Today’s Human Nutrition
– Part 1: False Narratives –

Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist

January 29, 2023

 

What makes something true? Is it because it’s based in fact, or because we’ve heard it so many times, we believe it to be true?

Take for example one of the most well-known accepted quotes from Star Wars, “Luke, I am your father.” Even those of us who aren’t into the Star Wars universe are familiar with that line. Except, it was never actually said in the movie! The line was, “No, I am your father.” Not quite as memorable.

Now, think about that old food pyramid we were taught. Grains are the foundation, followed by plants and fruit. We believed it to be true because it was so mainstream. But knowing what we know now, it was a terrible foundation for nutrition.

Here are some questions for you to mull over …

• What if almost everything you knew about health and nutrition was based on facts that are not factual?
• What would that mean for you and your family today?
• How would that change what you do for yourself and your family if you corrected those false narratives?
• And how would the influence of corporations “buying off” major nutrition companies change your mind about the food products you buy?

 

3 False Narratives

I don’t shy away from thinking outside of the box. Especially when it comes to my unconventional methods of nutrition and fighting cancer. However, my thinking is backed by a combination of personal experience and in-depth research. Sometimes, I don’t think my thinking is so out of the box after all. It makes a lot of sense. The truth is some of the narratives we’ve been told simply aren’t true. So, let’s talk about them.

 

#1. Humans require plants to survive and thrive: FALSE

Humans are not required to depend on plant-based nutrients to survive and thrive.[1] Humans are animals. As homo sapiens evolving on planet earth for over 600,000 years, we have preferred and required animal protein, animal fat, animal organs, bone marrow, and cartilage to become the dominant animal of our planet.[2] We are not plants or trees or shrubs. Our cells require basic, bioavailable elements to sustain our life.

In addition, many plants contain antinutrients.[3] Antinutrients are natural or synthetic compounds that interfere with our body’s ability to absorb other necessary nutrients in foods. Many of these antinutrient chemicals are produced by plants to harm or kill animals that attempt to eat them. Basically, antinutrients are a plant’s defense mechanism to prevent a plant’s destruction when animals eat them and then to assure that the plant’s ripening fruit will be eaten by animals who can spread the plant’s seeds for propagation.

We have been told that plant nutrients are critical for our health. Yet practically all the nutrients which humans require can be found in ruminant animals when eaten from nose-to-tail.

Ruminant animals include cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer, elk, giraffes, and camels.[4] But my easily-purchased and practical-to-eat ruminants are cattle and sheep.

These animals all have a digestive system that is uniquely different and highly specialized from the human digestive system. Instead of one compartment to the stomach they have four. Of the four compartments, the rumen is the largest section where most of the digestion occurs.

The rumen is filled with billions of microbes that can digest grass and other vegetation that humans with one stomach cannot. Humans cannot break down many plants because of antinutrients or indigestible substances inherent in the plants. However, ruminants can convert these plants and residues into high quality protein and other necessary nutrients that are eventually stored as bioavailable nutrients in their tissues. And all these absorbed nutrients are readily available to us when we eat these animals from nose-to-tail.

 

#2. Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) are the goals for humans to stay healthy: FALSE

Recommended Daily Allowances[5] are supposed to be goals we must meet. And an array of dietitians teaches us how to meet those magic numbers even though these RDAs were formulated from what were just guesses. Nutrition science is based around fundamental assumptions that have never been thoroughly tested.[6]

However, individuals eating a high-carb diet have a greater need for higher concentrations of some nutrients than those eating an animal-based diet with low carbohydrates. For example, individuals have maintained adequate and healthy levels of Vitamin C[7] and Magnesium[8] when on a strict animal-based diet. The reason: Vitamin C and Magnesium are in the ruminant animals we eat, and these nutrients compete with carbohydrates to enter human cells. The less carbohydrates we eat; the less amount of Vitamin C and Magnesium we need to be healthy.

 

#3. Normal ranges for most medical tests are based on healthy people: FALSE

The normal ranges of most medical tests are based on the average ranges for the average healthy individual. If your blood test results come back in the normal range, then your medical doctor will assume your results show you are a healthy person. The fact is that these values are based on a Bell Curve[9] that says that 95% of the population is normal and the 2.5% on either end of the Bell Curve are abnormal.[10] But at least 88% of the US population has been determined to be metabolically unhealthy.[11] So, how can these “normal ranges” be a goal for a healthy person if these “normal ranges” are obtained from a relatively unhealthy population? I believe a healthy range for various medical tests should be studied and obtained from the small percentage of metabolically healthy individuals in our population – not from a population of metabolically unhealthy individuals.

 

Concluding Thoughts

If you investigate human results from an animal-based diet, you may be impressed.

Paul Saladino, MD; Shawn Baker, MD; and Kevin Stock, DDS actively write about the medical benefits of an animal-based diet. Some recommend stricter “diets” than others, but each of these health professionals promote the consumption of ruminant animals eaten from nose-to-tail.

In addition, The International Center for Medical Nutritional Intervention (previously called the Paleomedicina Clinic) in Budapest, Hungary has been treating serious chronic diseases and cancers since 2011. They have treated over 6,000 sick patients with a strict animal-based diet with compelling results. The clinic has published case reports in various medical publications. Go to their website and click on “Scientific Work and Articles“[12].

I know your frustration; I’ve been there. There are so many diets and “healthy” methods out there that promise to fix your entire life. It’s hard to know what to believe.

How about taking some insight from someone who has been to the brink of death and back? In my 1:1 coaching plan, we go beyond just what you eat. My goal for you is to improve the quality of your life. It’s that simple. We look at your pain points and come up with solutions (usually unconventional methods!) to help you feel and be your best. Interested in learning more? Book a completely free, no obligation consultation. What do you have to lose?

 

[1] https://carnivore.diet/debunking-proper-nutrition/

[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.24247

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/antinutrients

[4] https://www.animalwised.com/ruminant-animals-full-list-and-fun-facts-206.html

[5] https://www.karelsavry.us/optimal_health/how_are_the_rdas_determined.html

[6] https://carnivore.diet/digging-up-the-real-data-on-minerals/

[7] https://nutriintervention.com/the-brain-researcher-says-szent-gyorgyi-was-wrong-its-no-use-taking-vitamin-c/

[8] https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7fh8h2vs

[9] https://communitymedicine4all.com/2018/01/19/understanding-the-standard-normal-distribution/

[10] https://www.labme.ai/blood-test-optimal-ranges-and-why-they-are-important/

[11] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/met.2018.0105

[12] https://nutriintervention.com/patients/

 

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