Prepare yourself for the most epic, deep dive into the carnivore diet that you've ever heard. I recently listened to a physician named Paul Saladino debate research scientist Layne Norton about the carnivore diet on my friend Mark Bell's podcast. I was so intrigued by the episode that I decided to get Paul on my show to explore the science behind the carnivore diet, carnivore diet do's and don'ts, and whether the carnivore diet is a true, sustainable, natural, ancestral nutrition approach or just a dietary fad. During this show, we cover: -Why Paul is a raving fan of salmon roe...17:15 Humans cannot make Omega 3 fatty acids Omega 3's in salmon roe are in the phospholipid form Salmon roe crosses the blood brain barrier more efficiently than in the triglyceride or ethyl ester form (which you'll find in most fish oil capsules) Two tbsps of salmon roe gives you the DHA without being exposed to the metals Benefit of getting a nutrient from a food vs. from a supplement Concern with oxidation in fish oil: Look for certificate of analysis Look at levels of lipid peroxides Not nearly as much oxidation in eggs than the fish -Why Paul doesn't consume black pepper...21:15 A central principle of the carnivorous diet: plants are not put on the earth to serve humans Develop potentially toxic compounds to defend themselves from other animals A peppercorn is the seed of a plant The seeds are where a higher concentration of pesticides and toxins reside Pepper contains a compound called piperine, which inhibits UDP glucuronosyltransferase In essence: black pepper inhibits our body's natural detoxification process. Piperine is added to curcumin supplements to increase the level of curcumin you can absorb We don't actually use these molecules in human biochemistry Used to activate certain pathways to produce our own antioxidants (which is glutathione) Plants induce Nrf2, while simultaneously doing toxic things to our bodies Sulforaphane is considered to be a highly beneficial molecule as a precursor to glutathione pathways But is known to be a goitrogen (meaning it can induce hypothyroidism) Key take away: You can simulate the benefits of eating plants by eating meat and living a healthy lifestyle -Why Paul refused a cup of Kion Coffee when offered by Ben...30:45 Coffee is felt to be beneficial because of a couple of polyphenolic compounds: chloragenic acid and caffeic acid These have been found to be clastogenic (DNA damage) A coffee bean is the seed of a plant, which contains toxins as a natural defense mechanism Very few animals eat those seeds -Aren't plants like exercise, where you need them, but too much can be harmful?...26:05 Hormesis is potential benefit of plants Sulforaphane: Is linked to hypothyroidism Depends on one's baseline level of iodine consumption Does not exist in a plant Glucoraphanin is converted into sulforaphane by Myrosinase Highest levels are found in broccoli seeds and sprouts Humans are "facultative carnivores" meaning we can get everything we need from meat without ingesting the toxins found in plants. -Storage organs in plants that result in larger brains and smaller guts...46:35 Richard Wrangham Tubers Fairly toxic generally speaking Ancestral (non-hybridized) tubers aren't as valuable to humans due to size, appearance, etc. Developed big brains by eating bone marrow and brains of animals (as scavengers) No DHA, or fatty acids in a tuber Macronutrients for short term survival; micronutrients for long term survival Tubers have macronutrients, but not micronutrients Fossils of homo erectus found near water: algae, DHA, other micronutrients Just because tubers were efficacious for our ancestors doesn't mean we should choose them today Animals provide all the micronutrients we need in the most bioavailable forms The ultimate multivitamin for a human would be an animal -Why plants may not be necessary, could be harmful to the gut, and are "survival food"...50:50 Vilhjalmur Stefans