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 retracted eardrum, also called tympanic membrane atelectasis, is a condition where the eardrum gets pulled inward toward the middle ear. Normally, the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) acts as a boundary between the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound vibrations to tiny bones that help us hear. But when it collapses inward, that delicate process can be disrupted.

The condition is often silent at first, meaning people may not realize they have it. But in some cases, it can escalate, causing discomfort or even permanent hearing damage.

Spotting the Symptoms

In most cases, a retracted eardrum doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. But when the retraction becomes severe enough to affect structures inside the ear, individuals may experience:

• Earache
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid discharge from the ear

If left untreated, a chronic retracted eardrum can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Why Does It Happen?

The most common cause of a retracted eardrum is Eustachian tube dysfunction. These narrow tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and help regulate ear pressure.

When they don’t work properly, pressure inside the ear drops, effectively pulling the eardrum inward.

Some common triggers include:

• Recent or recurring ear infections
• Cleft palate
• A poorly healed eardrum after rupture
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold

How Doctors Diagnose It

Diagnosis typically begins with a discussion about symptoms and any recent infections. A doctor will then use an otoscope, a tool with a light, to look into the ear canal. This allows them to visually confirm if the eardrum is abnormally positioned or collapsed.

Treatment Options: When to Wait and When to Act

Not all retracted eardrums require immediate treatment. In mild cases, doctors often recommend a “watch and wait” approach, as pressure may normalize naturally over a few months.

For more advanced cases, several interventions are possible:

Decongestants or nasal steroids: These can improve airflow in the ear and relieve pressure.

The Valsalva maneuver: This self-administered technique involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and gently blowing as if trying to pop your ears. It should be performed under medical guidance.

If the condition begins to affect hearing or causes persistent pain, surgical options may be considered.

Surgical Interventions

Two common surgical treatments are:

Tube Insertion (Myringotomy):

Often used in children with recurring ear infections, this procedure involves placing small tubes into the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear.

Tympanoplasty:

In more severe cases, part of the damaged eardrum may be removed and replaced with cartilage from the outer ear. This stiffens the eardrum, preventing future collapses.

What’s the Prognosis?

The outlook largely depends on the severity. Minor retractions usually resolve without intervention and don’t cause long-term damage. However, more serious cases, especially those that persist or press against ear bones, may result in hearing loss and need medical or surgical correction.

Experts recommend seeking medical attention if you notice ear discomfort, hearing changes, or frequent infections. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term issues and protect one of your most important senses, your hearing.

In a surprising discovery that bridges the gap between creepy crawlies and cutting-edge neuroscience, researchers at Virginia Tech have identified unique compounds in millipede secretions that could pave the way for future treatments for pain and neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, depression, and schizophrenia.

Led by chemist Emily Meyers, the research team uncovered naturally occurring alkaloids in the defensive secretions of the Andrognathus corticarius, a species known colloquially as the Hokie millipede. The millipede, which lives under decomposing leaves and branches on the university’s Blacksburg campus, produces a chemical cocktail that not only deters predators but may influence neuroreceptors in the brain.

“These compounds are quite complex, so they’re going to take some time to synthesize in the lab,” said Meyers, who specializes in studying underexplored ecological sources for potential new drugs.

A Hidden Chemical Arsenal

The compounds, dubbed andrognathanols and andrognathines by Meyers’ team, belong to a class of complex alkaloids. They were discovered after researchers collected several millipedes from wooded areas on campus and analyzed the contents of their defensive glands using a suite of chemical tools.

The results were striking: some of these secretions had a disorienting effect on ants, one of the millipede’s presumed predators. But that’s not all, several of the compounds were found to interact with a neuroreceptor known as Sigma-1. This receptor has been linked to multiple brain disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to warding off predators, the researchers discovered that the compounds may also serve a social function, possibly helping millipedes signal their location to family members in leaf-littered environments.

From Defense to Drug Discovery

This study, recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is not Meyers’ first foray into studying arthropod chemistry. She has been collaborating with entomologist Paul Marek, and together, they have previously suggested that the family of alkaloids found in millipede secretions could have significant therapeutic potential.

“Millipedes have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They’ve developed these intricate chemical defense systems, and we’re only beginning to understand their value,” said Meyers.

While the compounds show promise, the next hurdle is a familiar one in drug discovery: scalability. The compounds exist in trace amounts in the wild, and researchers need larger quantities for in-depth testing and potential pharmaceutical development.

The Road Ahead

The team is now exploring partnerships with laboratories that can synthesize the compounds in bulk, which would allow for further testing on their biological activity and medicinal properties. Meyers emphasized that while the research is still in its early stages, the potential applications are broad, from pain management to novel treatments for complex neurological conditions.

“Nature has always been a wellspring of inspiration for medicine,” said Meyers. “And sometimes, the most powerful solutions come from the smallest and most unexpected creatures, like a tiny millipede under a log.”

With this groundbreaking discovery, scientists are reminded once again that the natural world may hold secrets that, once unlocked, could transform human health in unimaginable ways.

Cancers are unpredictable and can be either containable or completely wreck your health. To make cancer treatments and research better, healthcare professionals use stages and characteristics, making it easier for us to categorize and identify how far along the disease is. However, recent research has been questioning our stance on this particular cancer, saying it could be worse than what we had believed.

A recent study has found that a specific type of prostate tumor, called Grade Group one (GG1), might not be as harmless as once believed. While many doctors consider these tumors to be at low risk of spreading and recommend monitoring them, the new research suggests the true risk might be higher. In fact, the study indicates that up to 30% of these cases could be more serious than doctors think, and a closer look could save lives.

Challenge with Current Practices

For years, men diagnosed with a GG1 tumor were often told to skip immediate treatment and instead undergo "active surveillance." This means they were regularly checked with blood tests and follow-up biopsies to see if the tumor was growing.

However, researchers point out a key problem: a single biopsy might miss more aggressive cancer cells located in a different part of the prostate. This could lead to a patient being undertreated, which could have serious consequences later on if the cancer grows. The authors believe that relying on just one biopsy to decide on treatment is a flawed approach.

What Are Low-Grade Prostate Tumors?

According to a 2022 review published in the Urological Research Society, the lowest grade of prostate cancer, called ISUP Grade Group 1 (GG1), grows very slowly. Because it is so harmless, some experts have suggested that we should stop calling it "cancer" at all. This has been done before for similar low-risk tumors in the bladder and thyroid.

The review summarized that even though GG1 tumors have some characteristics of cancer, their behavior is much more like a harmless, non-cancerous growth. The authors suggest that renaming GG1 prostate cancer could have several benefits:

• It could help prevent unnecessary treatments.
• It would reduce a patient's fear and stress.
• It could lower the financial costs for patients and the healthcare system.

Study's Findings

Challenging the view of previous studies, researchers sought to get a clearer understanding. To get a more accurate picture, the research team looked at data from over 300,000 men. Among those who were initially diagnosed with GG1 tumors, the team used additional factors like PSA levels and tumor size, which can be better indicators of risk.

By combining all this information, they found that a significant number of men—more than 18,000—were actually at higher risk and should have received more aggressive treatment like radiation or surgery. This data strongly suggests that as many as 30% of GG1 diagnoses might be underestimated, leaving many men without the full treatment they need.

Call for Change

The authors of the study are urging doctors to reconsider how they evaluate GG1 tumors. They emphasize that a "low grade" diagnosis from a biopsy isn't the same as a guaranteed "low risk" for the patient. They believe it's a doctor's responsibility to use all available data to accurately assess a man's individual risk. The goal is to ensure that those who need treatment get it, while still safely recommending active surveillance for the men who are truly at low risk.