Lecture Notes on Meat-Based Diets and Athletic Performance

Michael Jordan's Diet

• Michael Jordan consumed a heavy meat-based diet.
• Game day meal: A large fatty steak eaten 5 hours before the game.

Historical Meat Consumption

• Golden era bodybuilders like Vince Garanda and Serge Nubret favored steak and eggs.
• Serge Nubret consumed six pounds of horse meat daily.
• Vince Garanda had a similar approach, eating primarily meat, replenishing carbs once a week.

Human Nutrition and Evolution

• Humans as apex predators have consumed meat for millions of years.
• Evolutionary diet consisted of fatty meat from large animals like megafauna.
• Transition to consuming bovine animals and dairy after megafauna extinction.

Diet Misconceptions

• Misconception: Carbs are necessary to replenish glycogen.
• Studies show ketogenic athletes replenish glycogen faster than carb-fueled athletes.

Personal Experience and Running

• Discussion of running longer distances on a fat-adapted diet.
• Mention of personal experiences and dietary adjustments before running.
• Experimentation with eating patterns and avoiding gels or unnecessary carbs during runs.

Interview with Alex McDonald

• Alex McDonald: A ketogenic carnivore athlete who ran five marathons in five days without consuming food.
• Demonstrated the capability of the body to function on fat stores.

Caffeine and Running

• Debate on caffeine's effect on running performance and lung capacity.
• Alternatives to coffee, like caffeine pills, to avoid plant toxins.

Electrolytes and Hydration

• Importance of balancing electrolytes and water intake on carnivore diets.
• Addressing cramps often relates to hydration rather than electrolyte imbalance.
• Advising to salt to taste and listen to the body's needs for salt.
• Dehydration often causes cramps more than a lack of electrolytes.

Magnesium and Cramping

• Magnesium deficiency can lead to cramping, but typically not sodium or potassium.
• Clinical observations show low sodium or potassium lead to severe symptoms, not cramps.

Understanding Lab Reference Ranges

• Lab reference ranges are averages, not optimal health indicators.
• Optimal magnesium levels may be higher than typical reference ranges.
• Misunderstandings about these ranges can lead to misdiagnosis of issues like low magnesium.