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Nor fat, nor carbs are an essential nutritional component. The body can not synthesize certain amino acids, but it can convert protein to both fat and carbohydr

Nor fat, nor carbs are an essential nutritional component. The body can not synthesize certain amino acids, but it can convert protein to both fat and carbohydrates by means of gluconeogenesis. If anything, we should have cravings for sources of protein, not sugars. One could argue that sugars provide the burst of energy for the metabolic pathway that could be make it or break it in cases where that burst gives an advantage. This, and not the scarceness argument, which seems just thin to me, although mainstream opinion.

jsky_goog 6y ago
There was a good talk at Carnivore Con in 2019 here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH7JGM7K-Lc&list=PLluvR68gTTv-eVg8Q7McC8maqIwcuRCbI&index=5&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH7JGM7K-Lc&list=PLluvR68gTT...) about this. The very rough gist is that there is historical evidence of pre agrarian humans starving to death with stomachs full of lean meat. In a nomadic lifestyle where they chase down prey protein costs too much energy to digest and convert into usable energy.
1_player 6y ago
Fat is an essential nutritional component. As an example, cholesterol is necessary to produce hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and cortisol. Thankfully, it's pretty much impossible to avoid if you eat meat. Carbs are not essential. You can live on zero total grams of carbs. Also gluconeogenesis only converts proteins to glucose, not fat, at least not directly.
- yourkin 6y ago
  Cholesterol is synthesized by the liver, in sufficient quantities: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biofiles/cholesterol-biosynthesis.html https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/bi... believe it or not, by your definition carbs are also essential, it’s just that the body can produce them Protein -> carbs by gluconeogenesis Isoleucine and phenylalanine are exclusively ketogenic and produce ketone bodies. Leucine can be used to synthesize fatty acids in adipose tissue. The only 2 fats that we really need are omega-3 and omega-6, but not in huge amounts, thankfully, both not from meat. Point is, one can more readily survive without a major source of fat or carbs.
  - 1_player 6y ago
    How do you explain rabbit starvation then?
    - yourkin 6y ago
      A quick look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_poisoning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_poisoning * it‘s hypothetical * the ill effect is diarrhea * some people have lived off a meat only diet successfully * personal theory is the problem is not excess protein, but lack of fiber and gut biome degradation Any mono-diet is nutritionally a bad idea, especially taken to extremes. But — one would simply not survive at all on a monodiet of pure fat or carbs.

jsky_goog 6y ago

There was a good talk at Carnivore Con in 2019 here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH7JGM7K-Lc&list=PLluvR68gTTv-eVg8Q7McC8maqIwcuRCbI&index=5&t=0s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH7JGM7K-Lc&list=PLluvR68gTT...) about this. The very rough gist is that there is historical evidence of pre agrarian humans starving to death with stomachs full of lean meat. In a nomadic lifestyle where they chase down prey protein costs too much energy to digest and convert into usable energy.

1_player 6y ago

Fat is an essential nutritional component. As an example, cholesterol is necessary to produce hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and cortisol. Thankfully, it's pretty much impossible to avoid if you eat meat. Carbs are not essential. You can live on zero total grams of carbs. Also gluconeogenesis only converts proteins to glucose, not fat, at least not directly.

yourkin 6y ago
Cholesterol is synthesized by the liver, in sufficient quantities: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biofiles/cholesterol-biosynthesis.html https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/bi... believe it or not, by your definition carbs are also essential, it’s just that the body can produce them Protein -> carbs by gluconeogenesis Isoleucine and phenylalanine are exclusively ketogenic and produce ketone bodies. Leucine can be used to synthesize fatty acids in adipose tissue. The only 2 fats that we really need are omega-3 and omega-6, but not in huge amounts, thankfully, both not from meat. Point is, one can more readily survive without a major source of fat or carbs.
- 1_player 6y ago
  How do you explain rabbit starvation then?
  - yourkin 6y ago
    A quick look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_poisoning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_poisoning * it‘s hypothetical * the ill effect is diarrhea * some people have lived off a meat only diet successfully * personal theory is the problem is not excess protein, but lack of fiber and gut biome degradation Any mono-diet is nutritionally a bad idea, especially taken to extremes. But — one would simply not survive at all on a monodiet of pure fat or carbs.