Food for Thought: The Calorie Model for Food is Broken

Welcome back to another edition of The Food for Thought Newsletter!

It’s been a crazy few weeks over in Meat Mafia land. We traveled to Nashville last week for the Bitcoin Conference and got to watch Trump give a speech to a room full of 8,000 bitcoiners - wild! We also had the opportunity to speak about health and how health sovereignty is such an important topic! So few people how reliant we’ve become on the insurance-based model of healthcare and how this model incentivizes more sickness and disease. That’s part of the reason why Brett and I have become huge proponents of CrowdHealth. We’ve been members for almost two years and we’ve recently loved seeing their Carnivore Crowd take off.

The Carnivore Crowd is awesome! It allows metabolically healthy group members to band together and contribute to support each other’s healthcare costs through a crowdfunding method. We love this model of health coverage and we’d love to have anyone in our audience who’s curious about the decision to join to reach out to us with any questions! If you’re ready to join, use the code MEATMAFIA to get the first three months for $99 per month.

The Hidden Power of Nutrient Density: Rethinking Our Approach to Food

In a world obsessed with calorie counting and fad diets, we often overlook a crucial aspect of nutrition: nutrient density. Dr. Stephan Van Vliet, a researcher at the Center for Human Nutrition Studies at Utah State University, is shedding light on this often-neglected topic and its profound implications for our health and agricultural practices.

Nutrient density refers to the concentration of beneficial nutrients in a food relative to its energy content or weight. While caloric density focuses solely on the energy provided by food, nutrient density considers the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds that support our overall health and wellbeing.

Van Vliet's research has uncovered surprising findings about the nutrient profiles of foods produced through different agricultural practices. For instance, grass-fed beef has been found to contain up to three times more phytochemicals and antioxidants compared to grain-fed beef. These compounds, such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid, are typically associated with plant foods but can accumulate in animal products when the animals graze on diverse, phytochemically-rich pastures.

This research highlights a crucial point: the way we produce our food directly impacts its nutritional value. Van Vliet emphasizes that "you are what you eat eats." In other words, the diet and living conditions of animals significantly influence the nutrient profile of the meat, milk, and eggs they produce.

The implications of this research extend beyond animal products. Van Vliet's team has observed that fruits and vegetables grown in biodiverse, agroecological systems can contain up to 100 times more antioxidants than those grown in monocultures. This stark difference underscores the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in producing nutrient-dense foods.

But why should we care about nutrient density? The answer lies in the rising rates of micronutrient deficiencies, even in developed countries. Despite an abundance of calories, many people are undernourished in terms of essential vitamins and minerals. By focusing on nutrient-dense foods, we can address these deficiencies and support overall health more effectively than by simply managing caloric intake.

Van Vliet and his colleagues are currently conducting a groundbreaking study comparing the health effects of a diet sourced from regenerative agriculture systems versus conventional agriculture. While the results are still pending, this research could provide valuable insights into how our food production methods impact human health.

So, how can we incorporate this knowledge into our daily lives? Here are a few takeaways:

1. Prioritize whole foods: Whole foods generally offer more nutrients than their processed counterparts.

2. Seek out sustainably produced foods: Foods from diverse, agroecological systems tend to be more nutrient-dense.

3. Consider the source: For animal products, consider grass-fed and pasture-raised options when possible.

4. Embrace variety: Eating a diverse range of foods can help ensure you're getting a wide array of nutrients.

5. Look beyond the nutrition label: Remember that many beneficial compounds aren't listed on standard nutrition facts panels.

As we move forward, it's clear that we need to shift our focus from merely counting calories to considering the overall nutrient profile of our foods. By supporting agricultural practices that enhance nutrient density and making informed food choices, we can work towards a healthier, more sustainable food system.

The journey towards better nutrition isn't just about eating less – it's about eating smarter. And as Van Vliet's research shows, that journey begins long before food reaches our plates, in the very soil and systems that produce our nourishment.

Why I am amazed at why more people don’t feed their dog’s raw dog food…

It blows my mind that we willingly feed our dogs a diet they’re biologically not designed to eat. Similar to humans, we’ve changed how our dogs eat, so much so that they’re now getting years taken off their life spans. Kibble is often loaded with grains and carbs that dogs simply don’t need. When I first learned about this, I committed to feeding my dog, Sunny, just raw food. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that her diet has played a significant role in not only her overall health, but the development of her stable and pleasant personality. If you’re interested in hopping on board with feeding your dogs raw food, check out We Feed Raw and use code MEAT for 30% off. I’m certain I’ve put years back on Sunny’s life just by feeding her the right foods!

MEAT.MAFIA.MERCH 🥩

Ladies & gentlemen, the moment has arrived. We’ve officially launched merch and we’re so excited to share it with you all. It’s a limited-release drop of hats and shirts for our most faithful listeners of the podcast. If that sounds like you, go check out our site and pick yourself up a hat and/or shirt to officially become a member of the Meat Mafia.