Raising Superkids, 9 Reasons, Cold -> Fat?, Wine Moms, M/F Stress Response, and Much More

Good afternoon Nikkola Newsletterers!

The carnivore diet has been roaring in popularity, and many of you have asked me to weigh in. I’ll do a deep dive soon, but to quickly summarize…At its core, carnivore is an all-meat approach to the diet: you eat only animal products. But what's behind the hype?

Proponents argue that cutting out plant-based foods can reduce inflammation and eliminate some digestive issues. The simplicity of the diet makes it easy to follow, focusing solely on high-quality meats, fish, and animal fats.

However, critics raise concerns about nutrient deficiencies and long-term sustainability.

But here's where it gets interesting: some people report increased energy, improved mental clarity, and even alleviation of autoimmune symptoms.

Does it work for everyone? That's still up for debate. What's clear is that the carnivore diet challenges conventional dietary wisdom which is something I’ve tried to do for decades. The fact is, the dietary recommendations doled out by the government or hyped up my mainstream media seem to do anything but make us healthier and fitter.

On that note, would you be interested in testing it out for September? Weigh in with today’s poll.

Enjoy today’s carefully curated newsletter!

Raising Superkids: A Guide to High-Protein & Meals They’ll Love: Do you know of parents who allow their children to watch whatever they want on television or YouTube, listen to whatever they want on Spotify, have access to uncensored social media, or play whatever twisted video games they’d like? Does the idea of kids growing up in such an environment turn your stomach like it turns mine? A good parent understands their responsibilities in protecting their kids from things they shouldn’t see and hearing things they shouldn’t hear. They embrace their responsibility to help shape their kids’ minds.

But what about their bodies? When it comes to food, why do children get to make the choices so often? Why is it that the junk marketed to kids and destroys their physical health isn’t seen in the same light as the junk they can see and hear that destroys their mental health? Keep reading (or listen)…

9 Reasons Strength Training Is Essential For Optimal Health: Muscle plays a significant role in your long-term health, fitness, longevity, and even your ability to ward off disease and infection. Yet the vast majority of Americans do little to no strength training. Investing three to five hours per week, lifting weights and doing other movements that challenge your muscles, bones, and connective tissue is one of the healthiest activities you could take part in. Provided people follow a well-designed strength training program, the benefits of muscle mass go way beyond aesthetics. Keep reading (or listen)…

Does cold make you fat? It’s possible. Exposure to cold increases triggers your brain to increase appetite, likely as a result of increased calorie expenditure from keeping us warm. It’s unlikely that a walk from a heated car into a heated office or store in the middle of the winter is enough cold exposure to have a significant effect, but what about ice baths and other cold therapy? Or, what if you drop the thermostat in the winter to save money? Could that be enough to unconsciously increase your appetite. Research suggests that is possible.

The “Wine Mom” trend might seem like fun and games, but a new study by Dr. Ibraheem Karaye based on CDC data found some serious concerns. Women's alcohol-related mortality rate is up 14.7%. Why? Women can't break down alcohol as fast as men, and the social acceptance of heavy drinking is on the rise. It’s not just a laughable meme; it’s turning into a real health problem.

Male’s and female’s brains react differently to stress, a fact recently reinforced by a groundbreaking study from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. Researchers utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to examine the response to stress in male and female mice, discovering that a cell type called oligodendrocytes reacts differently in the two sexes. In males, chronic stress made these cells look less complex and mature, a change not observed in females. This remarkable discovery not only underscores the fundamental differences between men and women but could also pave the way for more effective, sex-specific treatments for stress-related disorders. The study's wider-reaching implications may also extend to new insights into other medical conditions, emphasizing that the understanding of gender differences at the molecular and cellular levels can have profound impacts on health.

Breast cancer overdiagnosing: New research from the Yale School of Medicine indicates that breast cancer in women ages 70 to 85 is often overdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary and intensive treatments. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found a significant likelihood of overdiagnosis among older women, with the percentages increasing with age: 31 percent for women aged 70 to 74, 47 percent for those aged 75 to 84, and 54 percent for those 85 and older. This overdiagnosis is connected to recent technological advancements in detection methods that, while increasing detection rates, also identify a wide range of noncancerous abnormalities and slow-growing tumors. The research underscores the need for reevaluating screening practices and engaging in informed discussions with older patients, as well as the necessity for additional research to determine appropriate screening guidelines for women over 75, so as to avoid the risks of overdiagnosis without sacrificing detection of truly dangerous cancers.

Drug treatment for spinal cord injuries? New research from King's College London shows promise for a new spinal cord injury drug, but don't get your hopes up just yet. Though the phase 1 trial found the experimental drug KCL-286 to be safe at doses up to 100mg, with no severe side effects, we've seen supposedly promising treatments fizzle in later trials before. While researchers rightly call this an important first step, the real test will come in phase 2, when they study its effects on actual spinal cord injury patients. In the meantime, remember that your ability to bounce back from any injury depends on how strong, fit, and healthy you are when it happens.

Language Games We Play. The words we use shape reality. An organization called “Project Liberal” recently tweeted a meme that caught my eye. It features a non-descript figure (whom the kids call “Wojak”) saying, “We need to stop human trafficking.” In the next panel, a young woman with smart glasses says, “Then legalize sex work!” The meme ends with a final panel that shows Wojak bursting into tears, presumably because he is unwilling to legalize “sex work,” and therefore (apparently) unable to stop human trafficking. Keep reading…

"Ivermectin Worked!": Peer-Reviewed Study Finds 74% Reduction in Excess Deaths. “It’s now peer-reviewed and published. Ivermectin worked!” exclaimed Kim Iversen on her news show. Ivermectin, a controversially-discussed drug in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, was found in a 2020 study from Peru to significantly reduce COVID-related deaths. With the backing of a peer-reviewed publication, this assertion is more potent than ever. Keep reading…

Target Sales Collapse Due to Ongoing Backlash Over LGBT Merchandise. On Wednesday, retail giant Target announced in its second quarter earnings report that it was reducing its sales and profit expectations for the remainder of 2023, due in large part to ongoing backlash over its promotion of LGBT-themed merchandise. According to the Daily Caller, this marks the first decline in Target’s quarterly sales in the last six years. Keep reading…