Anthony Chaffee has a YouTube channel focused on eating carnivorously.
He is a medical doctor and neurosurgical resident from America and has dedicated over two decades to investigating the ideal nutrition for human health and performance. He firmly believes that the majority of chronic diseases that are treated in medical practice are a result of our dietary choices and can be reversed by adhering to a diet specific to our species.
Anthony explores the concept of plants as potential contributors to chronic diseases, arguing that many ailments treated by doctors today are actually caused by the food people eat, particularly plant-based foods, and can often be reversed with dietary changes. He delves into the evolutionary arms race between plants and animals, explaining how plants have developed various defence mechanisms, including the production of toxins, to deter animals from eating them.
The adverse health effects of plant toxins can range from acute poisoning, allergic reactions, severe stomach ache, and diarrhoea to long-term consequences such as effects on the immune, reproductive, or nervous systems, and even cancer.
Specific categories of plant toxins, such as lectins, are proteins found in many plants and can bind to carbohydrates on the surface of cells. Certain lectins can bind to insulin receptors, causing a greater insulin effect.
Consider the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in foods like cassava root and almonds.
These toxins release cyanide when damaged, such as through chewing. Cassava root, a primary source of calories for over 500 million people, contains cyanide, and the bitter variety can be lethal if not properly processed. Even almonds, commonly consumed worldwide, can be lethal in large quantities due to the cyanide content.
Anthony notes that, while plants do contain nutrients, they are not as bioavailable as we think due to the presence of nutrient blockers and digestive disruptors.
There are no vital nutrients in plants that cannot be obtained from meat.
Plants’s defence chemicals cause a significant burden of harm and illness in the population, he also suggests.
A shift in understanding and approach to chronic diseases is necessary. It’s helpful to view them not as diseases per se, but as toxicities and malnutrition resulting from a diet high in plant foods and low in meat.
- Meat is an excellent sources of complete proteins, containing all the essential amino acids necessary for the human body. Animal proteins are readily absorbed and utilised by our body.
- Animal sources provide key nutrients that are either lacking or poorly absorbed from plant-based alternatives. For example, Vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal products and is essential for brain function and the formation of red blood cells. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, are abundant in fatty fish and are crucial for brain development, reducing inflammation, and maintaining heart health. While some plant sources contain ALA, the conversion to DHA and EPA is inefficient in our bodies.
- Plant-based diets require supplementation while carnivore diets don’t.
- A carnivore diet eliminates potential allergens and anti-nutrients found in many plant foods. Certain individuals may experience sensitivities or allergies to common plant-based foods such as gluten, soy, or legumes.
There is growing evidence that suggests the carnivore diet can have positive effects on various health conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disorders, and mental health.
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