Advocacy for Less Processed Foods: Any diet encouraging less processed foods often yields better health outcomes than the Standard American Diet.
Carnivore Diet's Efficacy: It can lead to healthier lifestyles for some due to its focus on more filling and satiating foods.
Dietary Fiber and Health
Importance of Fiber: Contrary to Carnivore advocates, dietary fiber is crucial and contributes to various health benefits.
Human Studies: Multiple studies indicate the positive impact of fiber on health markers and outcomes.
Meta-Analyses and Cohort Studies: Research consistently shows that higher fiber intake is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and overall mortality.
Dose-response effect: For every 10g increase in dietary fiber, there's a 10% reduction in relative risk of these diseases.
Nutritional Study Challenges
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): Difficult to execute long-term nutritional RCTs due to participant dropout and varying adherence.
Cohort Studies: Track the same people for long periods, providing data on diet and health outcomes despite potential confounding variables.
Criticism of the Carnivore Diet
Lack of Long-Term Data: There's limited long-term evidence supporting the Carnivore Diet benefits.
Mental Gymnastics: Some arguments by Carnivore diet proponents involve complex rationalizations not fully supported by comprehensive data.
Nutritional Studies: Many nutritional studies are short-term and subject to biases and high dropout rates.
LDL Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Old vs. New Perspective: Initial skepticism about LDL cholesterol's impact on heart disease; recent evidence, however, supports its role.
Mendelian Randomization Trials: Showed a direct correlation between lifetime LDL exposure and the incidence of heart disease.
Apolipoprotein B: A protein associated with LDL that is a key factor in cholesterol deposition and atherogenesis.
Both small oxidized and large LDL particles contribute to atherosclerosis.
Red Meat Consumption
Carcinogenic Claims: WHO states red meat is likely carcinogenic.
Confounding Variables: High red meat consumption often correlates with poorer diet quality.
Proper Study Controls: In a study controlling for high fruit and vegetable intake, high red meat eaters had a lower cancer risk compared to those with lower red meat intake.
Primary Concerns with the Carnivore Diet
Low Dietary Fiber and High Saturated Fat: These can lead to long-term health issues, particularly regarding heart disease due to elevated LDL cholesterol.
Momentous Supplements
Supplement Advocacy: Endorsed by Dr. Andrew Huberman, aimed to improve sleep quality with ingredients like magnesium and l-theanine.
Benefits: Evidence-backed, money-back guarantee if not satisfied.
Personal Note
Acknowledgement of personal biases and history with high-quality animal protein research, funded by national dairy and meat associations.