Ep:264 PROOF THAT PLANTS AND VEGANISM IS NOT A HUMAN DIET - by Robert Cywes

Key Concepts:

• Carb Addiction
• Artificial Selection/Hybridization
• Genetic Engineering
• Plant Toxicity
• Evolutionary Diet
• Plant-Based Diet vs. Animal-Based Diet
• Recent Development of Edible Plants
• Botany of Desire
• Ketogenic/Carnivore Diet

Main Topics and Key Points:

• Introduction: Dr. Rob Cyrus, the "carb addiction doc," shares his thoughts sparked by a video of Ken Berry criticizing veganism. He emphasizes his focus on carb addiction, regardless of vegetable consumption.
• Artificial Selection and Genetic Engineering:
  • Dr. Cyrus uses his father's orchid hybridization as an example of artificial selection, where desired traits are intentionally bred.
  • He contrasts this with genetic engineering, citing the example of Brussels sprouts. Originally bitter, a Dutch/Belgian botanist identified and deleted the gene causing bitterness in the late 1990s.
  • This resulted in the monoculture of sweet, disease-resistant Brussels sprouts, now widely cultivated.
  • He notes that Brussels sprouts have only been palatable for about 20-30 years.
• Plant Toxicity and Evolutionary Diet:
  • Dr. Cyrus states that "most plants hate us" and "most plants are poisonous" in their natural state.
  • Plants often contain toxins and antigens to deter consumption, aiming instead for seed dispersal through animal digestion.
  • He argues that the plants promoted in modern diets (fruits, vegetables, grains) did not exist 3-4 thousand years ago, a short period in human evolution.
  • He questions how these recently developed plants can be essential to human health.
• Recent Development of Edible Plants:
  • Humans have selectively bred a small fraction of plants over thousands of years for traits like size, flavor, color, and carbohydrate content, not necessarily nutritional value.
  • He uses the example of apples, which were small and sour in the 1950s but are now large, sweet, and available year-round.
  • He emphasizes the recent and widespread movement of crops around the world.
• Geographical Origins and Movement of Crops:
  • The Irish potato famine of the 1850s is used as an example of dependence on a crop that was introduced to Europe by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
  • Pineapples and papayas, often associated with Hawaii, originated in South America and were later introduced to Hawaii by Europeans.
  • He criticizes the "Blue Zone" diet argument, pointing out that the foods consumed in those regions today did not exist there thousands of years ago.
• "The Botany of Desire" and Plant Hybridization:
  • Dr. Cyrus recommends Michael Pollan's book and documentary, "The Botany of Desire," which explores the origins of selective breeding in plants like marijuana, potatoes, and tulips.
  • He describes seeing highly hybridized tulips in Amsterdam, with colors and forms developed in the last decade.
• Cabbage and its Derivatives:
  • He points out that kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and other common vegetables are all derived from a single plant: wild cabbage.
  • He questions how these artificially bred plants can be considered essential to a healthy human diet.
• North American Indigenous Diet:
  • He argues that North American Indians did not develop large-scale agriculture because there were few edible plants native to the region.
  • He lists the few native North American fruits (berries) and vegetables (Jerusalem artichoke).
  • He notes that agriculture only began to develop through trade with Central and South America.
• Tomato Example:
  • The tomato, now essential to Italian cuisine, originated from a poisonous member of the nightshade family and was initially believed to be deadly.
• Human Evolutionary Diet:
  • Humans have lost the ability to digest cellulose, making plants a poor primary source of nutrition.
  • He argues that humans evolved as animal-dominant species, consuming marine animals and other sources of fat and protein.
  • Agriculture developed as a supplement to an animal-based diet.
• Ketogenic/Carnivore Diet:
  • Dr. Cyrus advocates for a ketogenic or animal-based diet, arguing that it aligns with human evolutionary biology.
  • He dismisses plant-based diets as "hogwash" and criticizes the "dad bod" as a result of sedentary lifestyles and carbohydrate consumption.
• Hybridization of Animals:
  • He acknowledges that animals have also been hybridized, but at a slower pace than plants.
  • He argues that the differences between wild and domesticated animals are not as significant as the differences between wild and cultivated plants.
• Meatless Meat Burgers:
  • He criticizes the failed attempt to create meatless meat burgers, arguing that they were not biologically suitable for human consumption.
• Conclusion:
  • Dr. Cyrus encourages viewers to research the origins of their food and challenge the doctrines of vegetarianism and veganism.
  • He identifies as a mostly carnivore and is "arrogant" about his dietary choices.
  • He provides contact information for consultations and encourages viewers to do their own research.

Notable Quotes:

• "Most plants hate us."
• "Most plants are poisonous."
• "The plants they tell us are so important for us to eat didn't exist before."
• "We are not designed to consume plants, not designed to consume processed carbohydrates, designed for animals, for protein, for fat, for animal nutrients."

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Hybridization: The process of crossbreeding plants or animals to produce offspring with desired traits.
• Genetic Engineering: The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
• Monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop in a given area.
• Antigens: Substances that trigger an immune response in the body.
• Cellulose: A complex carbohydrate that is the main structural component of plant cell walls.
• Ketogenic Diet: A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that forces the body to burn fat for energy.
• Carnivore Diet: A diet consisting exclusively of animal products.

Logical Connections:

• The video begins with a critique of veganism, then transitions to a discussion of plant breeding and toxicity.
• The discussion of plant breeding leads to an examination of the recent development of edible plants and their geographical origins.
• The video then connects the evolutionary history of plants to the human evolutionary diet, arguing that humans are not designed to consume large quantities of plants.
• Finally, the video advocates for a ketogenic or carnivore diet as being more aligned with human biology.

Data, Research Findings, or Statistics:

• The video mentions that Brussels sprouts have only been palatable for about 20-30 years due to genetic engineering.
• It states that the plants promoted in modern diets did not exist 3-4 thousand years ago.
• It lists the few native North American fruits and vegetables.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Dr. Cyrus argues that the modern emphasis on plant-based diets is misguided because many of the plants we consume today are recent developments resulting from artificial selection and genetic engineering. He contends that humans evolved as animal-dominant species and that a ketogenic or carnivore diet is more aligned with our evolutionary biology. He encourages viewers to research the origins of their food and challenge the doctrines of vegetarianism and veganism.