Marc Bates, MPH, has released a comprehensive YouTube video challenging the widely accepted 25-gram daily fiber requirement, specifically for individuals following ketogenic and carnivore diets. The metabolic health expert presents compelling evidence that fiber may not be essential for those on low-carb eating patterns.

Bates questioned conventional fiber wisdom after examining Paleolithic nutrition patterns. His investigation revealed that ancient humans thrived without meeting modern fiber targets, particularly during ice ages when plant sources were unavailable.

"During the ice ages there were no plant sources that humans eating on a routine basis," Bates explains in the video. He cites nitrogen stable isotope analysis of Paleolithic bones as definitive proof that ancestral diets consisted primarily of fat and meat from mammals.

The video addresses common pushback from conventional nutritionists who dismiss this paleolithic evidence. According to Bates, critics often respond with weak arguments about plant consumption or gut microbiome design, despite the compelling bone chemistry data.

Unlike essential nutrients that have defined deficiency syndromes, fiber only carries "Adequate Intake" recommendations based on observational studies rather than proven physiological requirements. Current guidelines derive from population studies of high-carb diets with significant methodological limitations.

The research suggests ketogenic diets achieve improved cardiovascular markers and reduced inflammation without fiber intake, potentially outperforming fiber's purported benefits through carbohydrate restriction alone.