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.

Many couples who consult a fertility specialist are advised to undergo Assisted Reproductive Techniques, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are many myths linked to IVF regarding pain and injections. According to the experts, the procedure is more manageable and less painful than commonly believed. This article helps debunk myths surrounding IVF injections.

Dr. Sneha Sathe, Clinical Director & Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Chembur, Mumbai and Dr. Anuranjita Pallavi, Consultant- Fertility & IVF Specialist, Motherhood Fertility & IVF , Kharghar, Navi Mumbai collectively listed some of the most common myths associated with the stigma surrounding IVF – whether it is painful, complicated, or even worth the financial investment.

Currently, many are opting for IVF, a process where eggs are collected from a woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then transferred into the uterus for conception. Couples may consider IVF for several reasons, such as blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, hormonal issues, age-related fertility decline, or unexplained infertility. For many, IVF becomes a go-to option, offering hope and a chance to start a family. However, despite its growing success, IVF is still surrounded by fear, especially when it comes to injections and pain. Social media, hearsay, and lack of awareness often make the process seem more difficult and can prevent couples from exploring it.

The IVF journey is different for each woman. IVF does involve medical procedures, but it is not as painful or overwhelming as people believe. One of the biggest concerns around IVF is the use of injections. These injections are given to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. While the idea of daily injections can be intimidating, most are administered using very fine needles and are relatively painless. Patients may feel slight discomfort, similar to a small prick, but it is usually manageable and short-lived.

Common IVF Myths Debunked

1. Myth: IVF injections cause extreme pain—IVF injections cause minimal discomfort, and women should not worry. Most patients experience mild and easy-to-manage pain, especially with guidance from an expert.
2. Myth: IVF is a very complicated and stressful process. While IVF consists of multiple steps, doctors guide patients throughout the journey. With proper counselling and support, the process becomes much smoother and less stressful for women.
3. Myth: IVF guarantees pregnancy in one cycle - IVF increases the chances of pregnancy but may not be successful on the first attempt. Success depends on factors such as age, health, and underlying fertility conditions. So, do not get disheartened if the first cycle fails. The first cycle provides a lot of information, and certain steps can be taken, along with changes made to the next attempt, in order to improve the chances of success.

Understanding the facts and debunking common myths can help reduce anxiety and build confidence in couples.

Couples often hesitate to opt for IVF due to the fear of injections and the assumption that the process will be extremely painful or emotionally exhausting. However, with advancements in fertility care today, IVF has become far more patient-friendly, safe, and comfortable than most people imagine. One of the biggest myths is that IVF injections are administered painfully multiple times throughout the day. In reality, most injections are scheduled and simple to administer, and many couples are even taught how to take them comfortably at home.

Another important aspect people often overlook is that IVF treatment today is highly personalised.

While some women may experience temporary bloating, mild cramps, mood changes, or fatigue due to hormonal medications, these symptoms are usually manageable and closely monitored by the facility team. Most women can continue their daily routine during treatment without any major challenges. Equally important are support, counselling, and clear communication with the fertility team, which help reduce anxiety and build confidence. It is necessary to understand that IVF is a step-by-step guided process designed to give couples hope and a better chance at parenthood. Hence, make sure to consult an expert, clear all doubts, and initiate IVF treatment as soon as possible to achieve the dream of pregnancy.

Everyone knows that when cancer is detected early, cure rates are far superior, side effects are much less, and treatment expenses are also less.

Diagnosis of cancer depends upon carrying out various tests and then their analysis to reach a conclusion.

How AI Supports Cancer Diagnosis

These tests are radiological, like Chest X-ray, CT scans, MRI, Mammography, etc., and in histopathology, analysis of tissue, be it a small biopsy, large specimen handling, or Frozen Section. AI is empowered with large data to suggest and analyze minute patterns that are difficult for a human mind to comprehend, supported by machine learning.

With the use of AI in the analysis of radiological data, it points out suspicious changes (data is fed into its memory), but they are not very clearly visible to the human eye. Hence, it alerts the radiologist to have a close look at that and enhances accuracy and reduces the chances. It is the radiologist who takes the final call because it has to be correlated with the patient’s clinical findings and other information from other investigations of the patient.

Early detection of breast cancer has received a big boost from the integration of AI in the analysis of mammography data. Similar applications are also used by pathologists when they are examining the tissues because the final diagnosis of cancer can be obtained on histopathology only.

Challenges In The Use Of AI

Use of AI is not without challenges: knowledge of proper tools and applications is critical. Results can not be relied upon blindly, and an expert is very critical of their analysis. Sometimes there may be an improper result that needs to be filtered out.

It's time to accept that AI is present and not the future, and we need to learn, adapt, and use it to the benefit of mankind. India is making great strides in AI, and many startups have also come up that are doing a great job.

The real strength of AI in the care of cancer mainly lies in its ability to support the doctors in making faster, sharper, and more well-informed decisions. It can also reduce delay in diagnostics, improve efficiency of screening, and help in detecting cancers at a stage where outcomes of treatment are much better.

Amid rising summer temperatures, along with pollution, eye specialists today warned that the heat and dust can add stress on the eyes, leading to dryness, allergies, infections, and irritation.

Delhi witnessed its first official heatwave day of the month on Tuesday, as scorching sunshine and dry winds pushed temperatures beyond 45°C across several parts of the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that conditions are likely to worsen over the coming days, with temperatures expected to rise to nearly 46°C on May 20.

The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Delhi until May 25, cautioning residents about prolonged heatwaves and excessive heat conditions expected over six consecutive days.

Allergies, Dryness, and Infections Common In Summer

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Bhavatharini M, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, said that summer conditions can significantly impact eye health.

“Summer places added stress on the eyes, particularly in cities like New Delhi where heat, dust, and pollution are significant factors,” she said.

Dr. Bhavatharini explained that common concerns during the season include dryness caused by increased tear evaporation while

• watching screens,
• allergies triggered by environmental irritants,
• UV-related damage,
• infections linked to swimming in poorly maintained pools.

Dr. Kalpana R, Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology at SIMS Hospital, also warned of problems that affect the eyes during this season, such as

• allergies,
• dryness,
• seasonal infections,
• viral and bacterial infections,
• swimming pool infections,
• migraine headaches.

She stressed the importance of maintaining proper hydration and following a balanced, nutritious diet to support eye health during the hotter months.

How To Prevent Eye Health In Scorching Summers

Dr. Bhavatharini advised people to take simple preventive measures, such as wearing UV-protective sunglasses, staying well-hydrated, avoiding rubbing their eyes, and using protective goggles while swimming.

“Persistent redness, irritation, or blurred vision should not be ignored and warrants timely evaluation by your eye specialist,” she added.

Dr. Kalpana further recommended wearing protective eyewear outdoors to shield the eyes from harmful UV rays and glare.

People travelling on bikes should wear helmets with visors to reduce exposure to dust and pollution, while swimmers should use swimming goggles to prevent infections and injuries associated with pool water.

For allergies, she advised people not to rub their eyes even if they experience itching.

“Just as a home remedy, you can use an ice pack over the closed eyelids or splash cold water over the closed eyelids to get some immediate relief,” she told HealthandMe.

Avoid Self-Medication

The experts also warned against self-medication in case of eye infections.

“And for viral infections and bacterial infections, if you feel that you get a sticky discharge and redness, you must immediately go to an ophthalmologist and get it treated. Never use over-the-counter medicines for any of your infections,” Dr. Kalpana said.

She added that people with common cold symptoms should wear masks and avoid touching commonly used surfaces if they have signs of an eye infection, as infections can spread through secretions.