STORY AT-A-GLANCE Dr. Paul Saladino, a proponent of animal-based diets, debates Dr. Joel Fuhrman, who advocates for a primarily plant-based diet Many of the studies linking plant-based diets to better health are observational epidemiology, not interventional studies, and as such cannot prove causation and are often plagued by healthy and unhealthy user bias Numerous interventional studies suggest consuming meat does not lead to increased inflammation or oxidative stress, but improves insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity Many phytochemicals are plant defense molecules that have negative effects in humans, and plant-based diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies Fuhrman suggested that observational studies are still beneficial due to the long-term nature of nutrition; it can take time for the health effects of a poor or healthy diet to show up. But, Saladino noted, human evolution may be the best long-term “study” of all, supporting the consumption of naturally raised, grass f...