Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In this episode, I demolish core arguments underlying Paul Saladino’s belief system as he presented in a recent Instagram reel.
Summing up his argument:
Plants contain compounds that produce some benefits. However, they have some downsides as well. Therefore, get nutrition from animal foods that do not have these downsides and obtain health benefits from heat, sauna, cold, exercise, sunlight, fasting. Forgo eating plants.
This argument is fallacious for two main reasons:
1. Plant food toxicity is dose-dependent. The body maintains homeostasis in response to small perturbations.
2. All modalities recommended by Paul also have potential downsides.
a. Animal foods. Birth defects due to vitamin A (PMIDs 7477116, 22516730), copper toxicity (PMID 31832729), iron toxicity (PMID 8943168), excess B vitamins (PMIDs 16531613, 16531614), and the heart disease-promoting properties of saturated fat (PMID 28444290).
b. Animals housed at higher temperatures have a shortened livespan (PMID 35288719).
c. Overexpression of heat shock proteins in rats reduce lifespan (PMID 19072255). Sauna undermines male fertility (PMID 23411620).
d. Cold exposure does not reduce inflammatory markers (PMID 27991663). And it increases heart attack risk (PMID 1483767).
e. Excess body size due to exercise can cause cardiomegaly (PMID 31287235). There are other health risks from excessive exercise.
f. Sunlight poses risks of both cancer and accelerated skin aging. Sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer (PMID 28478931).
g. Fasting increases anger (PMID 28025637), and impairs cognition (PMID 24583414).
All modalities that improve health have downsides. These downsides are dose-dependent. Health experts advocate for a balanced diet and lifestyle.
Do not be fearmongered into one way of thinking—and especially if this means buying someone’s supplement line.
===
Like, comment, subscribe.
For more, find me at:
PODCAST The Kevin Bass Show
YOUTUBE youtube.com/user/kbassphiladelphia
WEBSITE thedietwars.com
TWITTER twitter.com/kevinnbass
twitter.com/healthmisinfo
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/kevinnbass
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@kevinnbass
And above all, please donate to support what I do:
PATREON patreon.com/kevinnbass
DONATE thedietwars.com/support-me
In this episode, I demolish core arguments underlying Paul Saladino’s belief system as he presented in a recent Instagram reel.
Summing up his argument:
Plants contain compounds that produce some benefits. However, they have some downsides as well. Therefore, get nutrition from animal foods that do not have these downsides and obtain health benefits from heat, sauna, cold, exercise, sunlight, fasting. Forgo eating plants.
This argument is fallacious for two main reasons:
1. Plant food toxicity is dose-dependent. The body maintains homeostasis in response to small perturbations.
2. All modalities recommended by Paul also have potential downsides.
a. Animal foods. Birth defects due to vitamin A (PMIDs 7477116, 22516730), copper toxicity (PMID 31832729), iron toxicity (PMID 8943168), excess B vitamins (PMIDs 16531613, 16531614), and the heart disease-promoting properties of saturated fat (PMID 28444290).
b. Animals housed at higher temperatures have a shortened livespan (PMID 35288719).
c. Overexpression of heat shock proteins in rats reduce lifespan (PMID 19072255). Sauna undermines male fertility (PMID 23411620).
d. Cold exposure does not reduce inflammatory markers (PMID 27991663). And it increases heart attack risk (PMID 1483767).
e. Excess body size due to exercise can cause cardiomegaly (PMID 31287235). There are other health risks from excessive exercise.
f. Sunlight poses risks of both cancer and accelerated skin aging. Sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer (PMID 28478931).
g. Fasting increases anger (PMID 28025637), and impairs cognition (PMID 24583414).
All modalities that improve health have downsides. These downsides are dose-dependent. Health experts advocate for a balanced diet and lifestyle.
Do not be fearmongered into one way of thinking—and especially if this means buying someone’s supplement line.
===
Like, comment, subscribe.
For more, find me at:
PODCAST The Kevin Bass Show
YOUTUBE youtube.com/user/kbassphiladelphia
WEBSITE thedietwars.com
TWITTER twitter.com/kevinnbass
twitter.com/healthmisinfo
INSTAGRAM instagram.com/kevinnbass
TIKTOK tiktok.com/@kevinnbass
And above all, please donate to support what I do:
PATREON patreon.com/kevinnbass
DONATE thedietwars.com/support-me
