Dante Carrillo
The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive diet that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly on social media platforms. It involves consuming only animal-based products, such as beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, while strictly excluding fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nuts. The diet has been promoted by influencers and public figures, including former orthopedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book The Carnivore Diet. While some proponents argue that it is a healthy way to lose weight and manage medical conditions like diabetes, there are significant concerns about its potential negative health impacts, including increased risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease. The diet has also faced criticism for its environmental impact and association with far-right ideologies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | In the 1880s, James H. Salisbury advocated a meat diet, which became known as the Salisbury diet. In 2018, the carnivore diet was promoted on social media by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker. |
| Basis | The diet is based on the idea of removing irritating foods to improve nutrient absorption in the gut. |
| Foods to eat | Red meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and non-milk dairy products. |
| Foods to avoid | All fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. |
| Variations | Some variations include the lion diet (only beef, salt, and water) and the raw food version promoted by Raw Egg Nationalist. |
| Criticisms | The diet is criticised for being potentially unhealthy, unsustainable, and harmful to overall health. It is also criticised for its high cost and negative environmental impact. |
| Health concerns | Increased risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease, impaired kidney function, constipation, and gout. |
| Benefits | Weight loss, improved blood sugar levels, and improved nutrient status. |
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What You'll Learn
The diet's ancient roots
The Carnivore Diet, in its modern form, may have gained prominence in 2018 through former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker's book, The Carnivore Diet, and through social media promotion by Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila. However, the idea of an all-meat diet has ancient roots.
The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic, the Sioux of South Dakota, and the Brazilian Gauchos are examples of people who have lived on mainly-meat diets for decades, lifetimes, and generations. The Inuit diet consisted of fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat, while the Chukotka subsisted on caribou meat, marine animals, and fish. The Sioux thrived on buffalo meat, and the Gauchos on beef.
The "'Carnivore Connection' hypothesis, first proposed by Brand-Miller and Colagiuri nearly two decades ago, posits that dietary carbohydrates played a critical role in the natural history of type 2 diabetes. The hypothesis suggests that during the Ice Ages, which dominated the last two million years of human evolution, humans consumed a low-carbohydrate, high-protein carnivorous diet. This diet resulted in insulin resistance, which became a survival and reproductive advantage. When food energy was abundant but dietary carbohydrates were scarce, those with greater insulin resistance could redirect glucose from maternal use to fetal metabolism, increasing birth weight and offspring survival.
The evolution of humans towards carnivory is also supported by archaeological evidence. With the onset of the Pleistocene around 2.5 million years ago, global temperatures dropped, transforming moist African forests into dry, open woodlands and savannahs. Hominids who could not adapt to grasslands turned to scavenged or hunted meat to supplement their vegetarian diet. The appearance of the first stone tools in the fossil record, coinciding with the existence of Homo habilis, supports this theory.
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Health benefits and risks
The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive diet that consists entirely of animal products and claims to aid weight loss, mood issues, and blood sugar regulation, among other health issues. It is based on the controversial belief that the diets of human ancestral populations consisted mostly of meat and fish.
The diet has been promoted by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book 'The Carnivore Diet', and Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila, who follow a strict type of carnivore diet called the 'lion diet', consisting only of beef, salt, and water.
There is limited research investigating the health benefits of the carnivore diet. A 2021 study found that most people on the diet experienced a high level of satisfaction, general health improvements, and few adverse effects. Some early benefits of the diet may include improved blood pressure, reduced belly fat, and improved cardiovascular health due to the removal of highly processed carbohydrates. Very low-carb diets have also been shown to benefit those with type 2 diabetes.
However, the long-term health outcomes of the carnivore diet are unclear, and there is no research to support its purported benefits. The diet eliminates many nutritious foods, including fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, which can lead to deficiencies in some nutrients and the overconsumption of others. It can also be high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which may increase the risk of heart disease. The high protein intake can also lead to impaired kidney function.
The carnivore diet is also criticized for being difficult to maintain due to its restrictive nature. It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider before starting this or any other highly restrictive diet, especially for those with serious health conditions.
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Popularity on social media
The carnivore diet, which consists of eating only animal products, has gained popularity on social media through various influencers and proponents. The diet has been promoted by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet" in 2019. Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila are also vocal adherents of the diet, following a strict form called the lion diet, which consists of only beef, salt, and water. The lion diet became a viral fad on TikTok.
The carnivore diet has also been promoted by influencers such as Bella (@steakandbuttergal) and Raw Egg Nationalist, a far-right influencer. These influencers have created a brand for themselves on social media, touting the health benefits of the diet. However, there is limited scientific research to support these claims, and potential health risks must be carefully considered. The diet has been described as a fad or trend, with some experts noting that it is ""potentially very unhealthy, difficult to follow, and unsustainable in the long term."
The popularity of the carnivore diet on social media can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it has the backing of certified doctors and a community of dieticians who recommend it. Additionally, there are numerous testimonials from people who have tried the diet and reported success stories and improvements in their health. Social media platforms prioritize engagement, so when posts about the carnivore diet are liked, shared, and commented on within communities, they can quickly spread beyond those communities and become trending topics.
The rise in popularity of the carnivore diet on social media can also be understood in the context of declining public trust in the medical system and experts. Some people may be drawn to the carnivore diet as a reaction against mainstream dietary advice and a rejection of the guidance provided by health institutions. This sentiment is reflected in comments and reviews on social media, where people express distrust in the institutions that are supposed to guide them towards healthier outcomes.
It is important to note that the carnivore diet is a very restrictive way of eating and does not align with standard dietary guidelines. It can lead to nutritional deficiencies and potential health risks. Despite the popularity of the diet on social media, there is limited scientific evidence to support its purported benefits, and it is essential to carefully consider the potential risks before starting any new diet.
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Inuit diet differences
The Inuit diet is often confused with the carnivore diet. However, there are several differences between the two.
Firstly, the Inuit diet includes a high proportion of organs, seafood, and raw meat, which are not typical components of the carnivore diet. While the Inuit diet is primarily composed of animal products, it is not exclusively so, as they also consume plant products gathered from their surroundings. For example, they consume tubers and stems, such as mousefood and roots of tundra plants cached by voles. During the summer, they also gather berries, grasses, roots, stems, and seaweeds. In contrast, the carnivore diet strictly excludes all fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Secondly, the Inuit diet is dictated by the climate and availability of food sources in the Arctic, which is ill-suited for agriculture and lacks forageable plant matter for much of the year. As such, the Inuit diet is lower in carbohydrates and higher in fat and animal protein compared to the global average. The carnivore diet, on the other hand, is a modern dietary trend that is often promoted on social media by influencers and former medical professionals.
The Inuit diet traditionally consisted of hunted animals such as fish, seal, walrus, whale, caribou, polar bear, muskox, and birds. The type of whale meat consumed is typically that of the narwhal, beluga whale, or bowhead whale, with a preference for hunting juvenile whales. In contrast, the carnivore diet may include a variety of animal products such as beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, with some adherents consuming only beef, salt, and water.
It is worth noting that the Inuit diet has evolved over time, particularly with increased access to Western foods and the influence of globalization. As a result, the traditional Inuit diet has been largely replaced by a Western diet, leading to health issues and food insecurity.
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Concerns about sustainability
The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive diet that consists of only animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, and small amounts of low-lactose dairy. It is often promoted as a weight-loss solution and a cure for various health issues. However, there are serious concerns about the sustainability of the carnivore diet, both in terms of health and the environment.
Firstly, the carnivore diet is criticised for its potential negative impact on human health. The diet is high in saturated fat, which is linked to increased levels of LDL cholesterol, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. The exclusion of fruits and vegetables means the diet is also low in dietary fibre, which can cause constipation. The very high protein intake associated with the diet can lead to impaired kidney function, and there are concerns about potential nutrient deficiencies, particularly vitamins A, C, D3, K2, and certain essential fatty acids. There is also a risk of excessive sodium intake, which is linked to high blood pressure and kidney disease. While some proponents of the diet claim that it can improve nutrient status by removing irritating foods that inhibit nutrient absorption, there is little evidence to support this. The long-term health outcomes of the carnivore diet are unclear, and it is generally recommended that individuals consult a healthcare provider before starting such a restrictive diet.
Secondly, the carnivore diet has environmental implications. The large-scale livestock farming required to produce meat commercially contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change. Intensive animal production also causes significant environmental harm and raises ethical concerns about animal treatment.
The carnivore diet is often compared to the traditional diets of certain Arctic or nomadic societies, such as the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, who consumed mainly fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat. However, it is important to note that these societies also had access to some plant foods, and their diets were not exclusively carnivorous. Additionally, the health status of these societies over the long term is not well understood, and it is unclear whether the carnivore diet is sustainable or healthy in the long run.
In conclusion, while some individuals may find short-term benefits from the carnivore diet, particularly those with hyperreactive digestive tracts, the diet has significant sustainability concerns. The high fat and cholesterol content may lead to negative health outcomes, and the exclusion of highly nutritious plant-based foods may result in nutrient deficiencies. From an environmental perspective, the intensive animal production required for the diet contributes to climate change and raises ethical concerns. Overall, a balanced diet with a variety of healthy foods is generally a more sustainable and healthier option.
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Frequently asked questions
The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive meat-focused diet that eliminates most plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds. People on this diet consume animal products like beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, and may also eat dairy and eggs.
The carnivore diet is promoted as a nutrient-based way to improve health. Some people on the diet report improvements in blood sugar levels and weight loss. It is also said to improve nutrient status by removing irritating foods that inhibit nutrient absorption in the gut.
There are significant concerns about the long-term health implications of the carnivore diet, including increased risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease, impaired kidney function, and constipation. The diet is also criticised for its potential to worsen climate change due to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with large-scale livestock farming.
The idea of a carnivorous diet has been around for a long time, with numerous examples throughout history of people from different cultural, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds thriving on mainly-meat diets. In the 1880s, James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of lean beef and hot water, known as the "Salisbury diet". More recently, in 2018, the carnivore diet gained popularity on social media, promoted by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet".
The lion diet is a strict type of carnivore diet in which only beef, salt, and water are consumed. It became a viral fad on TikTok, with Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila as vocal adherents. Experts describe it as "potentially very unhealthy, difficult to follow, and unsustainable in the long term".
