Dante Carrillo
The Carnivore Diet, in which people reduce their carbohydrate intake and primarily eat meat, has been around in various forms for centuries. In the 1880s, an American named James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily. This became 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 diet has been criticised by experts as being potentially very unhealthy and unsustainable. However, some proponents argue that it can improve nutrient status by removing irritating foods that inhibit nutrient absorption. The long-term health outcomes of the carnivore diet are still unclear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | The modern Carnivore Diet was first studied by German writer Bernard Moncriff in 1856. In the 1870s, Italian physician Arnaldo Cantani prescribed an exclusive animal-based diet to his diabetic patients. In the 1880s, American James H. Salisbury advocated a meat diet. |
| Popularity | The Carnivore Diet is among the fastest-growing and most popular diets today. It gained popularity in 2018 due to social media promotion by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet". |
| Food Groups | Meat, fish, animal products such as eggs, lard, bone marrow, bone broth, and dairy. |
| Exclusions | Fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. |
| Variants | The Lion Diet, which includes only beef, salt, and water. |
| Criticism | Dietitians dismiss the diet as an extreme fad diet that is potentially dangerous to health. There is no clinical evidence of health benefits. |
| Side Effects | Headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, gastric distress, constipation, and micronutrient deficiencies. |
| Benefits | Improved mental health, increased protein intake, blood sugar stabilization, weight loss, and mood stabilization. |
| Long-Term Health Outcomes | Unclear, controversial in terms of elevating LDL cholesterol, worsening kidney disease, or increasing the risk of heart disease. |
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What You'll Learn
The diet's ancient roots
The idea of a carnivorous diet is not new. In fact, there are numerous examples throughout history of people from various cultural, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds who have consumed mainly meat diets for decades, lifetimes, or generations.
The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, for instance, thrived on fish, seal, walrus, and whale meat, while the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic subsisted on caribou meat, marine animals, and fish. Similarly, the Eskimos were observed to have fatty streaks and some cholesterol deposits inside their arteries, but not enough to cause any blockages. It was estimated that they derived 66% of their daily calories from pure animal fat, consuming about 300 grams of fat and 600 milligrams of cholesterol per day.
In the 1880s, an American named James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily for 4 to 12 weeks. This regimen became known as the "Salisbury Diet."
More recently, in 2018, the carnivore diet gained renewed attention through social media promotion by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet." Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila also became vocal adherents of this diet, specifically a strict variant called the "lion diet," which includes only beef, salt, and water.
The carnivore diet stems from the controversial belief that human ancestral populations ate mostly meat and fish, and that high-carb diets are responsible for today's prevalence of chronic diseases. While it has been praised for its potential health benefits, it has also been criticized for its restrictive nature and lack of scientific backing.
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The modern diet's origins
The modern carnivore diet, which involves eating only meat and animal products, has been promoted by some as a healthy way to lose weight and improve mental health. However, it has also been criticised as a potentially unhealthy fad diet. The idea of eating a mainly meat-based diet is not new, and there are numerous examples throughout history of people from different cultural, ethnic and geographical backgrounds who have consumed mostly meat diets for long periods of time. For example, the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic thrived on fish, seal, walrus and whale meat, and the Chukotka of the Russian Arctic lived on caribou meat, marine animals and fish.
In the modern era, the carnivore diet was first studied by the German writer Bernard Moncriff, author of "The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet" in 1856. Moncriff spent a full year consuming nothing other than beef and milk. In the 1870s, Italian physician Arnaldo Cantani was among the first to prescribe his diabetic patients an exclusive animal-based diet and monitor the results. In the 1880s, American James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily for 4 to 12 weeks, which became known as the Salisbury diet.
More recently, in 2018, the carnivore diet was promoted on social media by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet". Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila were also vocal adherents of this diet, following a strict version called the lion diet, in which only beef, salt, and water are consumed. The lion diet became a viral fad on TikTok and was described by experts as "being potentially very unhealthy, difficult to follow and unsustainable in the long term".
The carnivore diet is often promoted as a way to improve nutrient status by removing irritating foods that inhibit nutrient absorption in the gut. It is also said to help with weight loss and blood sugar stabilization due to its high protein and low-carb nature. However, critics argue that the diet is too restrictive and can lead to nutrient deficiencies, increased "bad" cholesterol, worsened kidney disease, and an increased risk of heart disease. There is also a lack of micronutrients from fruits and vegetables that can cause fatigue, and the high cost of meat may make the diet inaccessible to some.
While the carnivore diet may provide benefits for some people, it is important to approach it with caution and consult a healthcare professional before making any drastic changes to your diet.
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Health benefits and risks
The idea of a carnivorous diet dates back to the 1880s when American James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily for 4 to 12 weeks. This was known as the "meat and hot water diet" or the Salisbury diet. However, the recent surge in popularity can be attributed to former orthopedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who promoted the diet on social media and wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet" in 2018. Jordan Peterson and his daughter, Mikhaila, are also vocal adherents of the diet, specifically the "lion diet", which includes only beef, salt, and water.
The carnivore diet has been criticised by dietitians and physicians as being potentially dangerous to health. The diet is extremely restrictive and likely unhealthy in the long term. It eliminates highly nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, which can lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients. For example, the diet is low in vitamin C, folate, and has no fiber.
There is also a concern about the high amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol in the carnivore diet, which may increase the risk of heart disease. Additionally, some processed meats contain high amounts of sodium, which has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other negative health outcomes.
However, proponents of the diet argue that it can aid weight loss, improve blood sugar regulation, and boost nutrient status by removing irritating foods that inhibit nutrient absorption in the gut. The diet has also been linked to improved blood pressure, reduced belly fat, and improved cardiovascular health in the short term.
It is important to note that there is limited research on the long-term health impacts of the carnivore diet. While some people have reported health improvements and satisfaction with the diet, it is still considered controversial and may not be suitable for everyone. As with any restrictive diet, it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes.
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Popularity and promotion
The idea of a carnivorous diet dates back to the 1880s when American James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily for 4 to 12 weeks. Dubbed the "Salisbury diet", it was the first iteration of what would later become the modern carnivore diet.
The modern carnivore diet gained prominence in 2018, largely due to the efforts of former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who promoted the diet on social media and wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet". Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila also played a significant role in popularising the diet, with their strict version, known as the "lion diet", becoming a viral fad on TikTok. This version of the diet includes only beef, salt, and water.
The carnivore diet has been described as a "fringe movement" advertised by "meat influencers" on social media platforms. One notable influencer is Raw Egg Nationalist, a far-right influencer who promotes a raw food version of the animal-based diet. The diet consists of high-protein animal products like beef, pork, poultry, and seafood, with some including dairy and eggs. It strictly excludes fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Some proponents of the carnivore diet argue for "carnivore traditionalism", which encourages the consumption of vast amounts of eggs and grass-fed beef from small traditional farms, in opposition to industrial livestock production. This position stems from a desire to support regenerative farming methods and small-scale farmers. However, due to the restrictive nature of the carnivore diet, some advocates have transitioned to an animal-based diet that includes limited plant foods. This variation, popularized by Paul Saladino in 2024, includes red meat, fruit, honey, and raw dairy.
Despite its growing popularity, the carnivore diet has faced criticism from experts, including dietitians and physicians, who dismiss it as an extreme fad diet that is potentially dangerous to health. There is no clinical evidence that the diet provides any health benefits, and it may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, gout, and impaired kidney function due to high protein intake. Additionally, the diet has been criticised for its high cost, making it accessible only to "select elites".
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What people eat on the diet
The carnivore diet has been around in some form for centuries, with numerous examples throughout history of people from different cultural, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds living on mainly meat-based diets for long periods. 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.
In the 1880s, an American named James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet consisting of 2 to 4 pounds of lean beef and 3 to 5 pints of hot water daily for 4 to 12 weeks, which became known as the Salisbury diet. More recently, in 2018, the carnivore diet gained popularity on social media, promoted by former orthopedic surgeon Shawn Baker, who wrote the book "The Carnivore Diet." Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila also popularized the diet, following a strict version called the "lion diet," consisting of only beef, salt, and water.
The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive diet that consists entirely of animal foods, including meat, fish, eggs, and small amounts of low-lactose dairy. It strictly excludes all fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. Some people on this diet may also consume organ meats, such as liver and kidney, to meet their nutrient requirements. The diet is often high in protein and fat, which can help increase feelings of fullness, reduce calorie intake, and promote weight loss. However, it can also be high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and it may be difficult to meet all nutrient requirements, especially without organ meats.
Some people may choose to start with a modified carnivore diet or intermittent fasting before transitioning to a fully carnivorous regimen. Additionally, due to the diet's restrictive nature, some people have switched to a less extreme animal-based diet that allows limited plant foods, such as fruit, honey, and raw dairy. It is important to note that there is no clinical evidence that the carnivore diet provides any health benefits, and it may be lacking in certain essential nutrients. As with any restrictive diet, it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting.
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Frequently asked questions
The carnivore diet was first studied by German writer Bernard Moncriff in 1856. In the 1880s, James H. Salisbury advocated for a meat diet. However, the diet started gaining popularity in 2018 when it was promoted on social media by former orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker.
The carnivore diet is a diet where people eat animal-based products and restrict several food groups thought to be crucial to a well-balanced diet, such as fruits, legumes, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.
People on the carnivore diet eat meat, fish, animal products such as eggs, lard, bone marrow, and bone broth, and dairy products such as heavy cream, hard cheese, and butter.
Some people claim that the carnivore diet improved their mental health. The diet is also believed to help with weight loss and blood sugar stabilization.
