What’s the carnivore diet all about?
Vegetarians, look away! We’re talking about meat-lovers in this article.
The carnivore diet is as simple as its name implies – all meat, all the time.
Why meat-only?
Supposedly, the diet is a quickfire way to shed unwanted kilograms. It’s a spin on traditional Keto or Atkins where carb-heavy staples like bread and rice are banned in favour of protein-filled foods like chicken and eggs.
The carnivore diet takes this to an extreme and fans of the diet say you can lose a lot of weight quickly while preserving muscles and leanness.
What can I eat?
Anything that looks like meat and tastes like meat and IS meat – that’s your diet. Whether it comes from lamb or poultry, basically anything goes, including chops, steak, eggs, meatballs, sausages, burgers (without the bread buns, of course), bacon and so on.
If you’re a big meat fan, this may sound like a dream come true, but it can quickly become monotonous (not to mention problematic on your health) to consume only meat products. can lose a lot of weight quickly while preserving muscles and leanness.
What health problems?
It is possible to get a substantial intake of vitamins from a meat diet. For example, chicken is an excellent source of protein and lean meat is equally excellent as an iron source.
The problem is that meat only means cutting out fruit, vegetables, grains and fats – all of which are necessary not just for your body but also your mind.
Some of the potential health risks from a meat-only diet include:
- Increased LDL (bad cholesterol) level as meat is typically high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Increased risk of heart disease from excess saturated fat.
- Increased risk of kidney complications (excess salt from meat).
- Gastrointestinal issues (constipation/bloating) from a lack of fibre.
- Weakened immune system from a lack of essential vitamins and minerals.
A word on vitamins
The COVID pandemic should serve as a good example of the necessity of a strong immune system. Sure, you could try the carnivore diet and lose some weight, but like any trendy diet, you’d be depriving your body of other essential vitamins that contribute to your holistic wellbeing.
When a diet cuts out fruit and vegetables, it cuts out Vitamin C and a lack thereof can have a serious effect on your body’s ability to fight off infections and illnesses. A meat-only diet also throws out calcium and Vitamin D-rich foods, which can impair your body’s bones and joints.
Good to know
Social media can be helpful for a lot of things but try to exercise common sense when taking health advice from influencers and hashtags. Fad diets gain a lot of traction on TikTok and Instagram and it’s easy to be swayed by the “results” you see on heavily filtered pictures. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is and nothing replaces the good advice of a medical professional.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, or using any medication.