Part 2: Reverse heart disease and diabetes With Sean O’Mara, MD.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Strategies include improving diet, high intensity exercise, sunshine, optimizing vitamin D, sleep, decreasing stress, resilient exercises. Shared first time on podcast: case of gentleman reversing large lesion in brain using these protocols. Audience first to see this new approach to biomarkers—use to improve lifestyle, not treat disease for profit.
People nationwide follow; in Minneapolis, can get visceral fat scan and cerebral artery scan. Recently sent general surgeon for pre-surgery cardiac angiography—cleared as healthy, had surgery, then massive heart attack one month later. Scan showed huge visceral fat. Posted about him. Visceral fat correlates to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Cerebral arteries good for imaging—no dynamic motion.
Clients asked if removing visceral fat makes you smarter—better memory, faster work, fewer errors. Scanned brains: arteries opened up, reversing atherosclerosis.
Patient on low carb high fat ketogenic diet—lots of meat, not yet carnivore (3 years ago). Physicians embracing low carb high fat, moving away from fear of fat from medical school.
Before: big gut, puffy face, lunch lady arms. Conventional MD, terrified of fat, ER doctor drinking gallon skim milk with chocolate powder, gaining weight.
Patient (healthy athlete) shared: Sergey Brin (Google founder) went low carb high fat paleo diet. Google analyzed internet time/money spent—low carb high fat topped Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Mediterranean, South Beach. Same trend in friends/family (endorsement).
Paleo evolved to keto, then carnivore. Sean now eats carnivore-ish with fermented vegetables. Emailed physician friends—none followed initially. Best friend (Maria Ortho, Twitter/Instagram) took 10 years, now carnivore.
Low carb high fat gives best results.
Mainstream USDA: 40-50%+ calories from carbs—forces grains/processed carbs, excludes nutrient-dense meat/organs.
Low carb: <40% calories from carbs. Sweet spot 15-30%. Animal-based diet: mostly animal foods, few least-toxic plants (opposite plant-based).
No need for constant keto/zero carb. For full diabetes/visceral fat, go lower. Sean's agreement.
Paul: moderate carbs (50-100g/day) improved athletic performance, ended muscle cramps/palpitations, better sleep. Cycle keto due to electrolyte issues.
Ancestrally: varied carbs by days/seasons. Flexibility key.
Colleague (Army National Guard medic): low carb high fat, 3 months dramatic face change.
Lecture attendee: 2 months change.
Sean's face: 12 years health difference on low carb (pre-carnivore).
Concealed identity patient: big face change.
Not zero carb.
Microbiome key to tolerating carbs. Sean: milk (lactose) spikes blood sugar, but 50/50 milk + kefir no spike—microbes metabolize carbs.
Recommend fermented foods like traditional peoples.
Poor metabolic health (obese, insulin resistant): small carbs trigger cravings, MRI shows effects.
Podcast with Lucy Mailing: no need for fiber; fiber worsened dysbiosis/inflammation in some. Fermented foods increased alpha diversity (species diversity), not fiber.
Fermented foods detoxify plants (e.g., >99% lectins eliminated). Brassicas (cabbage, kale, broccoli) harmful (isothiocyanates affect thyroid/iodine). Ferment cabbage (sauerkraut).
Paul's high alpha diversity; trying water kefir, apple cider vinegar (with mother), milk kefir.
Thin outside, visceral fat inside patient passed out seeing MRI. Leverage microbiome + cut carbs eliminates cravings faster.
View obesity as infection (wrong microbes). Eradicate with healthier choices.
Research chronic disease (NSF grant): eliminating it improved appearance/performance.
Leverage appearance/performance for health motivation.
Tip: quarter teaspoon fermented foods daily seeds good microbes, competes pathogens, kills cravings quickly. Examples: kimchi, kefir, blue cheese, plain yogurt (unsweetened), water kefir, apple cider vinegar with mother.
High linoleic (omega-6 PUFA) diet exacerbates metabolic responses/gut dysbiosis in obese diabetic rats. Seed oils worsen dysbiosis, adipocyte inflammation, visceral fat, cravings.
Study (Science Advances, Feb 9, 2019): 50 rats, 25 human feces (normal) vs 25 schizophrenic—schizo feces rats developed schizo behaviors. Identified by strains. Processed foods role in schizophrenia/depression/mood disorders?
Fish oil attenuates omega-6 dysbiosis; excess linoleic + low omega-3 risks ulcerative colitis/dysbiosis.
Fecal transplant: obese to skinny rats → obesity; schizo to rats → behaviors.
Fix: ancestral—eliminate processed carbs/seed oils, small fermented foods, vitamin D/sunlight.
Joe Rogan carnivore January—lost weight, clearer. Feels horrible on pasta/bread. Processed/grain carbs (flour) problematic vs. fruit/honey. Rice grew visceral fat in patient.
Sean had restless leg syndrome/sleep apnea—resolved low carb, but honey triggered. Now tolerates 2 tbsp honey (microbiome adapted). Advise: low carb first, build microbiome with ferments, then reintroduce.
Joe likely 6lbs visceral fat; challenge for MRI pre/post carnivore.
Paul: 5x100m sprints 2x/week.
Sean: add BFR bands (blood flow restriction)—makes sprint faster, builds muscle (studying in special ops).
58yo executive: 3lbs visceral fat persisted despite protocols. Running 10 miles/day 5x/week (50 miles). Stopped running, sprinted 2 months: visceral fat gone, jacked, six pack. MRI tech shocked.
Distance running addictive like bread. Chronic cardio harms (Mark Sisson). Marathoners same CV outcomes as couch potatoes (J-curve).
34yo marathoner (8-10/year): lean outside, loaded visceral fat + pericardial heart fat despite carbs.
Lost 50% visceral fat in 2 months: sprinting, sauna, fasting.
Vietnamese female (MRI tech fiancée): thin in Vietnam, pericardial fat in US—microbiome change. Somali community: thin in Somalia, gain in US despite same foods—microbes/seed oils?
Instagram/Twitter: @drseanomara YouTube: Dr. Sean O'Mara
Animal diet reverses atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction—even plant-based can have visceral fat.
MRI visceral fat visualization game-changer for behavior change.
Sponsors: heartandsoil.co (beef organs: Heart of the Warrior, Lifeblood), joovv.com/paul (red light), sacredhunting.com/paul ($250 off), valcampo.com, whiteoakpastures.com (carnivoremd code).
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