Dr. Sarah Myhill on Nutrient Deficiencies Causing Insulin Resistance

Nutrient Deficiencies and Modern Farming

• 💡 Modern chemical farming practices have led to a depletion of nutrients in soil, which then translates to deficiencies in plants, animals, and humans.
• ⚠️ Key deficiencies often include vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin C, and iodine.

Key Nutrients for Insulin Sensitivity

• 🔑 Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is crucial, especially for those who consume alcohol or have an upper fermenting gut, as fermentation can induce thiamine deficiency.
• ⚡ Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine, has shown promise in reversing type 2 diabetes and its associated neuropathy.
• 🎯 Chromium is essential for insulin sensitivity and a simple, inexpensive supplement to consider.
• 🥩 L-Carnitine is abundant in meat and vital for mitochondrial function; vegetarians and vegans are at higher risk of deficiency.

Diet, Microbiome, and Gut Health

• 🔬 The microbiome of carnivores can be as healthy, if not healthier, than those on omnivorous or vegetarian diets.
• 🦴 Meat fiber, including collagen and connective tissues, serves as a preferred prebiotic for key gut microbes, supporting microbial diversity.
• 💧 Exclusion zone water, facilitated by sulfur compounds found in meat and supplements like MSM, is essential for reducing friction in the gut and preventing constipation.
• 🚫 High-fiber diets are not necessarily required for preventing constipation or supporting the microbiome.

Considerations for Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

• ⚠️ While theoretically possible to be vegetarian/vegan and keto, it requires significant effort and supplementation, particularly vitamin B12.
• 🥥 A focus on specific fats like coconut oil and palm oil is necessary, and only cold-pressed olive oil is recommended for other oils.
• 🐟 Obtaining essential downstream oils like DHA and arachidonic acid can be challenging, though krill oil is a potential source.

Maximizing Nutrient Intake from Animal Products

• 🍖 The cheapest cuts of meat, bones, skin, and organs are often the most nutrient-dense, containing collagen, bone marrow, and sulfur.
• 🍲 Boiling bones for bone broth extracts valuable nutrients and gelatin.
• 🐟 Fish skins are rich in collagen and meat fiber, beneficial for the microbiome and connective tissue health.
• ✅ Minimizing waste by consuming all edible parts of an animal ensures a comprehensive intake of essential nutrients.