A carnivore diet is a restrictive diet that only includes meat, fish, and other animal products like dairy and eggs. More recently, it has been brought into the limelight by influencers and social media personalities. In fact, there is a whole community of "meatfluencer" who are sharing their meat-eating plans. One of them is Dr Paul Saladino MD, whose belief that there was no better way to prevent chronic diseases than a carnivore diet prompted him to write books and post videos regarding the same. He believed so much in this eating plan that he became a go-to person for many following the same plan, until recently, when he decided to quit.

Here Are Seven Reasons Why He Decided To Quit

Carnivore Diet Disrupted His Sleep

Switching to an all-meat diet isn't always straightforward, especially when it comes to digestion—a lesson Dr Saladino learned firsthand. He experienced sleep disturbances, likely due to the difficulty of digesting high-protein meals. Since protein takes longer to break down, it demands more energy from the body, which can interfere with rest.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, digestion slows by up to 50% during sleep. Additionally, many types of meat contain tyramine, a compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Increased tyramine intake can lead to health issues and also triggers the release of norepinephrine, a hormone that raises heart rate and blood pressure, making restful sleep harder to achieve.

He also experienced hypnagogic jerks—sudden muscle spasms that jolt the body awake. "I would fall asleep but then jerk myself awake like I was falling multiple times. It was stressful and traumatic, leading to poor sleep," he shared in his YouTube video.

Eating Only Meat May Have Triggered Heart Palpitations

Another concerning side effect Dr Saladino experienced was heart palpitations—episodes where his heart felt like it was racing or fluttering. While stress is a common cause, few would immediately link palpitations to meat consumption.

However, a sudden shift to an all-meat diet can lead to electrolyte imbalances. The elimination of carbohydrates lowers insulin levels, prompting the kidneys to excrete more sodium. This disrupts the balance of essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, which are crucial for heart function.

Muscle Cramps Became Persistent

Dr Saladino also suffered from frequent muscle cramps while following the carnivore diet. In a post on X, he emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate magnesium, calcium, and potassium levels to prevent cramping. He initially believed that animal-based foods provided sufficient minerals, but his ongoing cramps led him to reconsider.

"I started to think maybe long-term ketosis is not great for me,” he admitted on the *More Plates More Dates* podcast. “Probably not a great thing for most humans."

His Testosterone Levels Dropped Significantly

Dr Saladino also saw a decline in his testosterone levels after following the carnivore diet for over a year. "At the beginning of my carnivore experiment, my testosterone was about 800. After a year to a year and a half, it had dropped to around 500," he revealed.

The issue likely stems from excessive protein intake, which can elevate inflammation and disrupt hormone levels. A 2022 study published in Nutrition and Health found that consuming more than 35% of daily calories from protein can lead to various negative effects, including reduced testosterone.

He Had Chronically Low Insulin Levels

Because he largely eliminated carbohydrates—except for a small amount of fruit—Dr Saladino developed persistently low blood sugar. In his YouTube video, he explained, "I had very low insulin because I wasn’t eating carbohydrates, and the protein I consumed wasn’t insulinogenic enough."

While some diabetics report improved blood sugar control on the carnivore diet, its effects vary based on individual metabolic responses. For non-diabetics, low insulin can lead to hypoglycemia, causing symptoms like dizziness, confusion, a racing heart, and, in extreme cases, seizures or coma. Mild cases can be managed with fast-acting carbohydrates like juice or candy, but severe episodes require medical attention.

His Blood Test Results Showed Concerning Imbalances

Lab tests revealed that his magnesium levels were low, while his sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was elevated—both potential red flags for long-term health issues.

A magnesium deficiency can cause numbness, tingling, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and muscle cramps. Since cramps often strike at night, low magnesium may also contribute to sleep disturbances.

High SHBG levels indicate an excess of circulating protein in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression. To counteract these imbalances, introducing more magnesium-rich foods—such as leafy greens, nuts, beans, and yogurt—could be beneficial.

He Felt Cold All The Time

Electrolyte imbalances and metabolic disruptions can even affect body temperature, which Dr. Saladino experienced firsthand. "I was always cold,"he shared in his YouTube video.

Upon testing his thyroid function, he discovered that his total T3 and free T3 hormone levels were "not ideal." These hormones regulate metabolism, and low levels can slow down metabolic processes, leading to cold intolerance.

India is facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with hypertension and diabetes among the major health concerns.

Experts warned that the risk of both conditions rises after 40, often without noticeable symptoms. Increasing age, weight gain, reduced physical activity, stress, dietary habits, and metabolic changes can all contribute to the risk.

Having hypertension and diabetes together is particularly concerning, as their coexistence can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, retinopathy, and other complications.

Why Risk Rises After 40?

Dr. Santosh Gupta, Associate Director - CTVS, Paras Health Udaipur, told HealthandMe that several factors contribute to the rising risk after 40.

“After the age of 40, the risk of hypertension and diabetes increases due to factors such as changes in metabolism, reduced physical activity, weight gain, stress and dietary habits. What makes both conditions particularly concerning is that they can develop silently, without noticeable symptoms, while gradually affecting vital organs,” he said.

He added that uncontrolled hypertension can damage the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels, while diabetes can affect the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and cardiovascular system.

"When both conditions occur together, the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney complications becomes even higher,” Dr. Gupta added.

Because both conditions can remain silent for years, people may have high blood pressure or blood sugar without knowing it.

Also read: Breastfeeding Can Help Reduce Mothers' Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Breast Cancer and More

Hypertension And Diabetes Often Coexist

A recent hospital-based analysis found that hypertension and diabetes frequently occur together, with their coexistence rising sharply from around age 40 among Indians.

The study, conducted by the Department of Clinical Research and Preventive Health Program at Max Healthcare, analyzed health records of more than 56,000 adults who underwent preventive health check-ups between January 2021 and December 2024.

Nearly 5% of adults had both conditions. Their coexistence increased rapidly from around 40, continued rising until approximately 58 and gradually reached nearly 17% by around age 70.

People with diabetes were nearly four times more likely to have hypertension, while those with hypertension were about 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes.

Dr. Abhaya Indrayan, Biostatistics Consultant, Max Healthcare, said the findings support screening for both conditions rather than assessing them separately.

Why Screening After 40 Matters

Read More: Confused By Your Cholesterol Report? Here's What LDL And ApoB Really Mean

Experts said that preventive healthcare should go beyond checking for individual diseases. Adults over 40 should routinely assess key cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure and blood sugar.

Screening can help detect hypertension, diabetes or prediabetes early, when lifestyle changes and treatment can help prevent or delay complications.

“This is why regular screening after 40 is important, even for individuals who feel completely healthy. A routine blood pressure check, fasting blood glucose or HbA1c test can help identify hypertension, diabetes or prediabetes at an early stage, when timely lifestyle changes and medical intervention can prevent or delay complications,” Dr. Gupta said.

“Screening should not be viewed only as a diagnostic exercise; it is an opportunity to understand one’s health risks and take corrective measures before the disease begins to cause irreversible organ damage,” he added.

How To Lower The Risk

Preventive care also involves addressing modifiable risk factors. Regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting salt, sugar and highly processed foods, getting adequate sleep and avoiding tobacco can help lower the long-term risk.

For those already diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes, regular monitoring and adherence to prescribed treatment are important to reduce the risk of complications.

With the risk of both conditions rising after 40, experts recommend making routine health checks part of regular healthcare—even when there are no obvious symptoms.

Amid the ongoing monsoon season, Delhi-NCR is seeing a rise in H1N1 influenza cases, with Delhi reporting 1,344 cases so far this season.

The figure is nearly six times higher than the 229 H1N1 cases recorded during the same period last year, The Times of India reported.

According to health officials, Delhi recorded around 4,000 influenza cases last year, most of them caused by H3N2. This year, H1N1 is the dominant strain. Both H1N1 and H3N2 are subtypes of Influenza A and spread mainly through respiratory droplets.

What Is H1N1 and Why Is Testing Important?

H1N1 is a subtype of Influenza A and can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. These symptoms can overlap with those of other seasonal influenza strains, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), making it difficult to identify the infection based on symptoms alone.

Dr Aijaz Ilmi, Senior Consultant – Metabolic Diseases, Pacific OneHealth Hospital, told HealthandMe that testing is particularly important when fever or respiratory symptoms persist or worsen, especially among older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease, or compromised immunity.

“With the current rise in H1N1 cases in Delhi, we are also seeing other seasonal respiratory infections, including Influenza A and B, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viruses. At the same time, the monsoon season brings an increased risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue.

“The key message is, don’t panic, but don’t dismiss a persistent fever as ‘just a viral’. Early recognition is particularly important in vulnerable individuals.”

H1N1 vs Other Respiratory Infections: How Are They Different?

H1N1 can be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections because many of them cause similar symptoms.

• H1N1 and other seasonal influenza strains: Both can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. Symptoms alone generally cannot determine whether the infection is H1N1 or another influenza strain.

• COVID-19: COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, sore throat, congestion and fatigue. Some people may also experience changes in or loss of taste or smell, while gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
• RSV: RSV commonly causes a runny nose, cough and wheezing. It can be more severe in infants, older adults and people with certain underlying conditions. In young children, it can cause bronchiolitis and breathing difficulties.
• Dengue: During the monsoon, dengue can also cause fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, which may initially resemble a viral respiratory infection. However, dengue is spread by mosquitoes rather than respiratory droplets and does not typically cause cough or sore throat.

How Can H1N1 and Other Infections Be Prevented?

Dr Sharwari Sudhir Dabhade, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Diabetology & Endocrinology, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, told HealthandMe that prevention should focus on reducing exposure and maintaining good hygiene. Other measures to reduce transmission include:

• Washing hands frequently.
• Covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
• Maintaining good indoor ventilation.
• Avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated places when respiratory infections are circulating.
• If you have respiratory symptoms, limit close contact with others and wear a mask.
• Getting vaccinated against influenza, particularly if you are an older adult, young child or have an underlying health condition.
• Prevent mosquito breeding and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce risk of dengue.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Most viral respiratory infections recover with supportive care. However, should seek prompt immediate medical assessment in cases of

• breathlessness
• persistent high fever,
• chest pain,
• confusion,
• dehydration,
• falling oxygen saturation
• significant worsening of weakness.

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may face a higher risk of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders years before they are diagnosed with the gut condition, a new study has discovered.

The study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that the risk of psychiatric disorders began rising two to three years before an IBD diagnosis, peaked shortly after diagnosis and remained elevated for as long as a decade.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and other Swedish institutions analysed data from 43,862 people with IBD, comparing them with nearly 179,000 individuals from the general population and more than 26,000 IBD-free full siblings.

The sibling comparison was key as it helped researchers examine whether shared genetic or early-life environmental factors could explain any association.

Risk Of Mental Health Issues Increase Before IBD Diagnosis

Also read: Monsoon Gut Health: Addressing The Rise In Rotavirus And Viral Gastroenteritis Cases

The study found that the risk of developing any mental health disorder was already 15% higher two years before IBD diagnosis. It increased further around the time of diagnosis, reaching a roughly 50% higher risk within the first six months.

Although the risk reduced afterwards, it remained about 19% higher even 10 years after diagnosis. Major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and substance misuse accounted for much of the increase.

Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication use also began rising around a year before the IBD diagnosis.

Researchers called for mental health screening to begin early, including during the initial gastroenterology evaluation.

“It is time to actively manage psychiatric conditions in patients with IBD,” said Jiangwei Sun, PhD, the study’s lead author.

Why Depression And Anxiety Appear Before IBD Is Diagnosed?

Also read: Following A Western Diet? Changes In Your Gut Bacteria Could Increase Colon Cancer Risk

IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract.

One possible explanation is the gut-brain axis, the two-way communication system connecting the digestive system and brain.

Inflammation, changes in gut bacteria and abnormal immune activity may affect brain function and overall mood. At the same time, stress and psychological distress can affect the gastrointestinal symptoms.

But researchers caution that the study merely shows an association, not proof that IBD directly causes depression or anxiety.

Some people may experience subtle or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms before receiving an official diagnosis, while the uncertainty and disruption caused by chronic symptoms could also affect mental health.

Mounting Evidence

The findings follow previous research that shows psychiatric symptoms can surface before the patient is diagnosed with IBD.

A 2023 study examining longitudinal health records found that anxiety and depression occurred more frequently among people who were later diagnosed with IBD.

In a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis, it was observed that patients with a history of depression may have a small-to-moderate increased risk of subsequently developing IBD, suggesting that the relationship between the gut and mental health could work in both directions.

The new findings therefore signal that mental health symptoms may sometimes arrive years before IBD itself is formally diagnosed in patients.

For doctors, researchers say this highlights the need to treat IBD as more than a digestive disease, with psychological support and screening considered part of long-term care.