Jeffrey Salazar
The carnivore diet, also known as a zero-carb diet, has been around for centuries. It involves consuming only animal products, such as meat, fish, and eggs, and has been promoted as a miracle cure for various diseases. While the diet has gained traction recently due to social media influencers and books, it has been practised by various cultural and ethnic groups throughout history. The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, for example, thrived on a diet of fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat. Despite its popularity, the carnivore diet lacks clinical evidence supporting its health benefits and has been criticised by dietitians and physicians for its potential negative impact on health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | The idea of an exclusive meat diet can be traced back to 1856, with the German writer Bernard Moncriff's book, "The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet". However, meat-only diets have been touted for hundreds of years, with some arguing that it reflects the natural way our ancestors ate. |
| Popularity | The carnivore diet gained popularity in pop culture in the last 6-7 years, largely due to influential podcasters and social media influencers. |
| Diet Composition | The carnivore diet involves consuming only animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. Some proponents of the diet recommend avoiding highly processed meats. |
| Health Claims | Proponents of the diet claim it is a miracle cure for numerous diseases, including autoimmunity, eczema, and weight loss. However, there is no clinical evidence to support these claims, and the diet has been criticized by dietitians and physicians as potentially dangerous to health. |
| Health Risks | The carnivore diet is associated with increased risk of heart disease, cancer, digestive problems, muscle cramps, and impaired kidney function. It also lacks dietary fiber and can lead to vitamin deficiencies. |
| High Protein Content | The carnivore diet is high in protein, which can be beneficial for health. However, it is important to incorporate organ meats to avoid nutrient deficiencies. |
| Critics | Critics argue that the diet is extreme, unsustainable, and costly. It has been described as a fad diet and a fringe movement. |
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What You'll Learn
The diet's recent popularity
The carnivore diet has been around for over a century, but it has only recently gained popularity. The diet involves consuming only animal products, such as meat, fish, and eggs, and has been promoted by several influential figures on social media and podcasts. In 2018, the diet gained attention when it was promoted by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet". Jordan Peterson and his daughter, Mikhaila, also became vocal adherents of the diet, following a strict form called the "lion diet", which includes only beef, salt, and water. This particular diet became a viral fad on TikTok.
The carnivore diet has attracted a large following due to its perceived health benefits. Proponents of the diet claim that it is a miracle cure for various diseases, including autoimmunity and eczema, and that it aids in weight loss. A 2021 survey of over 2,000 participants who had been on the carnivore diet for at least six months reported high levels of satisfaction and self-reported improvements. However, there is no clinical evidence to support these claims, and the diet has been criticised by dietitians and physicians as a potentially dangerous fad diet. The carnivore diet is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and high cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease and cancer. It is also low in dietary fibre, which can cause constipation.
Despite the concerns raised by medical professionals, the carnivore diet continues to be popular, with some advocates arguing that it reflects the natural way our ancestors ate. This idea is supported by historical examples of carnivorous cultures, such as the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, who thrived on a diet of fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat, and the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic, who subsisted mainly on caribou meat and marine animals. Additionally, some people choose to incorporate organ meats into their diet to ensure they are getting all the necessary nutrients.
The recent popularity of the carnivore diet can be attributed to the influence of social media and the desire for a simple solution to health and weight loss issues. While the diet may offer some benefits, it is important to approach it with caution and be aware of the potential risks and negative consequences on long-term mental and physical health. As with any diet, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your eating habits.
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Health benefits and risks
The carnivore diet has been around for over a century, but it has only recently gained popularity, largely due to some highly influential podcasters and social media influencers. The diet involves eating only animal products like meat, fish, and eggs, and proponents claim that it is a miracle cure for numerous diseases. However, there is limited research on the health benefits of this diet and how it impacts long-term health.
The carnivore diet is highly restrictive and may be hard to maintain. It cuts out nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, which provide essential vitamins and minerals. A diet low in produce has been linked to an increased risk of several diseases, including cancer and heart disease, as well as an overall higher mortality risk. A high intake of red and processed meat has also been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers and heart disease.
On the other hand, the carnivore diet may lead to early benefits such as improved blood pressure, reduced belly fat, and improved cardiovascular health due to the removal of highly processed carbohydrates. Some people also report improvements in blood sugar levels and weight loss. Additionally, animal protein contains all the essential amino acids and is superior to plant protein in bioavailability.
However, the carnivore diet can be high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which may increase the risk of heart disease. It may also lead to excessive sodium intake, which is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other negative health outcomes. The diet also lacks dietary fiber, which can cause constipation and possibly increase the risk of colon cancer and gout.
There is a risk of nutrient deficiencies on the carnivore diet, especially if organ meats are not included. These deficiencies can include retinol (vitamin A), folate, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin C, and essential fatty acids.
While the carnivore diet may provide some initial health benefits, there are significant concerns about its long-term health implications due to its restrictive nature. More research is needed to fully understand the impact of this diet on overall health. It is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, especially one as restrictive as the carnivore diet.
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The 'lion diet'
The lion diet is a highly restrictive form of the carnivore diet. It involves eating only salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals, including cows, sheep, and deer. The diet is meant to be followed until symptoms of potential food sensitivities improve, after which other foods can be slowly reintroduced. The lion diet is sometimes referred to as a "healing elimination diet," intended to help identify food triggers and improve health by removing inflammatory foods.
The lion diet was created by Mikhaila Peterson, a lifestyle blogger and podcast host who claims that restricting inflammatory foods healed her autoimmune diseases and improved her energy levels, mental health, and symptoms of digestive issues. Peterson follows a strict version of the carnivore diet, in which only beef, salt, and water are consumed. This version of the lion diet became a viral fad on TikTok, with one user's before-and-after video garnering 2.3 million views.
The lion diet is based on the idea that the gut, body, and brain can be damaged by the standard American diet, exposure to mould or biotoxins in the environment, medications, or a dysbiotic microbiome that can occur from being born via C-section or treated with antibiotics as a baby. By eliminating all foods except salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals, the lion diet aims to sustain the body while removing variables that may be contributing to health issues.
However, the lion diet has been criticised by some health professionals as being unsustainable, unhealthy, and overly restrictive. Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based Carolyn Williams, PhD, RD, states that "no dietitian or health professional would ever use the lion diet as an elimination diet" as it cuts out all foods except meat, which is "way beyond what's needed." Williams also expresses concern about the lack of prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods in the lion diet, which are important for gut health. Other potential side effects of the lion diet include vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, high levels of saturated fat, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
While there is anecdotal evidence and some case studies that suggest potential benefits of the lion diet, such as decreased inflammation, improvements in mood, and relief from issues like headaches, insomnia, and allergies, there is a lack of clinical evidence to support these claims. Additionally, the lion diet may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with autoimmune conditions who are already at risk for nutrient deficiencies. As always, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or eliminating food groups.
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The diet's history
The idea of an all-meat diet has been around for a long time. In fact, some proponents of the carnivore diet argue that it reflects the natural way our ancestors ate. There are numerous examples throughout history of people from various cultural, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds who have lived on mainly meat-based diets for decades, lifetimes, and even generations. For instance, the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic thrived on fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat, while the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic survived on caribou meat, marine animals, and fish.
The exclusive meat diet can be traced back to the German writer Bernard Moncriff, who, in 1856, authored "The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet." Moncriff himself spent a year consuming only beef and milk. In the 1870s, Italian physician Arnaldo Cantani prescribed his diabetic patients an exclusive animal-based diet.
In recent times, the carnivore diet has been promoted by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet" in 2018. Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila are also vocal adherents of this diet, following a strict type of carnivore diet called the lion diet, which includes only beef, salt, and water. The lion diet became a viral fad on TikTok, with experts describing it as "being potentially very unhealthy, difficult to follow, and unsustainable in the long term."
The carnivore diet has gained traction through social media influencers and books, with some highly influential podcasters bringing it back into pop culture in the last 6 to 7 years. While it has been criticised as a fad diet, some proponents claim it is a miracle cure for numerous diseases, with anecdotal evidence supporting its use.
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Criticisms of the diet
The idea of an exclusive meat diet can be traced back to German writer Bernard Moncriff, who, in 1856, wrote "The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet". Moncriff himself spent a year eating only beef and milk. The carnivore diet has been criticised on several grounds, including:
Lack of clinical evidence and potential health risks
There is no clinical evidence that the carnivore diet provides any health benefits, and it has been dismissed by dietitians as an extreme fad diet. The diet is associated with pseudoscientific health claims. While there are some case studies and anecdotal evidence supporting the diet, there is a lack of long-term research to support any claims of health benefits. The diet can lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including colon cancer and gout, and can also cause constipation due to its low fibre content. It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by raising LDL cholesterol levels. The high protein intake can also lead to impaired kidney function.
Lack of balance, sustainability, and flexibility
The carnivore diet is very restrictive, eliminating all food groups outside of animal proteins. This lack of balance can lead to nutrient deficiencies, particularly if organ meats are not included in the diet. The diet also lacks sustainability and flexibility, with no plan for reintroducing other foods. The severe restriction, coupled with the lack of reintroduction protocols, medical supervision, and long-term planning, is concerning.
Environmental impact
The industrial production of animal-based foods required for the carnivore diet is harmful to the planet, contributing to climate change.
Social inequality
The carnivore diet has been described as a diet for \"select elites\" due to its high cost, adding an unsavoury aspect to its harmful and pseudoscientific basis.
Potential for misinformation and risk to health
The carnivore diet targets consumers with illnesses and those on medications, claiming to put "illness into remission". However, these claims are not backed by peer-reviewed literature and can potentially put people's health at risk by encouraging an unsustainable, unproven, and unbalanced diet.
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Frequently asked questions
The idea of an exclusive meat diet can be traced to the German writer Bernard Moncriff, author of 'The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet', who spent a year living on only beef and milk in 1856.
Examples of carnivorous cultures include the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, who thrived on fish, seal, walrus and whale meat, and the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic, who lived on caribou meat, marine animals and fish.
The modern carnivore diet was popularised in 2018 by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book 'The Carnivore Diet'.
