The Carnivore Diet

In this video, I take a hard look at the carnivore diet—beyond the hype, the hashtags, and the meat-stack thumbnails. With a focus on historical precedent, biochemical mechanisms, and real-world testimonials, I lay out the uncomfortable truths many advocates avoid. Is eating nothing but meat really sustainable for the body—or the brain? I unpack the medical literature, the cultural myths, and the sometimes dangerous outcomes of a zero-carb lifestyle.

We examine scientific studies, indigenous dietary patterns, and long-term effects on cholesterol, amino acids, and mental health. From Eskimo heart health myths to the biochemical pathways most influencers skip over, this video aims to bridge the gap between evidence and ideology. I also dive into personal stories of those who left the diet worse off than when they started, including a few who faced life-threatening issues from nutrient imbalances and excessive restriction.

Whether you're already on the carnivore diet, considering it, or recovering from it, this video arms you with the tools to evaluate it critically. Every claim I make is sourced, every argument built from peer-reviewed data and historical analysis. Scroll down for links to every reference I used—including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and PubMed studies. And don’t miss the chapter markers to jump straight to the section that matters to you.

01:22 - Why This Video Exists
04:08 - The Seduction of Simplicity
06:15 - The Meat Myth and Modernity
08:47 - Let’s Talk Cholesterol
12:32 - LDL and Heart Health: The Data
16:00 - Are Indigenous Diets Proof?
20:55 - The Eskimo Studies
24:00 - Gallstones, Liver Function, and Bile
27:18 - Protein Excess and Cancer Links
30:44 - Depression and Mental Fatigue
34:19 - Real People, Real Consequences
38:01 - Carnivore’s Echo Chamber
41:00 - Final Thoughts

1. Harvard Health: [https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/what-is-the-carnivore-diet](https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/what-is-the-carnivore-diet)
2. American Heart Association: [https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/hdl-good-ldl-bad-cholesterol-and-triglycerides/lower-your-ldl](https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/hdl-good-ldl-bad-cholesterol-and-triglycerides/lower-your-ldl)
3. Johns Hopkins: [https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/high-cholesterol/cholesterol-in-the-blood](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/high-cholesterol/cholesterol-in-the-blood)
4. Healthline: [https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet#what-it-is](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet#what-it-is)
5. Diagnosis Diet: [https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/full-article/all-meat-diets#:\~:text=Meet%20the%20meat%20mongers](https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/full-article/all-meat-diets#:~:text=Meet%20the%20meat%20mongers)
6. CAB International Digital Library: [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19292701145](https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19292701145)
7. Silk Road Foundation: [http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/vol10/SilkRoad\_10\_2012\_eisma.pdf](http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/vol10/SilkRoad_10_2012_eisma.pdf)

**Studies/Scientific Articles**
8\. Greenland Eskimos (1972): [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7435433/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7435433/)
9\. Western vs Traditional Diets: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18237575/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18237575/)
10\. Chukotka Natives: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11507962/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11507962/)
11\. Inuit Blood Pressure: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11896135/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11896135/)
12\. Inuit Mortality: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12535749/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12535749/)
13\. Gallstones & Diet: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5107799/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5107799/) | NEJM: [https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM197104012841304](https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM197104012841304)
14\. Nutritional Biochemistry: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6133159/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6133159/)
15\. JBC 1930 Study: [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)76842-7/fulltext](https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258%2818%2976842-7/fulltext) | PDF: [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)76842-7/pdf](https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258%2818%2976842-7/pdf)
16\. Carnivore Diet Review (PMC): [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8684475/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8684475/)
17\. Nature - Amino Acids & Cancer: [https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-020-0375-3](https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-020-0375-3)
18\. Amino Acids & Cancer Link (PMC): [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4254277/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4254277/)