The Red Meat Allergy No One Saw Coming With Dr. Amy Gutman

In this compelling episode of Decoding Health, Dr. Urban welcomes back Dr. Amy Gutman, emergency physician and founder of Tough Love MD, for a deep dive into one of the fastest-growing yet least-understood health threats in America: tick-borne diseases, specifically Alpha-Gal Syndrome. A reformed vegan turned dedicated carnivore, Dr. Gutman shares her personal health journey and recent experiences abroad before unpacking the alarming rise in Alpha-Gal, a red meat allergy triggered by the Lone Star tick that has skyrocketed to over 425,000 U.S. cases—far outpacing Lyme disease. Together, they explore how this strange allergic reaction differs from bacterial and protozoal infections, why modern food sources may be amplifying the risk, and whether genetic or environmental shifts in ticks could be driving this epidemic. This conversation blends science, curiosity, and critical thinking to shed light on a condition that’s changing how we view food, health, and evolution itself.