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.

A mammogram is routinely used to detect early signs of breast cancer, but the imaging test may also provide clues about a woman’s cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death among women. Yet, experts say heart disease in women can be overlooked because symptoms and risk factors may differ from the patterns traditionally associated with men.

Why Heart Disease Can Be Missed In Women

Prof Rob Galloway of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, writing in the Daily Mail, highlighted the need to identify cardiovascular disease in women earlier.

Citing a 2021 The Lancet study, he noted that women with cardiovascular disease remain “understudied, under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.”

Galloway said he regularly sees women, particularly those in their 60s, arriving in emergency care with heart attacks after earlier symptoms were attributed to less serious causes.

“If that had been recognized, she could have been admitted, and if needed, had a stent (a mesh tube) inserted to open the artery before it was blocked,” he wrote.

“The truth is doctors are not as good as we should be at recognizing heart disease in women, or understanding their risk,” he added.

Heart Attack Symptoms May Look Different In Women

Women may experience heart attacks differently, with symptoms such as breathlessness, nausea, fatigue, or back, neck and jaw pain. Galloway also highlighted female-specific risk factors, which include:

• Preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy
• Gestational diabetes
• Premature menopause
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

He said these factors are not always routinely included when assessing a woman’s long-term cardiovascular risk.

What Can A Mammogram Reveal About Heart Risk?

Prof Galloway suggested that routine breast screening could potentially offer another opportunity to identify cardiovascular risk.

When blood vessels are damaged, calcium can accumulate in their walls. Mammograms can sometimes detect calcium deposits in the arteries of the breast, known as breast arterial calcification (BAC).

BAC is different from calcium buildup in the coronary arteries, but its presence has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Some radiologists may therefore flag the finding to the treating doctor.

Could AI Detect Heart Risk From Mammograms?

Prof Galloway also discussed the potential role of artificial intelligence in identifying and measuring breast arterial calcification.

A European Heart Journal study used AI to assess mammograms from over 123,500 US women. Compared with no calcification, mild breast arterial calcification was linked to a 30% higher cardiovascular event risk, moderate to 75–80% higher risk, and severe to roughly three times higher risk.

The association persisted even after researchers accounted for established cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

Could Mammograms Become A Cardiovascular Screening Tool?

Prof Galloway said that the potential advantage is that the mammogram has already been performed for breast screening. If arterial calcification is identified, that information could potentially be included with the screening result and prompt a broader cardiovascular risk assessment.

Depending on the woman's overall risk, doctors could then consider measures such as more intensive management of blood pressure or cholesterol.

A coronary artery calcium scan is another way to assess calcium buildup in the arteries supplying the heart. It uses a CT scan to detect and measure coronary artery calcium and can help inform cardiovascular risk assessment in appropriate patients.

There are many patients with CKD and CKD touches more than just the kidneys. CKD also influences parts of the body and as kidney function falls changes in the body can affect the brain. This may raise the chance of memory problems trouble concentrating and other types of impairment. For people living with CKD, those whose disease is advanced protecting cognitive health can become an important part of overall care.

CKD can arise from causes with diabetes as a leading one. In some groups diabetes accounts for than half of CKD cases. When diabetes meets CKD, the risk of vascular disease rises. This disease builds fatty deposits inside blood vessels. If those vessels feed the brain blood flow can drop. Reduced brain blood flow can lead to problems and raise the risk of dementia.

Waste Build-Up And Electrolyte Changes May Affect Thinking

Another important factor is the build‑up of waste in the blood. Healthy kidneys waste and excess substances. When CKD lowers kidney function these substances linger. The lingering waste can disturb brain function. Symptoms may include trouble paying attention, slower thinking, confusion or memory problems.

Electrolyte disturbances can also play a role especially when CKD changes the balance of minerals in the body.

Hyponatremia or abnormally low levels of sodium in the blood is relatively common in people with CKD. It can disturb brain function.

Depending on severity and how fast it appears hyponatremia can cause confusion, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness and in cases more serious neurological symptoms.

Also read: Diabetes Linked To 55% Risk Of Kidney Disease, Heart Failure Or Death Within 10 Years: Study

How Dialysis And Treatment History Can Influence Cognitive Health

Treatment‑related factors may also be relevant for some patients.

In the past dialysis patients who received aluminium‑containing medicines, such as some antacids or phosphate‑binding preparations faced a risk of aluminium build‑up. High levels of aluminium were linked to problems, including cognitive impairment. Today dialysis practices and medicines have cut this risk dramatically so aluminium is now an issue rather than a common cause of cognitive problems in dialysis patients.

Why Early Recognition Of Cognitive Changes Matters

As CKD moves forward into advanced stages the risk of cognitive impairment grows. Many factors can act together: disease, metabolic and electrolyte changes, anaemia, inflammation, heart complications and the build‑up of toxins that healthy kidneys would normally flush away.

Not every person with CKD will develop dementia. Cognitive changes should not be brushed off as normal ageing. New problems, with memory, concentration orientation or daily tasks need to be talked about with a doctor.

Early recognition is important because some of these factors can be treated or reversed.

Keeping diabetes and blood pressure under control managing heart risk factors correcting electrolyte imbalances and getting kidney care all help protect both kidney and brain health.

Plastics are everywhere today. It is woven into our clothes, tucked into children's toys, used in food containers, and found in almost every household products. A new analysis has raised concerns about the chemicals used to make these products and the health hazards due to constant exposure.

According to an investigation reported by CNN, nearly 93% of known plastic chemicals used in everyday products were classified as posing a high risk to human health. The analysis looked at plastics used in food-contact materials, toys, clothing and textiles, household products, and hygiene and medical products.

Also Read: Delhi HC Backs Reproductive Autonomy For Women With Disabilities: When Is Hysterectomy Medically Necessary?

The findings highlight how widespread exposure to hazardous chemicals can affect our health and how much remains unknown about their long-term effects.

Exposure To Plastic Chemicals

A researcher at Environmental Justice Foundation, Naima Fenderl’s Poison Plastics: How Chemicals in Everyday Plastics are Harming Your Health released recently and revealed astounding facts about plastic chemicals.

She said, “We looked at what these plastic chemicals can do to the body along with exposure levels to calculate overall health risk.” The analysis found that:

• Nearly 92% of chemicals in food-related plastics were considered high risk.
• Almost 89% of children's toys contained high-risk plastics.
• Around 93% of textiles and clothing involved dangerous chemicals.
• More than 92% of common household products contained high-risk chemicals.
• Nearly 93% of hygiene and medical plastics contained potentially dangerous chemicals.

The chemicals are not necessarily the plastic itself. Many are additives that are used to make plastics flexible, durable, heat-resistant, or less likely to catch fire.

Also read: Botox And Fillers: UK Watchdog Says Clinics Should Check Mental Health Before Injecting

Health Problems Caused By Plastic Chemicals

Some plastic chemicals have been linked to cancer, genetic changes and problems affecting the hormonal, reproductive and organ systems. Among the chemicals of concern are bisphenols, phthalates, and PFAS, which can be used in different plastic products.

Some of these chemicals can interfere with the body's endocrine system, which controls hormones involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and development.

The concern is important for children and during pregnancy because hormonal systems and organ development may be more vulnerable to certain chemical exposures.

The report also highlighted the challenge of lack of sufficient data to certainly assess health risks posed by these plastic chemicals. Almost 80% of the 3,552 chemicals in plastics people often use everyday lacked sufficient data to understand health risks.

“We simply do not have a clue what harm those chemicals might be causing us and our kids,” Dr. Philip Landrigan, director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health and the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College told CNN.

He added, “We don’t even know the names or composition of a lot of the chemicals that are in consumer products — the chemical industry presumably has that information, but it’s not publicly available.”

Microplastics Are Part Of The Problem Too

Chemical exposure is only one part of the plastic problem. Tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics, and even smaller nanoplastics, can also enter our bodies through food and water.

University of Columbia released an analysis of plastic bottled water based on a laser-based highly sensitive imaging technique. It found an average of around 240,000 plastic particles per litre, with most nanoplastics.

These particles can come from the bottle, the cap, manufacturing, and handling. Opening and closing the bottle repeatedly can also create friction between the cap and bottle neck, releasing tiny plastic fragments.

Larger particles are generally expected to pass through the digestive system. But nanoplastics are small enough to cross biological barriers.

Research has found that plastic particles can reach the circulatory system and other tissues, but scientists still do not know exactly which particles cross these barriers most easily, how much accumulates in the body or what level of exposure causes harm.

What Is The Solution?

Quitting using plastic entirely is not practical for most people. Instead, reducing avoidable exposure could be a sensible approach.

Avoid heating food in plastic containers, particularly when the container is not designed for high temperatures. Using glass or stainless steel for hot food and drinks can also reduce reliance on plastic food-contact materials.

Filtration or boiling of drinking water may help reduce some microplastics. But doctors believe that heat may only alter some plastic particles, not destroy them completely.