Today's episode focuses on the carnivore diet, which consists solely of meat and has gained popularity despite its unusual nature.
Professor Christopher Gardner highlights that people may be drawn to this diet due to their love for meat and the desire for an excuse to consume it.
The diet strictly excludes plant foods, eggs, and dairy, and the hosts express curiosity about its potential health benefits.
Christopher Gardner explains that a diet without indigestible carbohydrates would affect the microbiome, leading to potential health issues.
He emphasizes that the microbiome in the gut needs fiber for fuel, which is found in carbohydrates.
Gardner points out that a meat-based diet lacks carbohydrates and fiber, which could result in constipation and a lack of essential nutrients.
The more restrictive your diet is, the more likely you will have nutrient deficiencies that none of those fruits, grains, vegetables, none of them have all the nutrients. You need a variety in your diet and you could not get that from a meat only diet.
When you have such a restrictive diet, you might be hungry for a piece of bread. Nope, can't have that. Hungry for some beans. Nope, can't have that. Hungry for some vegetables. Nope, can't have that. Are you hungry for another piece of steak?
The excess protein is going to get turned into carbohydrate. The fat from meat is going to be a lot of saturated fat. So in the world of people with diabetes, it's well recognized that they have three times the heart disease rate of people without diabetes.
Christopher Gardner emphasizes promoting less carbs and unsaturated fats for a healthy diet.
He points out that human anatomy and history suggest an omnivorous diet, unlike carnivorous animals.
There are no substantial scientific studies on the carnivore diet, making it difficult to draw conclusions about its health effects.
Gardner firmly rejects the carnivore diet, likening it to extremely restrictive diets and deeming it unrealistic.