Popular on social media, the carnivore diet involves eating only animal protein, disregarding the health risks.
- The carnivore diet involves not consuming any carbohydrates.
- Its promoters claim it helps with weight loss, improves mood and regulates blood sugar.
Eat meat and only meat to lose weight. This diet is one of the trends circulating on social networks. On Tiktok, the hashtag #carnivorediet has 267.5 million views. Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products or cheese: these are the main ingredients that make up this diet. An American nutritionist even promotes it, in a book, and on his site.
From deficiency to scurvy
In an article published on yahoo Life, a 28-year-old American says she followed this diet in order to lose weight. “The promise was even more enticing than those of all express diets what i have done in the pastshe confided to the online media. By eating only animal products, followers announced that they had lost several tens of kilos in the space of a few months.“She lost a total of 15 kilos, in six weeks, but her health suffered.”I didn’t feel in good shape, I was tired all the time, like in slow motion. I wasn’t hungry, but I had no energy”, she continues. Two months after the start of her diet, she feels pain in her gums, until one of her teeth comes loose. Her dietary deficiencies have weakened her, to the point of catching scurvy. This rare disease is the consequence of a serious vitamin C deficiency. In the past, it was common among sailors, deprived of fresh food during their long journeys.
A diet low in fiber
On his site, the Cleveland Clinic in the United States warns of the various risks associated with the carnivorous diet. Kate Patton, dietician, reminds us that this diet excludes all non-animal food groups. Thus, one should not consume vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts, seeds, etc. “The carnivore diet is very low in fibershe says, which can cause severe constipation. However, in people with chronic pathologies, such as high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, or with a history of stroke or other cardiovascular diseases, this can be particularly serious, warns the specialist.
An increase in LDL cholesterol levels
“Even if you have digestive issues, this diet can make things worse with all that protein and fat, which takes a lot longer to digest.”, she points out. In addition, the high amount of saturated fats present in animal products can cause an increase in the level of bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American nutritionist also indicates that processed meats, such as bacon, are high in sodium, which can cause kidney problems or high blood pressure. In addition, since 2015, theWorld Health Organization classifies processed meats as carcinogenic to humans. In short, Katte Patton advises against the carnivorous diet and reminds us that a varied and balanced diet is the best possible way to be healthy.
