Lucas Wilhelm Hedenbäck argues the carnivore diet tanks athletic performance by raising SHBG, which binds testosterone and makes it unavailable for muscle growth. Low-carb eating also down-regulates mitochondrial function, causing energy crashes. He notes carnivore advocates built their physiques on carbs, then switched to meat for marketing.
Carnivore is one of the worst health trends when it comes to performance, and here's why you're being misled. Most of these guys have low free testosterone, fried metabolism, and zero energy, but they'll flash a high total testosterone number and call it optimal. What they're not showing you is their SHBG, the protein that binds up testosterone. When you go low carb, insulin signaling drops, SHBG goes through the roof, and free testosterone tanks. So that high test on paper, completely useless if your body can't access it. And then there's metabolism. Without carbs, your mitochondria downregulate the electron transport chain, your most efficient energy system. Why these guys are always Talking slow, moving slow, and crashing hard by midday. Here's the kicker: the guys preaching carnivore—they didn't build their physique without carbs. They trained, built muscle, hit peak shape, then jumped on carnivore and started selling it. You won't find a single high-performing athlete who built a powerful muscular body on steak alone. The real move: meat and eggs, yes, but add back carbs from fruit, roots, honey—that's when your hormones will thrive, your metabolism runs hot, and you stop feeling like you're stuck in low gear all day.
