Hello, welcome to The Carnivore Health Weblog. My name is Danny Roddy. I'm 24 years old, 5'11", 145 lbs, 12% BF (Sept 2009), and I play in the rock band Beta Wolf.
In 2007, my poor health was beginning to become unbearable (low thyroid, low testosterone, low estrogen, low adrenals, psoriasis, edema, hunger, depression and other endocrine abnormalities). While I knew diet played a large part in health, I was more concerned with trying to find a "magic mix" of supplements to deal with my problems.
I learned about a zero carb diet originally from The Bear in early 2008, but was hesitant to try it, since I didn't identify with a lot of what he was saying at the time. Later, I stumbled upon Charles Washington, who blew my mind with his zest for the zero carb lifestyle. After my paradigm was shifted, with a ton of science to boot, I was ready to give it another shot. I started a carnivorous diet in July of 2008 and haven't looked back.
By way of research and personal experience, my posts on Carnivore Health are motivated by the conclusions made in the afterword of Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.
"1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease, or any other chronic disease of civilization.
2.The problem is the carbohydrates in the diet, their effect on insulin secretion, and thus the hormonal regulation of homeostasis – the entire harmonic ensemble of the human body. The more easily digestible and refined the carbohydrates, the greater the effect on our health, weight and well being.
3. Sugars – sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup specifically – are particularly harmful, probably because the combination of fructose and glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels while overloading the liver with carbohydrates.
4. Through their direct effect on insulin and blood sugar, refined carbohydrates, starches, and sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease and diabetes, They are most likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and the other chronic diseases of civilization.
5. Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating, and not sedentary behavior.
6. Consuming excess calories does not CAUSE us to grow fatter, any more than it causes a child to grow taller. Expending more energy than we consume does not lead to long-term weight loss; it leads to hunger.
7. Fattening and obesity are caused by an imbalance-a disequilibrium-in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue and fat metabolism. Fat synthesis and storage exceeds the mobilization of fat from the adipose tissue and its subsequent oxidation. We become leaner when the hormonal regulation of fat tissues reverses this balance.
8. Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels are elevated- either chronically or after a meal- we accumulate fat in our fat tissue. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from our fat tissue and use it as fuel.
9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbohydrates make us fat and ultimately cause obesity. The fewer carbohydrates we consume, the leaner we will be.
10. By driving fat accumulation, carbohydrates also increase hunger and decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism and physical activity."
Make sure to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Trust no one, including me. I make no profit off of this weblog, and its main purpose is for me to continue my research about the human body. Please do not confuse me for a guru or an expert, I can only offer guidance in the form of my limited personal experience.
Thanks for visiting,
Danny Roddy