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.

One of the most common contributing factors in lung cancer is smoking but a recent report suggests an alarming pattern in which cases among non-smokers are on the rise.

Pope Leo XIV was recently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a type of aggressive cancer that develops in the cells lining the lungs. He had no history of smoking. The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery to have part of his right lung lobe removed. According to reports, he is out of the hospital and recovering well.

Another case is of Stanford physician Bryant Lin whose stubborn cough led him to seek medical attention. After six weeks, he underwent an X-ray. The diagnosis stated that he had stage 4 lung cancer. Lin was less than a month away from turning 50, and he had never smoked a cigarette in his entire life.

“Definitely a shock,” Lin recalled according to The Washington Post. By the time doctors identified the cancer in spring 2024, it had spread to his liver, bones and brain.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 10% to 20% of lung cancers in the United States are reported in people who have never smoked or have smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. That amounts to an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 cases annually.

For these patients, their no-smoking history can delay diagnosis and treatment. Hence, researchers are now looking into how environmental exposures, genetic causes and the biology of tumours may contribute to lung cancer in non-smokers.

Lung Cancer In People Who Have Never Smoked

Also read: Pope Leo XIV, Diagnosed With Lung Cancer, Undergoes Surgery As His Brother Battles Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Smoking remains the leading risk factor for lung cancer. But other reasons like exposure to radon, secondhand smoke, air pollution and asbestos can also increase risk. Family history plays a role, especially when a first-degree relative has cancer before age 50.

Researchers are also examining genetic differences that may help explain why some people develop lung cancer despite never smoking.

A study published in September identified a rare genetic mutation concentrated in the southeastern United States that was associated with a 60-fold higher risk of lung cancer among non-smokers. The finding focuses on a possible role for inherited susceptibility, but it does not explain most cases in this group.

Lung cancer also has a different demographic profile among people who have never smoked. Women who have never smoked are more than twice as likely as their male counterparts to develop lung cancer.

“Two-thirds of nonsmoking-related lung cancer happens in women, so there’s certainly an association with female sex,” said Jaclyn LoPiccolo, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who co-authored the mutation study.

She added, “Nonsmoking-related lung cancer is also more common in people of East Asian descent, but whether that’s a genetic or environmental association, we don’t yet know.”

These Cancers Are Often Diagnosed Late

Also read: Pope Leo XIV Resumes Daily Activities After Lung Cancer Surgery: How Recovery Looks Like After Lung Lobe Removal

People who have never smoked may not recognise a persistent cough or other respiratory symptoms as signs of lung cancer. Doctors may initially consider more common explanations if the patient has no smoking history.

Never-smokers are often diagnosed late at more advanced stages of the disease because their doctors initially consider lung cancer to be less likely.

Haiying Cheng, a medical oncologist at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center in New York, said the stigma surrounding the disease can compound the problem. “A cancer diagnosis should never become a judgment about a patient,” Cheng said.

She added that clinicians need to consider assumptions beyond smoking when it comes to lung cancer and focus on the patient’s risk profile and tumour biology.

Lin is receiving antibody therapy targeting a cancer-driving mutation. He had a positive response to treatment.

“The treatment has done wonders for me,” he said. “When I was a medical student or resident, I would have never thought a Stage 4 lung cancer patient could be very productive and have a high quality of life almost two-and-a-half years after diagnosis.”

In the United States, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low-dose CT screening for adults aged 50 to 80 who have a smoking history. People who have never smoked are not included in these recommendations.

As researchers dig deeper into lung cancer chances in non-smokers, there is growing interest in different screening recommendations. Taiwan, for example, has a national early-detection programme offering low-dose CT scans to non-smokers with a family history of lung cancer.

Lin has urged his own sons to consider screening at a younger age. “I’ve got two sons, and I told them, ‘When you hit 45 or even 40, think about getting screened,’” he said.

Many women in their forties come to my clinic with joint pain they have lived with for months, assuming it is part of getting older. World Arthritis Day is a good time to look at what changes in a woman's joints after 40 and why it pays to act early.

Why Does The Risk Rise After 40?

The biggest shift is hormonal. Oestrogen helps regulate inflammation and protects cartilage, bone and muscle. As levels fluctuate during perimenopause and fall after menopause, the joints lose part of that protection. A 2024 review in the journal Climacteric named this pattern the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, estimating that more than 70% of women experience joint or muscle symptoms during the transition and about one in four find them disabling.

Lower oestrogen also speeds up the loss of muscle and bone. When the thigh muscles weaken, the knee absorbs more shock with every step, which is one reason knee osteoarthritis becomes more common in women at this stage. Osteoarthritis, the gradual wear of the cartilage cushioning the bones, commonly affects the knees, hips, hands and spine. Old injuries, excess weight, and family history increase the risk.

Women are also two to three times more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the joint lining. It most often begins between the ages of 30 and 60.

Which Signs Should You Watch For?

One simple check is how long your joints stay stiff in the morning. Stiffness and pain that increases with movement is typical of osteoarthritis. Stiffness even with rest, especially with swelling in the small joints of both hands or wrists, suggests inflammatory arthritis and needs prompt assessment. Other signs include pain while climbing stairs or getting up from the floor, a grating feeling in the knee, firm bony swellings on the finger joints and tiredness out of proportion to your activity.

Not every ache after 40 is arthritis. Menopause-related pain, for instance, tends to move around the body. An examination, an X-ray, and simple blood tests can tell these conditions apart, so avoid self-diagnosis.

How Can You Protect Your Joints?

• Strength training: Muscle-strengthening exercise at least twice a week, focused on the thighs and hips, takes load off the knees.
• Low-impact activity: Walking, swimming, and cycling keep joints mobile without straining them.
• Weight: A study of adults with knee osteoarthritis found that every kilogram lost takes about four kilograms of load off the knee with each step.
• Diet: Get enough protein and calcium, and ask your doctor whether you need a vitamin D test.
• Daily habits: If your knees already hurt, limit deep squatting and long hours sitting cross-legged on the floor, wear supportive footwear, and avoid smoking.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Consult an orthopaedic specialist if joint pain or stiffness lasts beyond a few weeks or affects daily tasks. In rheumatoid arthritis, early treatment can slow the disease and prevent permanent joint damage. A suddenly hot, red, swollen joint with fever needs same-day attention, as it may signal infection.

Arthritis does not have to come with turning 40. Women who notice the early signs, keep their muscles strong, and see a doctor in time can stay active and independent well into later life.

By Dr Saurabh Bansal, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, PB Health

Holding urine occasionally, such as during a long meeting or traffic jam, is generally not harmful for most healthy adults. However, repeatedly delaying urination for extended periods may affect urinary health, particularly in people who are prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) or have existing bladder problems.

What Happens When You Hold Urine for Too Long?

When urine remains in the bladder for too long, it can become uncomfortable and may contribute to bladder overdistension. In some individuals, particularly those with underlying urinary retention or bladder dysfunction, regularly postponing urination may worsen existing problems.

While holding urine does not directly cause a UTI in every case, incomplete bladder emptying can increase the risk of infection.

Also read: Are People With CKD At Higher Risk Of Dementia And Cognitive Problems?

Why You Should Not Reduce Water Intake to Avoid Bathroom Break

People who work long hours or commute frequently should try to respond to the urge to urinate rather than routinely suppressing it.

Maintaining adequate hydration is equally important, as deliberately drinking less water to avoid bathroom breaks can lead to concentrated urine and may increase the risk of certain urinary problems like concentrated urine leading to crystallization and stone formation.

When Should You Seek Medical Advice?

If you experience persistent urgency, burning during urination, lower abdominal discomfort, difficulty passing urine or blood in the urine, seek medical advice. Developing regular bathroom habits and ensuring convenient access to washrooms can help support long-term urinary health.

It is also important to recognise when urinary symptoms may indicate a more serious problem. Inability to pass urine despite a strong urge, particularly when accompanied by severe lower abdominal pain or swelling, requires urgent medical attention.

Fever, chills or pain in the back or side alongside urinary symptoms may indicate a kidney infection and should be assessed promptly. Avoid assuming that such symptoms are simply the result of holding urine for too long.

By Dr. Vikram Kalra, Principal Director - Nephrology and Kidney Transplant, Aakash Healthcare Multi Speciality Hospital, Dwarka