Heart Surgeon Advocates for 95% Carnivore Diet, Dispelling Red Meat Myths
For years, conventional wisdom has cautioned against eating red meat due to its supposed negative effects on heart health, but Dr. Philip Ovadia, a heart surgeon based in Florida, is turning that advice on its head.
Dr. Ovadia follows a carnivore diet where more than 95% of his daily intake consists of animal products like meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy. He occasionally adds seasonings, onions, garlic, or even avocado, but these additions are rare.
Red Meat and Heart Health: A Misconception?
“Coming from a heart surgeon, the biggest misconception… is that red meat is harmful for you, your heart health,” Ovadia told Newsweek.
His statement challenges long-held beliefs that link red meat and saturated fat to heart disease, a view promoted by organizations like the American Heart Association.
According to these institutions, saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol, often dubbed “bad” cholesterol, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has echoed these concerns, advising that a diet high in saturated fats can elevate heart disease risks.
But Ovadia believes these warnings are based on “poor science that was misinterpreted and overpromoted.”
He argues that red meat has been wrongly vilified, primarily because people often consume it alongside processed foods and refined carbohydrates, which are the real culprits behind rising rates of heart disease.
“For most people, when they’re talking about eating meat, it’s in the context of a standard Western diet, which contains a lot of refined carbohydrates, a lot of processed foods. That is what is causing the harm—but the red meat took the blame,” he explained.
The Role of Inflammation and Insulin Resistance
Dr. Ovadia emphasizes that a diet focusing on whole, real foods with low carbohydrate content can significantly reduce insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, both of which he views as the true root causes of heart disease.
Inflammation, the body’s natural response to injury, can become chronic when triggered by poor diet and lifestyle factors like sugar and processed foods, leading to various chronic diseases.
Insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes, occurs when the body becomes less effective at managing blood sugar levels, usually due to a diet high in refined carbohydrates.
According to Ovadia, this condition is linked to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.
He explained that “low-carbohydrate diets—especially carnivore-based ones—have now been demonstrated to be particularly effective at dealing with insulin resistance and improving or preventing inflammation.”
Addressing Heart Disease Beyond Surgery
In addition to performing heart surgeries, Dr. Ovadia runs a practice that helps patients overhaul their diets. His main piece of advice? Avoid processed foods and embrace whole, natural ones.
“My main thing that I talk to people about is eliminating processed food, eating whole real food,” he said, stressing that red meat doesn’t deserve its bad reputation.
As a heart surgeon, Ovadia frequently performs coronary artery bypass surgery, a procedure designed to restore blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked arteries.
While the surgery itself can be lifesaving, he cautions that it doesn’t address the underlying cause of heart disease.
“The surgery will address the problem… but the surgery doesn’t change why they got the heart disease,” he said. Without tackling these root causes—namely, inflammation and insulin resistance—he believes patients will continue to suffer from heart issues in the future.
Ovadia’s perspective adds to the growing debate around dietary guidelines and heart health. While the American Heart Association and CDC still advise limiting saturated fats, his approach focuses on a shift away from processed and carbohydrate-heavy diets, which he believes are far more harmful than red meat.
His carnivore diet has attracted attention, not just for its unconventional nature, but for the challenge it poses to the traditional narrative surrounding heart health.
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