TheFa(c)tHunter

The article “The Surprising Science of an All-Meat Diet,” which I published last week, is now on the most-read list for health articles and uptrending. This morning, I also finished an interview with a major newspaper in the United Kingdom that was interested in covering my perspective on saturated fat and cholesterol for National Cholesterol Month in the UK. A brief summary of my two major positions, because I don’t think they’re at all radical. I’ll be as concise as possible and link to more information below. 1) First, the carnivore diet is a tool, not a religion. It’s a mistake to present it as the best diet for humans or to make strong claims that go beyond the literature, such as that it will improve longevity. What we can say, accurately and humbly, is that it’s helping many people who have struggled with debilitating disorders and failed to find support through conventional approaches. We can also say that there is strong biological plausibility for many of the conditions for which it’s being used, including mental health disorders and autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. That’s not definitive proof. But it’s a possibility that deserves curiosity and compassion, not disdain. If you want the full scientific breakdown in video form: “The Strange Science of Eating Only Meat” youtu.be/WJnPDQ0XRXA 2) The second major point I’ll make is that CONTEXT matters. Meat is vilified largely because of its saturated fat and cholesterol content. However, when it comes to improving the cardiometabolic health of the general population, focusing on reducing saturated fat intake is like worrying about a mosquito when you’re being chased by a tiger. We now have randomized controlled trial data showing that low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets (despite typically being much higher in saturated fat and cholesterol) can provide greater improvements in many cardiometabolic risk markers than low-fat plant-based or Mediterranean-style diets higher in carbohydrates, particularly in people with obesity and insulin resistance. More here: staycuriousmetabolism.substa… At the end of the day, I don’t fancy myself a carnivore fanboy. Just carnivore-curious and open-minded. That’s enough. P.S. There’s a tendency to make meat and diet unnecessarily political. Resist that tendency. What’s on my plate does not inform what I do at the ballot box. Stereotypes impair our ability to have thoughtful academic discourse. Ht/ @MikhailaFuller for her contribution (including the click-boost from her adorable baby) @EpochTimes