Jordan Peterson's rise to fame was propelled by controversial statements challenging mainstream trends.
The carnivore diet myth perpetuates beliefs of plant toxicity without considering the diversity of indigenous diets.
Exclusion of plants in the carnivore diet contradicts claims of purity, raising questions about consistency.
Deep dives
Exploring Jordan Peterson's Academic Background and Ideological Shifts
Jordan Peterson's background and struggles with mental health led to his academic pursuits and ideological shifts towards conservative viewpoints. He grappled with chaos and order concepts, emphasizing biological certainty and moral absolutes in his work. Through a rigid stance on beliefs and narratives, he aimed to impose order on his own life and mind.
The Rise of Jordan Peterson: Fame, Controversies, and Message
Jordan Peterson's rise to fame was fueled by controversial statements, portraying himself as a conservative thinker challenging mainstream trends. Despite being perceived as an iconoclastic figure, his messages often revolve around banal or false conservative viewpoints. His success lies in repackaging traditional conservative ideas in complex language, attracting followers while lacking substantial arguments.
The Advent of the Carnivore Diet and Michaela Peterson's Journey
Michaela Peterson's battle with chronic health issues led her to experiment with different diets, ultimately discovering the carnivore diet's benefits. Her father, Jordan Peterson, also adopted this diet and experienced significant health improvements. The podcast delves into the origins of the carnivore diet, tracing its evolution from early bodybuilding regimens to mainstream adoption, highlighting its contentious rise in health and tech communities.
Myth 1: Plants are Bad for You
One of the main myths of the carnivore diet is that plants are harmful to human health because they contain toxic substances and anti-nutrients. Proponents of the diet claim that plants can hinder the absorption of essential nutrients like iron. However, the presence of anti-nutrients in plants is minimal and can be removed through cooking. The diet advocates often highlight indigenous societies that have survived on all-meat diets to support their claims, but fail to consider the diversity and context of their diets, leading to a skewed interpretation of their dietary habits.
Myth 2: Meat as a Pure Way to Eat
Another myth surrounding the carnivore diet is the belief that consuming only meat leads to a purer and cleaner way of eating. Followers of the diet emphasize the exclusion of plants, citing toxic substances present in them. However, contradictions arise when certain carnivore influencers allow exceptions like consuming alcohol or coffee, both of which come from plants. The fixation on specific types of meat, such as grass-fed beef, raises questions about the diet's consistency and effectiveness, particularly when the actual nutritional benefits do not align with the promoted narratives.
Note: In our discussion of Jordan Peterson’s political correctness lecture, I made a sarcastic comment about looking “slim in this dress.” After the episode came out, we started hearing from listeners that my comment reminded them of fatphobic jokes they’d heard in the past and didn’t feel consistent with the message of the show. They were right! It was a bad joke and we've removed it from the episode. We'll be discussing this and our approach to handling feedback and editing past episodes in more detail soon. Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know! — Mike
