The Confusing World of Health Science: A Month of Discovery and Reflection

I recently embarked on my own personal "month of science," diving deep into the world of scientific literature. This journey was sparked by reading the eight insightful books by Dr. Sakitani.

For the first time, I found myself engrossed in the studies listed in the references, something I had never bothered with during my college days. Back then, I was more focused on just getting through formal education. Fast forward to 2024, my health has become a major focus, and I’ve found myself caught in a web of diverging views on what’s truly beneficial for our well-being. My quest for answers has turned me into a kind of citizen scientist, poring over hundreds of research papers, trying to discern the truth. Ironically, I now feel more confused than ever. This article is a brief recap of my recent research journey and my next steps—hopefully.

It all started with Dr. Sakitani's books, which I stumbled upon while exploring the debate over seed oils. I wanted to find out if there were any local doctors conducting research in this area. The Ancestral Diet Revolution mentioned some Japanese doctors who opposed vegetable oils, but they seemed either too quiet or naive about the harms of seed oils. Dr. Sakitani stood out as a clear voice against seed oils, presenting credible evidence to support his claims.

Despite considering him a serious scientist, understanding his ideas wasn't easy. His books are dense with mechanistic explanations of biology and medicine, which I found overwhelming. I also struggled with his stance on carbs, fasting, and the ketogenic diet. While many success stories and numerous studies support the ketogenic diet's effectiveness compared to the Standard American Diet, Dr. Sakitani remains opposed to it. He advocates for high sugar intake to fuel mitochondrial function and optimize metabolism, recommending a minimum of 300 grams of carbs daily and personally consuming 500 grams of sugar daily.

This led me to an interesting connection with Dr. Saladino, who advocates for an "animal-based" diet. He transitioned from being a "Carnivore MD" to promoting high-quality carbs, consuming around 300 grams of carbohydrates from fruits and honey, along with ruminant meats and organs. He cites studies suggesting that a long-term ketogenic diet might not be optimal for health, similar to some studies referenced by Dr. Sakitani.

Then there’s Dr. Chaffee, a purist advocate of the "carnivore" diet, who thrives on a diet of primarily beef and water. His provocative statement, "Plants are trying to kill you," challenges the conventional wisdom about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. Despite the stark contrast, his reasoning is clear and compelling. On the other end of the spectrum, proponents of a "plant-based" diet argue that ketogenic and animal-based diets are unsustainable for our health and the environment.

Feeling like I’m back to square one, I see that even doctors point in different directions. It's not that they’re incompetent or ill-willed; like us, they are navigating their lives as best they can. Unfortunately, the institutions that should guide us—governments and academic researchers—are often influenced by corporate interests. While it seems money is the root of many issues, capitalism remains our prevailing system, and mere complaints won't change much.

Amidst all this, I found Dr. Cywes' approach enlightening. Known as the "Carb Addiction" doctor, he analyzes patients' metabolic conditions through blood work, offering a non-dogmatic perspective on diet. He avoids the "one-size-fits-all" approach and simplifies complex science, explaining metabolism elegantly with just three molecules made of C, H, and O atoms.

I don’t aspire to have as much mechanistic knowledge of human biology as these doctors, but I’m determined to find the path to optimal health for myself. We all have unique responses and goals, and ultimately, we must learn to live our best lives individually.