Dr. Anthony Chaffee interviews Ira Sahay, a certified metabolic health coach from India. Ira shares her personal journey from a vegetarian diet back to a carnivore diet, driven by her struggle with an autoimmune kidney disease called membranous nephropathy. She describes her initial health crisis in 2021, during which she faced severe kidney problems, edema, and low blood pressure, culminating in a recommendation for renal transplant. Disillusioned with conventional treatment options like steroids and transplants, Ira sought alternatives that ultimately led her to the carnivore diet.
Ira explains that she was born into a family that consumed meat, but social pressures and trends led her to a vegetarian diet for over a decade. This diet, however, coincided with her developing autoimmune issues. Upon receiving her diagnosis, Ira’s health rapidly deteriorated, with severe water retention and protein loss, and her doctors offered little dietary advice beyond restricting salt and protein. Determined to fight her condition naturally, Ira began researching alternatives and found hope in the carnivore diet, influenced by experts like Dr. Shawn Baker and Dr. Ken Berry.
Once she adopted a carnivore diet, Ira quickly observed improvements. Within months, her kidney symptoms eased, proteinuria reduced, and her hair and skin health began to restore. Her doctors were surprised to see what they termed a “spontaneous remission,” although Ira attributes her recovery to the carnivore diet. She highlights her frustration with the medical establishment’s lack of openness to diet-based interventions, noting how she repeatedly faced skepticism and dismissiveness from doctors unwilling to consider alternatives outside traditional protocols.
Throughout the episode, Ira also discusses the cultural challenges of promoting a meat-based diet in India, where vegetarianism is often associated with purity and morality. She explains that much of this belief system is a recent phenomenon, influenced by colonial rule and modern-day political and religious movements. According to Ira, ancient Indian texts, including Ayurveda, historically recognized the health benefits of meat. This perspective, however, is often overshadowed by contemporary ideologies that idealize vegetarianism and even veganism, despite their potential health drawbacks.
Finally, Ira shares the broader impact of her story, noting that her success with the carnivore diet has inspired others in her community, including colleagues at D-Life, a metabolic health platform in India. She reflects on the joy of helping others overcome similar autoimmune challenges through dietary changes. Dr. Chaffee and Ira emphasize the importance of questioning established beliefs, advocating for the role of diet in managing chronic conditions, and fostering curiosity among healthcare professionals to explore non-conventional treatments.