster de novo lipogenesis and non-achievable fructose amounts for humans.

Partially SupportedLectins, such as PHA in kidney beans and WGA in wheat, can enter the system and exert biological activity.

Partially SupportedMolecular mimicry, where the immune system mistakes a lectin for self-tissue, can cause autoimmune responses.

Partially SupportedThe relationship between body fat percentage and protein percentage of energy is a cubic relationship with an R-squared of 0.99.

Partially SupportedNon-sweet fruits like squash, avocado, and olives are considered the least toxic plant foods from an anti-nutrient standpoint.

Partially SupportedPostprandial glucose and insulin spikes can affect the glycocalyx at the blood vessel level.

Partially SupportedHyperinsulinemia is a primary driver of insulin resistance and may contribute to smooth muscle hyperplasia in artery walls.

Partially SupportedA fasting insulin level of 8-9 on a low-salt diet may indicate the body is working hard to conserve sodium.

Partially SupportedMuscle glycogen is consistently replete even after fasting and a two-hour ride, suggesting high insulin sensitivity.

Partially SupportedLow salt diets may be associated with insulin resistance, and a meat-based diet would likely provide adequate potassium.

Partially SupportedCertain populations do not suffer from chronic diseases to the same extent as modern populations, indicating a 'squaring of the morbidity curve'.

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

Partially SupportedSpecific NMR probes are required to measure intracellular ion concentrations without altering ratios.

Partially SupportedEvolutionarily consistent ranges for human sodium consumption are likely between 1500 and 3000 milligrams per day.

Partially SupportedInflammation and a majority of the immune system originate in the gut.

Partially SupportedAnimals in the wild seek out salt, even at the expense of other needs.

Partially SupportedHumans were likely in ketosis as children, and a ketogenic diet may be the first time adults experience this state.

Partially SupportedWearing blue light blocking glasses can help block blue light, especially in the evening or at restaurants.

Limited ResearchThe dose threshold for fructose's negative metabolic effects is not yet known.

Partially SupportedThe primary disagreement regarding the carnivore diet is the sodium to potassium ratio.

Partially SupportedFire production has not always been consistently available to humans throughout history.

Partially SupportedT helper 17 cells can cause significant damage to the body when upregulated.

Partially SupportedT regulatory cells help to downregulate the immune system and balance the activity of cells like Th17.

Partially SupportedElevated Th17 cells are a common precursor to autoimmune disease.

Partially SupportedElimination diets like a 'clean carnivore reset' can take 30-90 days to identify trigger foods.

Partially SupportedThe carnivore diet is a reprisal of a plant toxicity spectrum, with well-raised animal foods from ruminant animals being central to the human diet.

Partially SupportedThere are two studies of carnivore diets in the medical literature: one from Harvard on the gut microbiome and one from Bellevue Hospital concerning Inuit diets.

Partially SupportedWheat germ agglutinin (WGA) may not be detectable in human plasma after ingestion because it binds to erythrocyte and leukocyte proteins.

Not SupportedConsuming high-sugar fruit can lead to dental issues like cavities and tooth decay.

Partially SupportedDe novo lipogenesis occurs more quickly with fructose in rats than in humans.

Partially SupportedIt is difficult to consume physiologically meaningful dosages of fruit sugars.

Partially SupportedPlant-based diets may worsen autoimmune conditions in some individuals.

Partially SupportedA low sodium diet is likely considered anything below 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of sodium per day.

Partially SupportedCooking may destroy up to 75% of lectins, and the response to lectins is highly individual.

Partially SupportedPotassium supplementation ameliorated salt loading-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in human subjects.

Partially SupportedFructose metabolism in the liver differs significantly from glucose and ethanol metabolism, involving specific transporters and phosphorylation pathways that can lead to de novo lipogenesis.

Partially SupportedAn increase in sodium intake leading to a decrease in fasting insulin suggests a prior sodium deficiency.

Not SupportedTelling people that diet has no influence on health is a significant disservice.

Partially SupportedThe Paleo diet, as initially presented by Dr. Loren Cordain, was groundbreaking and pushed nutritional understanding in a positive direction.

Not SupportedA diet consisting solely of animal fat is not an ideal human diet over the long term due to potential nutrient deficiencies.

Not SupportedKetogenic diets may lead to long-term nutrient deficiencies and potential hyperthyroidism.

Partially SupportedPrimates can become obese by gorging on fruit, suggesting a dose-dependent effect of fructose intake.

Partially SupportedA sudden, dramatic reduction in sodium consumption can cause a temporary increase in insulin resistance and a short-term catabolic effect, which reverses after a couple of weeks.

Partially SupportedA 1% hypertonic salt solution administered to mice for 30 weeks led to obesity.

Partially SupportedGreater fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, along with reasonable salt restriction, can protect against insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.

Partially SupportedConsuming approximately 1.5 to 2 pounds of meat per day can provide around 200mg of magnesium, which is within the body's capacity for urea synthesis.

Partially SupportedHigh fructose corn syrup contributes to fatty liver disease.

Partially SupportedIndividual genetic and immunological prints determine how molecules are presented to the immune system and trigger reactions.

Partially SupportedBy calorie, meat constitutes the highest percentage of the Huaorani diet, estimated around 55%.

Not SupportedLegumes and beans are not considered beneficial for health.

Not SupportedConsuming raw beans can be lethal.

Partially SupportedLong-term high-salt diet intake is associated with increased frequencies of obesity, insulin resistance, NAFLD, and metabolic syndrome.

Not SupportedConsuming raw wheat can cause severe illness and is strongly discouraged.

Partially SupportedThe NLRP3 inflammasome, elevated by reactive oxygen species, can lead to insulin resistance.

Partially SupportedThe Inuit population develops osteoporosis by their 50s, as analyzed from bone studies.

Partially SupportedConsuming a good amount of honey in a day did not result in insulin resistance or significant de novo lipogenesis with changes in body composition in a personal CGM test.

Partially SupportedUnderstanding human evolutionary history and ancestral diets provides insights for modern diets.

Partially SupportedThe Paleolithic diet is based on foods that were naturally available to humans and could have influenced their genetics.

Partially SupportedAnimal fats are devoid of potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamin C, and also calcium.

Partially SupportedCooking grains like wheat reduces lectins enough to avoid a violent reaction but may still lead to a dysregulated immune response over time.

Partially SupportedIncluding fruit in many hunter-gatherer diets corroborates the ideas presented in the carnivore code book regarding a Tier 1 carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedDietary changes can potentially improve energy, mental clarity, libido, or body composition for many people.

Partially SupportedEating whole fruit is generally not problematic due to its fiber content, unlike fruit juice.

Limited ResearchHigh fructose diets may not benefit humans if they are not calorie deficient, and the role of fruit in the human diet is questionable under such conditions.

Partially SupportedMarty Kendall's nutritional analysis indicated sufficient intake of all B vitamins and vitamin C in the speaker's diet.

Partially SupportedThe ideal diet involves a balance between obtaining necessary nutrients and tolerating or eliminating anti-nutrients.

Partially SupportedA good diet controls insulin sensitivity, provides abundant nutrients, and minimizes problematic anti-nutrients.

Partially SupportedAlmonds and other seeds are derived from ancestral fruits that contained high levels of cyanogenic glycosides.

Partially SupportedSalt restriction leads to insulin resistance, worsening of erectile dysfunction, and orthostatic hypotension.

Partially SupportedIt is difficult to consume physiologically meaningful dosages of fructose from whole fruits like grapes.

Partially SupportedPotassium is found in similar amounts, gram for gram, in animal meat as in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Partially SupportedA patient with fibromyalgia reacted negatively to green beans, suggesting they were an offending food.

Partially SupportedDairy proteins like casein and whey may trigger issues and contain IGF-1, making them evolutionarily questionable for most adults.

Partially SupportedBone marrow contains calcium, and bone marrow supplements typically list calcium as an ingredient.

Partially SupportedGlycemic load provides a more useful perspective than glycemic index for foods like fruit because it considers serving size.

Partially SupportedThe Paleo diet has been practiced for 30 years with positive results and is supported by approximately 50 studies.

Partially SupportedLow-level inflammation or autoimmune responses can result from consuming lectins.

Partially SupportedIt is generally advisable to avoid trigger foods entirely to prevent immune system activation.

Partially SupportedThe notion that autoimmunity begins in the gut was first proposed in a 1990s paper on rheumatoid arthritis and diet.

Partially SupportedEliminating dairy from the diet leads to better health outcomes for most individuals.

Partially SupportedConsuming approximately 2 ounces of liver per day is safe and provides a robust amount of folate.

Partially SupportedSmall quantities of wheat germ agglutinin can bypass gut epithelial cells and trigger an immune response.

Partially SupportedA human can survive on only animal foods and potentially achieve good health.

Partially SupportedThe amount of fructose used in many studies showing negative effects requires consuming approximately 16 apples, which is unrealistic for most people.

Partially SupportedEven small amounts of trigger foods like gluten or beans can confound elimination diet experiments due to the immune system's sensitivity.

Partially SupportedAn elimination diet removing grains, dairy, and legumes can improve food nutrient content and help autoimmune patients.

Partially SupportedMagnesium, folate, riboflavin, and other B vitamins can be obtained in sufficient quantities on a carnivore diet.

Partially SupportedIndividual responses to dietary components like sugars and lettuce can be influenced by genetics, family history, and exercise habits.

Partially SupportedA mutation in the urocace gene may have increased serum uric acid levels, potentially enhancing fat storage in combination with fructose.

Partially SupportedMammals generally do not store significant amounts of carbohydrate, and post-mortem carbohydrate is metabolized from muscle and minor liver glycogen.

Partially SupportedThe Yanomamö people, who consume less than 100mg of sodium per day, do not experience a rise in blood pressure over their lifetime.

Partially SupportedFruit, with the exception of very high-sugar varieties, is generally not problematic for most people.

Partially SupportedSome individuals do not resolve eczema or autoimmunity on Paleolithic diets that include plant foods, leading them to explore exclusively animal-based diets.

Partially SupportedWheat contains WGA, a lectin that can pass the gut barrier and elevate zonulin, leading to an imbalance between Th17 and T regulatory cells.

Partially SupportedPhysicians are recommending plant-based diets to patients with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Partially SupportedRabbit starvation is a potentially fatal condition caused by consuming only lean animal meat due to insufficient fat intake.

Partially SupportedThe evidence for a specific required sodium-potassium ratio in the human diet is not well-established.

Partially SupportedWheat has multiple mechanisms to dysregulate the immune system, with effects like celiac disease varying individually.

Partially SupportedA diet of animal products, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds is highly successful compared to a Western diet.