The experiences of the Maasai and traditional Inuit are consistent with the idea that colorectal cancer is influenced by an interplay of factors rather than fiber alone. Their diets were low in fiber but were also characterized by:
very low intake of refined sugars and starches,
low circulating insulin,
absence of ultra-processed foods,
high levels of physical activity,
low rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
These observations suggest that metabolic health, chronic inflammation, and dietary quality as a whole may be at least as important as fiber intake. At the same time, they do not demonstrate that fiber has no role. Rather, they highlight the difficulty of attributing differences in colorectal cancer risk to a single dietary component when entire lifestyles differ.
In other words, the Maasai and traditional Inuit challenge an overly simplistic "fiber deficiency causes colon cancer" hypothesis, but they do not refute evidence that fiber can contribute to colorectal health within the broader context of diet and lifestyle.
Bread preservatives can inhibit microorganisms, and laboratory evidence suggests that some may alter selected gut bacteria. However, there is currently no good human evidence that the amount of calcium propionate in ordinary store-bought bread broadly kills the gut microbiome. The larger concern is likely the cumulative effect of an ultra-processed, low-diversity diet rather than one preservative in isolation.
A recent colonoscopy screening trial found that colonoscopy screening doesn't lower all cause mortality. See review by Dr Vinay Prasad. However, flexible sigmoidoscopy does. Flex sig is 1/4 the cost and doesn't require anesthesia - meaning you can drive afterward. Medicare covers this every 4 years if you haven't had a colonoscopy in the prev 10 years.
Good. I was a bit dismayed when you promoted colonoscopies since they can cause more injury than they help diagnose. At least from everything I’ve read over the last six years. I still appreciate all you do, just thought that one issue didn’t fit. I know a few people who’ve been harmed and nearly died due to a botched colonoscopy
Can't exactly say red meat is linked to colorectal cancer. In fact it's hard to say with any certainty that studies prove much of anything. The primary role of RCTs (and MDs) is shoveling money to the healthcare industry.
And let's note that massive money flow is also not positively correlated with health or patient outcomes - shouldn't the $4.9 Trillion spent Every Single Year show up as positive health statistics??
More money should equal better health; more pills and more MDs should also result in better national health. If not, that's undeniable proof of a massive scam.
As for the red meat causes harm (did not seem to over the past 2 million years), there is no discriminating evidence: No RCT exists. This is the core limitation. Without one RCT (and even with one) no one can say red meat has any negative effect on health. Might even be beneficial.
Anyone who insists on saying red meat is bad for health is well programmed by the agricultural industry, which is famous for paying off nutrition researchers and professors.
Absolute risk framing matters: an 18% relative increase on a baseline lifetime CRC risk of 5% means the modeled absolute shift is on the order of 1 percentage point at high sustained intake, not a doubling.
The studies are almost Entirely Observational (what did you eat two weeks ago?), and cannot isolate cooking method from meat type in most cohorts, rarely separate grass-fed/unprocessed/uncured from industrial processed meat cleanly, and dietary recall is noisy. The plateau above 140 g/day and the null rectal-cancer finding are anomalies most summaries omit and are worth weighing.
Furthermore, meat vs non-meat diet studies consider anyone who has shakes, bread, fries, cookies, processed food - and meat also - a "meat-eater" because they can't find any strict meat-eaters.
On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of testimonials (far better that any RCT since thousands of testimonials are data) from strict meat eaters who say that red meat and eggs cured them of everything. Only takes a couple of weeks to cure. Know that authorities and experts lie.
I didn't mention it because some people are sensitive to dairy and you do not absolutely need it. Many people swear by butter, though (the French for example). Look up the recipe for James Bond eggs and don't skimp on the required one entire stick of butter.
Agree, the studies are observational and group all types of meat together. We didn't evolve eating massive amounts of plants/fiber - they supplemented our meat eating (when seasonally available). The evidence of the benefits of keto and carnivore for both mental and physical health are mounting.
Not much fiber at all during the Ice Age. We only ate fibrous roots and bitter leaves so we'd not starve when the hunt went wrong. We are Carnivores, not omnivores just because we had to eat leaves.
70% of animals are carnivore and they refuse to eat any fiber. The first thing a gastro doc tells you to stop ("a low residue diet") is fiber. When your gut returns to health in a week or so, he tells you to go back on the fiber so he can make more money.
Thank you for this incredibly important work! You have a gifted ability to write succinctly about complex topics for a wide audience - the world! May God bless you and protect you, always.
The experiences of the Maasai and traditional Inuit are consistent with the idea that colorectal cancer is influenced by an interplay of factors rather than fiber alone. Their diets were low in fiber but were also characterized by:
very low intake of refined sugars and starches,
low circulating insulin,
absence of ultra-processed foods,
high levels of physical activity,
low rates of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
These observations suggest that metabolic health, chronic inflammation, and dietary quality as a whole may be at least as important as fiber intake. At the same time, they do not demonstrate that fiber has no role. Rather, they highlight the difficulty of attributing differences in colorectal cancer risk to a single dietary component when entire lifestyles differ.
In other words, the Maasai and traditional Inuit challenge an overly simplistic "fiber deficiency causes colon cancer" hypothesis, but they do not refute evidence that fiber can contribute to colorectal health within the broader context of diet and lifestyle.
Bread preservatives can inhibit microorganisms, and laboratory evidence suggests that some may alter selected gut bacteria. However, there is currently no good human evidence that the amount of calcium propionate in ordinary store-bought bread broadly kills the gut microbiome. The larger concern is likely the cumulative effect of an ultra-processed, low-diversity diet rather than one preservative in isolation.
This will also go into the blog post I am composing. Thank You, Paul.
Thank you.
Thanks..
Thanks...
Sure. Read the section on aspirin. Protects against colorectall cancer but does increase risk of bleeding... such is lief
Sure..
A recent colonoscopy screening trial found that colonoscopy screening doesn't lower all cause mortality. See review by Dr Vinay Prasad. However, flexible sigmoidoscopy does. Flex sig is 1/4 the cost and doesn't require anesthesia - meaning you can drive afterward. Medicare covers this every 4 years if you haven't had a colonoscopy in the prev 10 years.
Interesting. I will followup.
Good. I was a bit dismayed when you promoted colonoscopies since they can cause more injury than they help diagnose. At least from everything I’ve read over the last six years. I still appreciate all you do, just thought that one issue didn’t fit. I know a few people who’ve been harmed and nearly died due to a botched colonoscopy
NordICC trial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRS4-ng8T0&t=8s
Not sure. Not sure what to do.
Thank you for your kind comments. Paul
Can't exactly say red meat is linked to colorectal cancer. In fact it's hard to say with any certainty that studies prove much of anything. The primary role of RCTs (and MDs) is shoveling money to the healthcare industry.
And let's note that massive money flow is also not positively correlated with health or patient outcomes - shouldn't the $4.9 Trillion spent Every Single Year show up as positive health statistics??
More money should equal better health; more pills and more MDs should also result in better national health. If not, that's undeniable proof of a massive scam.
As for the red meat causes harm (did not seem to over the past 2 million years), there is no discriminating evidence: No RCT exists. This is the core limitation. Without one RCT (and even with one) no one can say red meat has any negative effect on health. Might even be beneficial.
Anyone who insists on saying red meat is bad for health is well programmed by the agricultural industry, which is famous for paying off nutrition researchers and professors.
Absolute risk framing matters: an 18% relative increase on a baseline lifetime CRC risk of 5% means the modeled absolute shift is on the order of 1 percentage point at high sustained intake, not a doubling.
The studies are almost Entirely Observational (what did you eat two weeks ago?), and cannot isolate cooking method from meat type in most cohorts, rarely separate grass-fed/unprocessed/uncured from industrial processed meat cleanly, and dietary recall is noisy. The plateau above 140 g/day and the null rectal-cancer finding are anomalies most summaries omit and are worth weighing.
Furthermore, meat vs non-meat diet studies consider anyone who has shakes, bread, fries, cookies, processed food - and meat also - a "meat-eater" because they can't find any strict meat-eaters.
On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of testimonials (far better that any RCT since thousands of testimonials are data) from strict meat eaters who say that red meat and eggs cured them of everything. Only takes a couple of weeks to cure. Know that authorities and experts lie.
Are we going back to substituting margarine for butter?
Butter is the third health food.
I didn't mention it because some people are sensitive to dairy and you do not absolutely need it. Many people swear by butter, though (the French for example). Look up the recipe for James Bond eggs and don't skimp on the required one entire stick of butter.
Agree, the studies are observational and group all types of meat together. We didn't evolve eating massive amounts of plants/fiber - they supplemented our meat eating (when seasonally available). The evidence of the benefits of keto and carnivore for both mental and physical health are mounting.
Not much fiber at all during the Ice Age. We only ate fibrous roots and bitter leaves so we'd not starve when the hunt went wrong. We are Carnivores, not omnivores just because we had to eat leaves.
70% of animals are carnivore and they refuse to eat any fiber. The first thing a gastro doc tells you to stop ("a low residue diet") is fiber. When your gut returns to health in a week or so, he tells you to go back on the fiber so he can make more money.
Grass fed beef is a staple for a healthy diet + vitamin 🌊 & D🌞
Thank you for this incredibly important work! You have a gifted ability to write succinctly about complex topics for a wide audience - the world! May God bless you and protect you, always.
Totally agree Richard, Dr. Marik is a Blessing to all
Absolutely agree.
Agree..
Agree...