The carnivore diet is gaining popularity among meat-eaters, who believe that eating solely red meats, with some white meats and eggs thrown in for good measure, is beneficial for the body and may even help with weight reduction. The diet, however, has shady credentials and little scientific support.
Veganism and vegetarianism have been on the increase in recent years, due to a number of celebrities who have proclaimed the health advantages of eliminating meat from their diets. However, on the other end of the scale, some are adopting meat-only diets, believing that excluding fruits and vegetables from their diets has a variety of health advantages.
The carnivore diet for weight reduction is gaining popularity among meat-eaters, who believe that eating solely red meats, with some white meats and eggs thrown in for good measure, is beneficial for the body.
The diet also prohibits the drinking of milk and other dairy products, according to reports.
Instead, it is largely reliant on only three foods: meat, eggs, and coffee!
Doesn't it sound strange? That's because this diet is weird, to begin with. Furthermore, nutritionists and health professionals have expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming that consuming just these three items might deprive the body of numerous critical nutrients.
Despite the negative press that the diet has received, meat-eaters continue to believe in the diet's purported 'benefits.' Several individuals have been sharing photos of their meat-heavy meals on Instagram and Facebook, claiming to have had decreased inflammation, lower blood pressure, and even improved libido!
What Is The Carnivore Diet And How Did It Begin?
Carbs are avoided in favor of protein and fat-rich meals on the carnivore diet, which seems to be a variation of the ketogenic and paleo diets. This is why, in addition to red meat, some individuals who follow the carnivore diet consume fish and eggs. Most individuals consume primarily red meats and avoid leaner meats such as chicken, turkey, and fish, and if they do eat them, they are frequently smeared with butter. The fact that there are no clear standards for following this diet, or even any serious scientific proof to support the claims made by its proponents, is one of the most compelling evidence of its doubtful reliability.
Shawn Baker, an orthopedic physician who had his license suspended in 2017, is one of the most well-known proponents of the carnivore diet. Baker has even begun charging clients who wanted to lose weight by following a carnivore diet a fee to instruct them to only eat red meat. Baker has over 40,000 Instagram followers and is apparently preparing to produce a diet book in February 2019. Processed grains, vegetable oils, and even fruits and vegetables, according to him, are to blame for weight gain and inflammation.
Does a Carnivore Diet Help You Lose Weight?
As previously noted, all conventional dietitians and nutritionists have dismissed the carnivore diet, and its adherents rely only on anecdotal data from a few isolated examples. In fact, another well-known nutritionist and weight control specialist, Rhiannon Lambert, has publicly condemned the program. "One thing you can't ignore is that there are certain nutrients you simply can't get from meat!" Lambert said on Instagram, adding, "Folate, vitamins C and E, all pretty much exclusively come from vegetables - that's why sailors used to develop scurvy since their predominantly fish diets didn't have enough vitamin C." She went on to explain the risks of a meat-only diet, claiming that meats don't supply the body with fiber and disrupt the body's healthy and bad cholesterol balance.
Lambert also cautioned people against believing outrageous claims that adopting a certain diet could cure certain 'diseases,' adding, "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to eating, but be skeptical of promises of "healing" ailments previously considered to be solely curable with drugs. Please never disregard medical advice in favor of food-based remedies." Generally, eating a carnivore diet may cause a lot of shortages in the body, which may be harmful to your overall health in the long term.
Keep in Mind: The Carnivore Diet for Weight Loss
- The diet may be good for a brief period of time, but it is not long-term maintainable.
- Be aware of any nutritional deficits in your body, including necessities such as sodium, magnesium, folate, and potassium.
- Because the diet's claims are unsupported by science, nutritionists and professionals typically advise against it.
- If you continue to exclude an entire food category for an extended period of time, you will undoubtedly suffer serious effects.
- Vegetables and fruits are among of the greatest nutrient-dense foods, and the body needs them to operate properly.
- In the long term, too much protein in meats may not be good for your health.
Generally, eating a carnivore diet may cause a lot of shortages in the body, which may be harmful to your overall health in the long term.