The Hidden Risks of Vegan Diets

This chapter examines the nutritional pitfalls of vegan diets, particularly focusing on plant toxins like oxalates that can hinder nutrient absorption and impact health. It discusses personal experiences with high-oxalate foods and their link to chronic pain and health issues, alongside strategies for detoxification. The chapter also critiques conventional nutrition studies and emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the effects of oxalate and dietary choices on overall wellbeing.

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Today, we welcome back a guest from the early days of this podcast, fellow former vegan and esteemed researcher and scientist, Chris Masterjohn. Chris Masterjohn earned his PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut, and has worked as a postdoctoral research associate and Assistant Professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences.

In 2016, he transitioned to entrepreneurship. These days, Chris conducts independent research, consults, develops information products, and creates free content to help people improve their health.

Chris is dedicated to sharing practical principles from complex science, and to the pursuit of truth and continuous learning. He's a biohacker from before the word “biohacking” came to be, appearing on episode 16 of this podcast when I was just getting that movement started, because he not only pays attention to how stuff works in the world and academic research, but he hacks his own body. I've always liked the way he thinks mechanistically about biology, nutrients, and what to eat.

In this conversation, we talk about how to recover from veganism and reverse the effects of oxalates, highlighting the long term health impacts of the vegan diet. His own self experimentation lately is of particular interest to me as he’s been exploring the intersection of genetics and mitochondrial health to heal niche health conditions and even quell extreme fears or stressors.

We also talk about the link between energy metabolism and psychological trauma, chronic pain and oxalate overload, and even explore the potential dangers of methylene blue from his latest 58 page research paper breaking down the importance of correct dosing.

If you’re a true biohacker, you’re going to love this deep dive into how minerals and metabolism play a huge role in our biology.

(03:47) Genetic Optimization: A New Approach to Healing Chronic Pain & Disease

• How his perspective on nutrition has changed since our first episode

• The extreme effects veganism had on his health

• Using genetics research to find solutions to rare health issues

• The role of AI in diagnosing health conditions—now and in the future

• Focusing on mitochondria as the root cause to heal health issues

• Access his program: chrismasterjohnphd.com

• What will reverse the anti fertility trend?

• The psychological rewiring required to heal chronic disease states

• Lowering your stress response with GABA and hierarchical exposure therapy

• How energy metabolism and psychological trauma symptoms are related