Pros and Cons of the Carnivore Diet

Is an All-Meat Diet Healthy?

One of the latest and popular fads in dieting is the Carnivore diet. While many are going green and becoming vegetarian or vegan, this diet takes the completely opposite approach. When practising the Carnivore diet, you are only allowed to eat meat and animal products. All other foodstuff is eliminated from your diet.

This diet is seen as something of a throwback to the time when our ancestors would eat off a diet of meat and fish that would have been simply cooked over a fire.

The question is – how the carnivore diet affects your long-term health and fitness.

What’s Below:

This article starts by looking into the range of food you can and can’t enjoy as part of the Carnivore diet. This is followed by a look at the pros and cons of the Carnivore diet. Allowing you to make up your own mind on the overall benefits and any health risks.

The Basics: What You Can Eat on the Carnivore Diet

All meat stuffs can be consumed on this diet. Examples include pork, lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, venison, and rabbit. Organs from a variety of animals can also be eaten, including kidneys and liver.

Processed meat, such as sausages can also be consumed in small amounts. Shellfish, salmon, and sardines are also a yes alongside other white fish. Cream, butter, and lard are also part of the diet, although these should come from grass fed animals.

Water and bone both make up your liquid intake, while salt and pepper can be used to season your food.

What You Can’t Eat on the Carnivore Diet

Fruits and vegetables, which play a huge role in many other diets, cannot be eaten when on the Carnivore diet. Grains, nuts, and seeds are also off the list, as is milk and beverages such as tea and coffee.

Breads and anything from a bakery are also a no, as are any sweets and snacks. Generally seasoning such as herbs and spices are also not allowed, although a small amount for just flavouring purposes can be used. Alcohol is also not on the list.

Pros of the Carnivore Diet

One of the best aspects of the Carnivore Diet is that it is so easy to follow. There are no real restrictions and calorie counting around this diet. It is simply a case of eating when you feel those hunger pangs. On this diet you are allowed to snack at any time of day, which alleviates the stress that comes with many other types of diet. Knowing you can only eat at certain times can bring added pressure and stress to a weight loss regime, sometimes enough to render the diet unachievable.

A study has shown that the Carnivore diet can lead to weight loss, due to the lack of carbohydrates. This in turn, can lower the risks of diseases such as diabetes. Proteins in meat can be a reliable source of amino acids such as Lysine, histidine, and phenylalanine. These carry out essential physiological functions in the body.

Testosterone Boost

Men who take part in the Carnivore are have increased testosterone levels in comparison to those on a low fat and higher fibre-based diet. The Carnivore diet can also reduce inflammation of the body.

Protein is also said to increase your satiety, which will stop the binge eating that can be a regular occurrence of other diets. This will in turn also increase your metabolism which will lead to more calories being burned. Those amino acids are great for anyone looking to grow lean muscle mass. Note that meat alone won’t do this – you need to work out in your home gym.

Cons of the Carnivore Diet

If sticking to meat only, there can be a host of deficiencies in certain essential nutrition groups, which can lead to longer term health problems.

Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are three key elements that you won’t be ingesting when eating only meat. It is also believed that fibre is essential in maintaining a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables are a fine source for that fibre, as are grains. A lack of fibre is shown to be a contributing factor to developing colon cancer. This same lack of fibre can also lead to increased cases of constipation.

The health of the kidneys can also be affected by a high protein diet. Individuals with kidney disease will see the progression of the disease slow by a reduction of the amount of protein in the diet. There are also said to be added risks of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes because of excessive consumption of both processed and unprocessed meats.

From a social point of view, the Carnivore diet can prove tricky. If you are eating in a restaurant, for example, it can be difficult to sit there and order just a lump of meat with no real trimmings, while everyone else is enjoying a rich and varied meal.

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