I recently sat down for a friendly debate with Dr. Anthony Chaffee, a prominent proponent of a carnivore diet and host of “The Plant Free MD” podcast. The debate was moderated by Lauren Knight Hughes, who also consumes an animal-based diet.
In this 2.5 hour debate, we cover a wide range of topics related to our contrasting nutrition views, including the following:
0:00 – Introduction
4:45 – Opening statements/what are we designed to eat?
16:50 – Are vegetables beneficial? (UK Biobank study)
23:22 – The Harvard Carnivore Diet Study
25:00 – Meat vs. plant protein
26:54 – Do wild/zoo animals develop chronic diseases?
37:10 – Can you get adequate nutrition from a plant-only diet?
47:15 – Thought experiment: Does the need to supplement make a diet less healthy?
1:03:40 – Do we need to consume vitamin K2?
1:05:30 – Do we convert enough carotenoids into vitamin A (retinol)?
1:16:40 – Is a vegan or carnivore diet accessible to everyone?
1:18:50 – Did the agricultural revolution lead to lower stature and brain size?
1:20:38 – Are plants trying to kill us?
1:25:48 – Animal vs. plant protein
1:31:45 – Does meat promote longevity?
1:36:06 – Are plant toxins a concern in the food we eat?
1:57:23 – Comparison of the growth/health between a plant-based and animal-based tribe.
2:08:50 – Do populations eating a “traditional diet” get atherosclerosis?
2:24:08 – Closing statements
You can watch the full debate on YouTube, and don’t forget to like, comment, and share with others!
Dr. Matthew Nagra is a Naturopathic Doctor in Vancouver who is passionate about evidence-based nutrition and medicine. In addition to his online and public speaking work, he employs a wide range lifestyle interventions, including plant-based nutrition, as well as physical therapies in his practice to help his patients prevent or recover from chronic illnesses and physical injuries. Holding a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification from Cornell University and the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, he has penned several articles on the topic, underlining his specialized training in nutrition.