Anthony Chaffee Explains Why Everyone Gets Carnivore Wrong

Key Wellness + Nutrition Strategies Discussed (Carnivore/Keto Focus)

1) “Species-specific” carnivore/keto as the default human diet

• Dr. Anthony Chaffee (referred to as Dr. Anthony Schaeffy/Schaeffy in the text) argues humans evolved as apex/super predators.
• He claims plant-heavy/agriculture-based diets drove rapid declines in:
  • Height and brain size
  • Dental/jaw development
  • General metabolic health
• He frames ketosis as a key mechanism that makes ketogenic/carnivore eating closer to the “biological default.”

2) Carbohydrates: discouraged; insulin framed as a growth and health limiter

Claims attributed to the discussion:

• There’s no essential carbohydrate.
• Carbs raise insulin, which can:
  • block growth hormone
  • contribute to insulin resistance (especially with high intake)
• High blood sugar leads to glycation (non-enzymatic “browning,” Maillard-like reactions), which he links to:
  • artery damage / heart disease
  • kidney failure
  • blindness
  • joint degeneration / arthritis
  • reduced muscle hypertrophy in some people (he cites a susceptible subset)

3) Muscle building without carbs (protein-centered training nutrition)

• He points to claims that ketogenic bodybuilding can produce similar hypertrophy when protein is matched.
• Messaging used with bodybuilders/teens:
  • “Muscle is made out of protein/meat, not carbohydrates.”
• He also suggests carbs may increase fat gain via insulin and discusses:
  • intramuscular fat (“myiotosis”) seen on MRI in some patients, associated with worse metabolic outcomes and chronic pain.

4) Performance and endurance: fat adaptation + ketosis

• He argues elite athletes often show:
  • similar muscle glycogen levels vs carb-loading approaches
  • good recovery while maintaining ketosis
  • greater fat-burning ability at higher intensities than many assume
• Adaptation guidance implied:
  • performance may stabilize after weeks to 6–8 weeks of fat adaptation, without carb “refueling.”

5) Fiber: “not needed” on carnivore/keto

• He states fiber is only relevant when eating plants (as part of plant structure and digestion).
• He argues fiber recommendations are based on repetition more than evidence (“repeated ad nauseam”).
• Trials cited in the discussion suggest higher fiber can worsen constipation, depending on context.

6) Fat intake + gallbladder physiology

• He challenges the idea that “too much animal fat” directly causes gallstones.
• His explanation (as described):
  • bile/gallbladder function depends on stimulated release from dietary fat
  • low-fat dieting reduces bile release, leading to bile concentration and potentially increasing gallstones/sludge risk
• He suggests fat restriction after weight-loss surgery/diets may contribute to gallbladder problems.

7) “What carnivore means” (his definition)

• His approach is described as:
  • meat + eggs
• He says “very rarely” other foods are used.
• It’s framed less as strict plant avoidance and more as avoiding carbohydrates and staying ketogenic.

8) Nutrient adequacy: magnesium, omega-3s, and avoiding plant anti-nutrients

• He claims his bloodwork markers (including magnesium) are optimal while avoiding fiber/plant foods.
• He argues plant foods contain anti-nutrients that reduce mineral absorption, including:
  • phytic acid
  • lectins
  • oxalates
  • tannins
  • saponins
• Omega-3 guidance:
  • prioritize DHA/EPA (animal sources such as fish/sardines/mackerel and animal fats)
  • he argues plant omega-3 (ALA, e.g., flax) converts poorly to DHA/EPA and may be limited further by omega-6 intake.

9) Autoimmune disease and type 1 diabetes: plant lectins/glyphosate removal

• He proposes autoimmune conditions improve on carnivore/keto because it removes plant compounds (repeated emphasis on lectins and glyphosate).
• Specific claims in the summary:
  • type 1 diabetes can go into remission for some people on ketogenic/carnivore protocols
  • his practice includes cases where patients reduced/ended insulin with improved A1C
  • strictness (possibly focusing on ruminant meats) may matter for some responders

10) Heart failure: ketones improving cardiac function (no detailed protocol given)

• He claims he’s seen improvements in cardiac function with ketogenic/carnivore:
  • ketones may improve contractility and ejection fraction
  • he references studies on ketogenic approaches/exogenous ketones and describes large improvements in practice, including severe cases (example numbers provided in the full source).

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Practical Takeaways Implied by the Conversation

• Adopt a ketogenic/carnivore eating pattern centered on:
  • meat + eggs (minimal carbs)
  • avoiding carbohydrates (framed as glycation/insulin drivers)
• Prioritize protein for muscle gain (carb-free hypertrophy possible when protein is matched).
• Allow fat-adaptation time (performance may stabilize after weeks).
• Skip fiber supplementation from plants if you’re not eating plants (fiber is described as “not required” on carnivore/keto).
• Choose higher-quality animal fats/omega-3 sources:
  • grass-finished animal fat quality discussed
  • DHA/EPA emphasized over plant ALA
• For metabolic/autoimmune cases, emphasize strict avoidance of plant compounds (lectins/glyphosate) as a key driver (per his interpretation).

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Presenters / Sources Mentioned

• Dr. Anthony Schaeffy / Anthony Chaffee (guest physician; American doctor practicing in Australia; subtitles reference multiple spellings)
• Anthony Chaffee (podcast host)
• Meatstock (conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee; noted as where they met)
• Dr. Weston A. Price (indigenous nutrition/dentistry work)
• Dr. Volk (2016) (Faster trial referenced)
• Supernova trial (mentioned regarding ketosis and fat burning)
• Mixweeny trial (2018) (mentioned regarding elite athletes and 100-mile/other tests)
• Professor Nos (mentioned regarding fat oxidation inflection point vs V̇O₂max)
• James / central governor of fatigue concept referenced (including a placebo oral carb/rinse study)
• Dr. Ovedia (named regarding heart surgery observations on fat accumulation)
• Sir William Osler (quoted from a 1910 medical textbook on diabetes diet)
• Dr. Sittingham (1600s physician quoted via Osler’s textbook)
• Ma Peterson / Ma Fuller (“lion diet” mentioned)