The Primal Shift 130: What Role Should Plants Play In An Animal-Based Lifestyle?
All plants are toxic to varying degrees. I haven't changed my mind on that. But recently our oldest daughter came up with a business idea: – making salves from plantain leaves infused in beeswax and olive oil for their antibacterial properties — and it got me thinking about the role plants actually play in our household despite the fact that we're very much an animal-based, meat-centric family.
The truth is, we do eat plants. We always have. The foundation hasn't changed — meat, organs, eggs, dairy and bone broth make up the vast majority of our calories, and comparing the nutrient content of beef liver to kale isn't a close fight. But adhering to an animal-based dietary framework doesn't mean plants are the enemy in every context.
The oldest use case is medicinal. Aspirin comes from willow bark, metformin from the French lilac, morphine from poppies. I'm not eating willow bark for lunch, but if I have a headache, it makes perfect sense. Turmeric targets inflammatory pathways, ginger helps with nausea, and oregano oil has been one of our go-to remedies for respiratory and gut infections for years.
These aren't calories or micronutrients — we get those from animals. But for targeted medicinal use, plants have earned their place.
Then there's flavor and the cultural connection that comes with food. Rosemary on a lamb roast, fresh basil on sourdough pizza, the smell of garlic roasting in a pan — those things make food better.
Food is family connection, tradition, and cultural identity. My wife is Costa Rican, I'm from Europe, and we grew up with certain meals that bring the family together. Some of those include plant-based ingredients, and the value of sharing that meal can override the marginal downsides.
The real nuance is preparation. Fermenting, sprouting, soaking, peeling cooking — these methods can meaningfully reduce anti-nutrients like lectins and phytic acid.
We peel, slice, and ferment sweet potatoes in a saline solution for three days, which lowers the glycemic index and breaks down a lot of the problematic compounds.
We soak rice overnight and cook it in fresh water.
None of this turns plants into superfoods, but it makes them significantly more compatible with a species-appropriate diet – especially if you're sourcing organic or growing them yourself.
The practical framework is straightforward: 80 to 90% quality animal foods, 10 to 20% well-chosen, well-prepared plants. If you're already eating nose to tail and building around nutrient density, you've won the big battle. The plant question is just fine-tuning. Learn More:
My Animal-Based Food List (Free Download): https://michaelkummer.com/food-list/ MEAT vs. PLANTS (What's Better for Your Health?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqKzO_PkD-k&utm
Plants vs. Meat: Why I Stopped Eating Veggies: https://michaelkummer.com/plants-vs-meat
99: Plants vs Animals: Why Meat Beats Plants for Nutrition: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/99-plants-vs-animals-why-meat-beats-plants-for-nutrition 49: From Almonds to Spinach: Dr. Schindler on Avoiding Common Dietary Traps: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/49-from-almonds-to-spinach-dr-schindler-on-avoiding-common-dietary-traps/
Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Apollo Neuro!
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In this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:47 Animal-Based foundation 03:35 Plants as medicine 06:54 Flavor and food culture 10:34 Fermentation and prep 15:04 Plant tiers and avoids 16:42 Final thoughts
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[Medical Disclaimer]
The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health.
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