Animal products are not just beneficial to the brain—they are essential. Our mental health depends on critical nutrients such as choline, cholesterol, B12, and DHA, all of which are found exclusively in animal foods. These nutrients support neurotransmitter function, cognitive health, and even mood regulation. Without them, the brain struggles.
Yet, the modern diet has drifted away from the foods that built human intelligence. We’ve been told that plant-based diets are superior for health, but the science tells a different story.
Harvard Doctor Confirms: Meat is Essential for Mental Health
A Harvard psychiatrist specializing in nutritional psychiatry, Dr. Georgia Ede, has made it clear: animal products are not optional when it comes to mental health. She states that key nutrients found in meat—like B12, heme iron, and DHA—are irreplaceable for proper brain function and cannot be obtained from plants alone (Source).
For years, plant-based advocates have claimed that a meat-free diet is optimal for brain health. But as more research emerges, we see that avoiding animal foods may do more harm than good—especially for cognitive function.
What Our Ancestors Really Ate
Imagine a group of hunter-gatherers sitting around a fire after a successful hunt. Now, imagine one of them standing up and saying:
"Guys, don’t use the animal fat from this hunt—it will clog our arteries! Let’s cook these soybeans instead."
Sounds ridiculous, right?
That’s because our ancestors never thought this way. They relied on nutrient-dense animal foods like meat, fat, and organs to fuel their bodies and brains. Yet today, we’ve been led to believe that processed soy, seed oils, and fortified grains are somehow healthier than the very foods that allowed humans to thrive for millennia.
Humans Are Designed to Eat Meat
We don’t just prefer meat—we are biologically designed to eat it. Everything about human physiology points to our carnivorous nature:
- Canines designed for tearing meat
- Low stomach pH (similar to scavengers) to break down animal protein and kill harmful bacteria
- A short large intestine (unlike herbivores, which have long digestive tracts to ferment plants)
- Forward-facing eyes, which are characteristic of predators, not prey
Despite what plant-based advocates claim, our bodies do not resemble herbivores. The evidence is clear—meat is our optimal food.
Meat-Eaters Have Bigger Brains
A recent study from Oxford University revealed a shocking truth: vegetarians and vegans are six times more likely to suffer from brain shrinkage compared to meat eaters. The study found that individuals on meat-free diets had significantly smaller brain volumes, particularly in areas related to cognition and memory.
This isn’t surprising—meat provides the essential nutrients our brains need to grow and function properly. Removing these nutrients can lead to cognitive decline, memory loss, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
What’s Really in Vegan Food?
Vegan food isn’t just plants—it’s heavily processed and full of questionable ingredients.
- Soy protein isolates (processed soy stripped of nutrients and loaded with anti-nutrients)
- Seed oils (rancid, inflammatory fats)
- Synthetic vitamins (added to make up for what’s missing)
- Texturizers, gums, and emulsifiers to mimic the texture of real food
Meanwhile, meat has one ingredient: meat. It doesn’t need additives, fillers, or fortification because it is nutritionally complete on its own.
Humans Thrive on Meat
Veganism falls apart when you understand human physiology. We are made to eat meat—and plenty of it. This is why studies have found that avoiding meat increases the risk of brain shrinkage sixfold.
To thrive optimally, we must embrace animal foods, especially high-quality meat. The Carnivore Bar is designed to make this easier—providing real, nutrient-dense meat with zero fillers, zero additives, and zero nonsense.
It’s time to fuel your brain the way nature intended.
Citations:
- Ede, Georgia. "Meat is Essential for Mental Health." Carni Sostenibili, 2019, https://www.carnisostenibili.it/en/georgia-ede-harvard-meat-is-essential-for-mental-health/.
- Leroy, Frédéric, and Martin Cohen. "The Role of Meat in the Human Diet: Evolutionary Aspects and Nutritional Value." Animal Frontiers, vol. 13, no. 2, 2023, pp. 11–18, https://academic.oup.com/af/article/13/2/11/7123475.
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Vogiatzoglou, Anna, et al. "Vitamin B12 Status and Rate of Brain Volume Loss in Community-Dwelling Elderly." Neurology, vol. 71, no. 11, 2008, pp. 826–832, https://n.neurology.org/content/71/11/826.
- Medawar, Evelyn, et al. "The Effects of Plant-Based Diets on the Body and the Brain: A Systematic Review." Translational Psychiatry, vol. 9, 2019, article 226, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-019-0552-0.