Cardiologist Shifts Focus from Plant-Based Diet to Low-Carb Nutrition

Jaimela (Jami) Dulaney, M.D., a cardiologist from Port Charlotte, has transitioned from advocating for plant-based diets to embracing a low-carbohydrate approach. Dulaney, who graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed her residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, has significant personal and professional experience with plant-based nutrition. After adopting a vegan diet 20 years ago and promoting it for over a decade, she authored a plant-based cookbook and encouraged local restaurants to offer more vegetarian options.

Dulaney’s dietary shift, which now includes bacon and eggs as favorites, stems from concerns about diabetes and heart disease in her family, which motivated her to become a cardiologist. She had previously seen positive results in patients using plant-based diets, which she believed enhanced their health. However, over time, she recognized a troubling pattern: while patients were losing weight, they were also developing insulin resistance, which is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

At age 64, while participating in endurance sports, Dulaney began to experience performance issues, prompting her to explore low-carb diets. Research indicated that such diets could enhance her athletic performance and address some of the health issues she had been observing in her patients. In reflecting on her practice, she noted that a significant number of her patients were not achieving desired outcomes with a plant-based diet, particularly those who were significantly overweight.

With this experience, Dulaney reconsidered her views on nutrition and its effects on health, especially regarding cholesterol and insulin resistance. This past May, she initiated a change in her practice to include fish and promoted low-carb and carnivorous diets, communicating these revisions to her patients through a Zoom town hall meeting.

The response was largely positive, and as patients shifted towards more protein-rich, low-carb diets, many experienced favorable results. Dulaney expressed regret for not earlier recognizing the potential benefits of fat and the shortcomings of her previous dietary recommendations. She now advocates for a greater focus on metabolic health in medicine, aiming to address root causes of diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Dulaney continues to promote health through her practice in Port Charlotte and hosts a free keto support group along with a YouTube podcast. For more information, individuals can contact her office at 941-740-5379 or visit drdulaney.com.