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Montreal Gazette
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
The Right Chemistry: Science shows carnivore diet is best left to lions
Jenny McCarthy, a former Playboy Playmate of the Year, is playing with science again. This time it is all about the 'carnivore diet.' Her first foray into the scientific arena was in 2005, when her son was diagnosed with autism. She began to 'do her own research' that led to Dr. Andrew Wakefield's publication in the Lancet, a prime medical journal, linking the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism. That paper was eventually retracted, with Wakefield accused of submitting fraudulent data. His medical license in Britain was subsequently revoked, prompting a move to the U.S., where he found fertile ground for his anti-vaccine agenda. McCarthy, with her then-boyfriend, Canadian actor Jim Carrey, became a vocal questioner of the safety of vaccines. She now insists, à la Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that she was never anti-vaccine; she was just in favour of delaying certain vaccines and reducing the 'toxins,' such as the preservative thimerosal that some contain. This flies in the face of scientific consensus. One would think the plethora of scientific studies published since Wakefield's deceitful paper that have found no relationship between vaccines and autism would have put the issue to rest, but sadly that is not the case. Now McCarthy, 52, has opened another can of worms. Interestingly, the wriggling creatures would actually fit into the carnivore diet she currently advocates. Previously, she had been a vegan and even founded Formless Beauty, a 'vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free' cosmetic company. Why? Because she was 'sick of putting toxic products on her skin.' No eyelashes made of mink fur for McCarthy! Her vegan eyelashes are made from synthetic fibres such as polybutylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or nylon. However, her vegan diet did not go well. 'I became so ill, like I was literally dying. I was exhausted, fatigued, I was a mess.' Then her 'functional medicine' doctor came to the rescue and suggested she try the carnivore diet. Joy now reigns supreme! She does not hesitate to reveal that as a vegan she was pooping every 14 days, but thanks to dining only on grass-fed meat, it is now a daily occurrence. We are all relieved to know this. Her acne has also cleared up and she says she feels like a 25-year-old. What is this carnivore diet all about? Eat nothing but steak and eggs, snack on sticks of butter and abolish grains, fruits and vegetables. Why would anyone want to do that when a massive amount of research documents the benefits of a mostly plant-based diet? Because they have heard that feasting only on meat like a lion leads to weight loss, resolves arthritis, reduces inflammation, eliminates spikes in glucose, improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, stabilizes mood and enhances cognitive function. Who says so? Nutritional luminaries like controversial Edmonton-born psychologist Jordan Peterson, his daughter Mikhaila (curiously named after Mikhail Gorbachev), podcaster Joe Rogan and former orthopedic surgeon and anti-vegan activist Shawn Baker. Keep in mind, though, that diets come and go, and similar claims have been made for the Keto, Cookie, Blood Type, Cabbage Soup, Sleeping Beauty, Cotton Ball, Vision, Grapefruit, Master Cleanse and Tapeworm diets. The current advocates of feasting on red meat did not invent the carnivore diet. In the 18th century, Scottish military surgeon John Rollo concluded that a diet of meat was the answer to diabetes because meat contains no sugar. This was seconded a century later by Italian physician Arnaldo Cantani and American doctor James Salisbury, who claimed that beef drowned in gravy, the so-called 'Salisbury steak,' resolves various health issues. How and why Baker, with no expertise in nutrition, became the carnivore guru isn't clear. What is clear is that the fad is not supported by evidence. Quite the contrary. The lack of fibre increases the risk of colon cancer, imbalances the intestinal microbiome, and can lead to explosive diarrhea. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies red meat as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' and processed meat as 'known to be carcinogenic to humans.' A high-meat diet raises LDL cholesterol, the so-called 'bad cholesterol,' as well as blood levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound linked with cardiovascular risk. Meat also lacks vitamin C, magnesium and potassium, all found in plant foods. Then there is the issue of kidney stones. Too great a protein consumption can lead to both calcium-oxalate and uric-acid kidney stones, as exemplified by online influencer Eve Catherine, who ended up in hospital with severe pain after embarking on the carnivore diet. People generally swallow the carnivore bait after having been seduced by the purported 'evidence' that scoots around the blogosphere, almost exclusively anecdotal. Mikhaila Peterson compellingly describes her arthritis symptoms vanishing. Blogger Patrick Ensley describes how eating a 16-oz steak, a pound of ground beef and a half-dozen eggs every day allowed him to lose 140 pounds, cured his snoring and eliminated his brain fog. In his videos, he warns people about eating vegetables like spinach, broccoli and kale because 'these produce plant defence chemicals, so they don't want you to eat them.' Nonsense! Add to this the ripped body of Baker, Jordan Peterson's claims of relief of depression and Rogan speaking of putting on muscle and improving energy. These may be impressive anecdotes, but the plural of anecdote is not data. Neither do self-reported online surveys amount to evidence. Where we do find evidence is for the risks of excessive meat consumption and for the benefits of a Mediterranean type diet with lots of nuts, whole grains fruits, vegetables and little red meat. There is one condition that might be helped by a carnivore diet. A case report in the journal Frontiers of Nutrition describes 10 patients with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis going into remission after starting a carnivore diet, with symptoms only returning when patients diverged from their diet. It's a very interesting report that should prompt further studies, but should not be taken to mean that the carnivore diet is generally beneficial. Baker asks: 'Why doesn't every wild animal that eats meat suffer from the chronic diseases modern humans face?' Maybe because the lion avoids the stress of having to listen to pseudo-scientific babble about diets by sleeping twenty hours a day.
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Amid political backlash, Canada's Nathan Fillion says Superman's true power is hope
In an age of endless remakes and superhero fatigue, Nathan Fillion says he isn't sure the world needs another Superman movie. But he's certain it needs what the new one represents. 'I think all the Superman iterations have had incredible value. I love them all. This one harkens back to the comic books, the very core idea of what Superman stands for: it's about hope, it's about choosing kindness,' says the Edmonton-born actor, who plays the Green Lantern in the James Gunn-made reboot of the DC Universe franchise. 'I think that message is well-timed right now. Do we need another Superman movie? I don't know, but do we need a message of hope and kindness? I will say yes.' 'Superman,' soaring into theatres Friday, is the latest film to take on Krypton's last son. David Corenswet stars as the titular hero, an alien with godlike powers trying to do good in a world that's increasingly suspicious of his motives. As distrust mounts, tech mogul Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, exploits the paranoia, painting Superman as a threat. The film has faced backlash from right-wing pundits following a recent interview where Gunn told 'The Sunday Times of London' that the story is about 'an immigrant that came from other places' and might offend some because it focuses on 'human kindness.' On a Fox News segment titled 'Superwoke,' host Kellyanne Conway objected, arguing audiences 'don't go to the movie theatre to be lectured to.' Fillion's response to the outrage is one of empathy. 'When I hear that, I simply think somebody needs a hug and to remember it's just a movie,' he says on a call Wednesday from Los Angeles. 'I mean, I saw the movie. I don't know how political it was.' Still, Gunn's film mirrors real-world anxieties: Luthor is a power-hungry billionaire pulling government strings, citizens are divided by disinformation, and the story opens with a lopsided war raging between two fictional nations. Joining Superman are the Green Lantern, Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific — a trio of metahumans known as the Justice Gang, who stand alongside him to protect humanity. Fillion is the first actor to bring the Guy Gardner version of the Green Lantern to the big screen — a cocky, obnoxious fan-favourite from the comics who stands apart from the more straight-laced Lanterns who came before him, such as Hal Jordan, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 film 'Green Lantern.' 'What I like about him is the idea that you don't have to be good to be a Green Lantern. You just have to be fearless,' he says. Fillion, who got his start on the soap 'One Life to Live' and found cult fame with Joss Whedon's early-aughts drama 'Firefly,' says at the beginning of his career he gravitated toward 'flawless' characters because he wanted to be well liked. 'I was really, really wrong about that,' he says. 'No one can relate to someone who is perfect, and no one likes a guy who is perfect. We like people who are flawed, because we can relate to that. We are, all of us, flawed.' That realization has helped shape much of Fillion's career, as he's played charmingly imperfect heroes including a smug crime novelist on 2010s dramedy 'Castle' and an everyman cop on police procedural 'The Rookie,' which just wrapped its seventh season. As Gardner, he sports a hairdo audiences may not be used to seeing him in: a blond bowl cut. Fillion says he fought for the look as producers considered other styles. 'I was team bowl cut all the way. It is canon. I think if we didn't do it, we were going to hear about it,' he says. 'It says a lot about Guy Gardner. When you see a guy walking down the street with a bowl cut, he clearly does not care what you think.' 'Superman' is seen as the true kickoff for James Gunn's revamped DC Universe under his leadership at DC Studios. Fillion, who previously worked with Gunn on 2021's 'The Suicide Squad' and 2023's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,' says he's all-in on the new DCU. He will be reprising his role as Gardner in the forthcoming series 'Lanterns' and the second season of 'Peacemaker,' both on Max. He says he'd be up for starring in a stand-alone Justice Gang movie. 'If I get the chance, I'll ride this one until it's in the ground. It'll be fantastic,' he says. Fillion says he always hopes 'nobody's a jerk' when he starts a new project, but Gunn is 'incredible' at vetting the people he works with. As a result, he's formed bonds with many actors he's 'come to love as people.' 'They hate it when I say this, but we don't just walk away friends. We walk away super friends.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Global News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Amid political backlash, Nathan Fillion says Superman's true power is hope and kindness
In an age of endless remakes and superhero fatigue, Nathan Fillion says he isn't sure the world needs another Superman movie. But he's certain it needs what the new one represents. 'I think all the Superman iterations have had incredible value. I love them all. This one harkens back to the comic books, the very core idea of what Superman stands for: it's about hope, it's about choosing kindness,' says the Edmonton-born actor, who plays the Green Lantern in the James Gunn-made reboot of the DC Universe franchise. 'I think that message is well-timed right now. Do we need another Superman movie? I don't know, but do we need a message of hope and kindness? I will say yes.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think that message is well-timed right now. Do we need another Superman movie? I don't know, but do we need a message of hope and kindness? I will say yes." Superman, soaring into theatres Friday, is the latest film to take on Krypton's last son. David Corenswet stars as the titular hero, an alien with godlike powers trying to do good in a world that's increasingly suspicious of his motives. Story continues below advertisement As distrust mounts, tech mogul Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, exploits the paranoia, painting Superman as a threat. The film has faced backlash from right-wing pundits following a recent interview where Gunn told 'The Sunday Times of London' that the story is about 'an immigrant that came from other places' and might offend some because it focuses on 'human kindness.' 4:46 Superman: David Corenswet says some Lex Luthor scenes were 'too evil' to make film On a Fox News segment titled 'Superwoke,' host Kellyanne Conway objected, arguing audiences 'don't go to the movie theatre to be lectured to.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fillion's response to the outrage is one of empathy. 'When I hear that, I simply think somebody needs a hug and to remember it's just a movie,' he says on a call Wednesday from Los Angeles. Story continues below advertisement 'I mean, I saw the movie. I don't know how political it was.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I mean, I saw the movie. I don't know how political it was." Still, Gunn's film mirrors real-world anxieties: Luthor is a power-hungry billionaire pulling government strings, citizens are divided by disinformation, and the story opens with a lopsided war raging between two fictional nations. Joining Superman are the Green Lantern, Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific — a trio of metahumans known as the Justice Gang, who stand alongside him to protect humanity. 4:05 New Superman trailer reveals DC universe's iconic characters Fillion is the first actor to bring the Guy Gardner version of the Green Lantern to the big screen — a cocky, obnoxious fan-favourite from the comics who stands apart from the more straight-laced Lanterns who came before him, such as Hal Jordan, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 film Green Lantern. 'What I like about him is the idea that you don't have to be good to be a Green Lantern. You just have to be fearless,' he says. Story continues below advertisement Fillion, who got his start on the soap opera One Life to Live and found cult fame with Joss Whedon's early-aughts drama Firefly, says at the beginning of his career he gravitated toward 'flawless' characters because he wanted to be well liked. 'I was really, really wrong about that,' he says. 'No one can relate to someone who is perfect, and no one likes a guy who is perfect. We like people who are flawed, because we can relate to that. We are, all of us, flawed.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "No one can relate to someone who is perfect, and no one likes a guy who is perfect. We like people who are flawed, because we can relate to that. We are, all of us, flawed." That realization has helped shape much of Fillion's career, as he's played charmingly imperfect heroes including a smug crime novelist on 2010s dramedy Castle and an everyman cop on police procedural The Rookie, which just wrapped its seventh season. 2:05 Alberta forest group snags actor Nathan Fillion as host of virtual outdoor tour As Gardner, he sports a hairdo audiences may not be used to seeing him in: a blond bowl cut. Fillion says he fought for the look as producers considered other styles. Story continues below advertisement 'I was team bowl cut all the way. It is canon. I think if we didn't do it, we were going to hear about it,' he says. 'It says a lot about Guy Gardner. When you see a guy walking down the street with a bowl cut, he clearly does not care what you think.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It says a lot about Guy Gardner. When you see a guy walking down the street with a bowl cut, he clearly does not care what you think." Superman is seen as the true kickoff for James Gunn's revamped DC Universe under his leadership at DC Studios. Fillion, who previously worked with Gunn on 2021's The Suicide Squad and 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, says he's all-in on the new DCU. He will be reprising his role as Gardner in the forthcoming series Lanterns and the second season of Peacemaker, both on Max. He says he'd be up for starring in a stand-alone Justice Gang movie. 'If I get the chance, I'll ride this one until it's in the ground. It'll be fantastic,' he says. Fillion says he always hopes 'nobody's a jerk' when he starts a new project, but Gunn is 'incredible' at vetting the people he works with. As a result, he's formed bonds with many actors he's 'come to love as people.' 'They hate it when I say this, but we don't just walk away friends. We walk away super friends.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They hate it when I say this, but we don't just walk away friends. We walk away super friends."
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Amid political backlash, Canada's Nathan Fillion says Superman's true power is hope
In an age of endless remakes and superhero fatigue, Nathan Fillion says he isn't sure the world needs another Superman movie. But he's certain it needs what the new one represents. 'I think all the Superman iterations have had incredible value. I love them all. This one harkens back to the comic books, the very core idea of what Superman stands for: it's about hope, it's about choosing kindness,' says the Edmonton-born actor, who plays the Green Lantern in the James Gunn-made reboot of the DC Universe franchise. 'I think that message is well-timed right now. Do we need another Superman movie? I don't know, but do we need a message of hope and kindness? I will say yes.' 'Superman,' soaring into theatres Friday, is the latest film to take on Krypton's last son. David Corenswet stars as the titular hero, an alien with godlike powers trying to do good in a world that's increasingly suspicious of his motives. As distrust mounts, tech mogul Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, exploits the paranoia, painting Superman as a threat. The film has faced backlash from right-wing pundits following a recent interview where Gunn told 'The Sunday Times of London' that the story is about 'an immigrant that came from other places' and might offend some because it focuses on 'human kindness.' On a Fox News segment titled 'Superwoke,' host Kellyanne Conway objected, arguing audiences 'don't go to the movie theatre to be lectured to.' Fillion's response to the outrage is one of empathy. 'When I hear that, I simply think somebody needs a hug and to remember it's just a movie,' he says on a call Wednesday from Los Angeles. 'I mean, I saw the movie. I don't know how political it was.' Still, Gunn's film mirrors real-world anxieties: Luthor is a power-hungry billionaire pulling government strings, citizens are divided by disinformation, and the story opens with a lopsided war raging between two fictional nations. Joining Superman are the Green Lantern, Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi's Mister Terrific — a trio of metahumans known as the Justice Gang, who stand alongside him to protect humanity. Fillion is the first actor to bring the Guy Gardner version of the Green Lantern to the big screen — a cocky, obnoxious fan-favourite from the comics who stands apart from the more straight-laced Lanterns who came before him, such as Hal Jordan, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 film 'Green Lantern.' 'What I like about him is the idea that you don't have to be good to be a Green Lantern. You just have to be fearless,' he says. Fillion, who got his start on the soap 'One Life to Live' and found cult fame with Joss Whedon's early-aughts drama 'Firefly,' says at the beginning of his career he gravitated toward 'flawless' characters because he wanted to be well liked. 'I was really, really wrong about that,' he says. 'No one can relate to someone who is perfect, and no one likes a guy who is perfect. We like people who are flawed, because we can relate to that. We are, all of us, flawed.' That realization has helped shape much of Fillion's career, as he's played charmingly imperfect heroes including a smug crime novelist on 2010s dramedy 'Castle' and an everyman cop on police procedural 'The Rookie,' which just wrapped its seventh season. As Gardner, he sports a hairdo audiences may not be used to seeing him in: a blond bowl cut. Fillion says he fought for the look as producers considered other styles. 'I was team bowl cut all the way. It is canon. I think if we didn't do it, we were going to hear about it,' he says. 'It says a lot about Guy Gardner. When you see a guy walking down the street with a bowl cut, he clearly does not care what you think.' 'Superman' is seen as the true kickoff for James Gunn's revamped DC Universe under his leadership at DC Studios. Fillion, who previously worked with Gunn on 2021's 'The Suicide Squad' and 2023's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,' says he's all-in on the new DCU. He will be reprising his role as Gardner in the forthcoming series 'Lanterns' and the second season of 'Peacemaker,' both on Max. Currently on hiatus A review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe. He says he'd be up for starring in a stand-alone Justice Gang movie. 'If I get the chance, I'll ride this one until it's in the ground. It'll be fantastic,' he says. Fillion says he always hopes 'nobody's a jerk' when he starts a new project, but Gunn is 'incredible' at vetting the people he works with. As a result, he's formed bonds with many actors he's 'come to love as people.' 'They hate it when I say this, but we don't just walk away friends. We walk away super friends.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Toronto Star
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Edmonton-born forward starts for France against All Blacks in rugby test match
Edmonton-born forward Tyler Duguid made his debut for fourth-ranked France in a 31-27 loss to the second-ranked All Blacks on Saturday in Dunedin, New Zealand. The 24-year-old Duguid, who represented Canada at the under-20 level, qualifies for France via residency after moving to Europe to pursue his rugby career as a teenager with RC Narbonne. He currently plays for Montpellier in the top-flight French Top 14 on a contract running through 2017.
