What Should You Know Before Embracing A Carnivore Diet?

Authored by Athena Nagel

You have heard many mixed reviews about the carnivore diet – from those who claim it is the best thing they’ve ever tried to those who say the opposite – that carnivore diet side effects are detrimental to your health it can cause nutritional deficiencies.

Wouldn’t you love to know what the reality behind this carnivore diet is before trying it yourself? Read this guide on everything you need to know before giving in to your inner carnivore!

What Is A Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet refers to a restrictive regimen that includes meat, fish, and other animal foods like eggs and specific dairy products. It was developed in the early 20th century as an alternative to the Atkins diet, which encourages members to lose weight by drastically reducing their calorie intake to do exercises.

Members of the Carnivore Diet follow a rigorous regimen: They must get all of their calories from animal sources; they can’t include fruit in their diet; no refined carbohydrates; and they’ve got to stick to eating lots of meat every day (there are all sorts of exceptions to these things – for instance, it is allowed if someone has celiac).

Carnivore Diet Food List:

• Poultry
• Fish
• Bone marrow
• Bone broth
• Organ meats
• Red meat (especially fattier cuts)
• Tallow and lard
• Eggs

Benefits of Carnivore Diet

When people switch to an all-meat diet, it’s no wonder that they don’t get as hungry and consume less often. Food habituation could also be a factor. When you finish the same stuff every day, the subconscious doesn’t associate eating with too much enjoyment, so you eat less as a whole though the food usually is something you enjoy, like a huge greasy hamburger.

Low-Residue Diet

According to research, the carnivore diet reduces constipation by 55%. In addition, by avoiding carbohydrates, starchy roots, fruits, and tubers, the Carnivore Diet minimizes fat absorption from your gut, making you feel fuller for longer and may help with weight loss.

If you eat meat every day, your stomach isn’t left much to deal with excess postprandial protein. Of course, this doesn’t mean that an all-meat (or all-egg) diet is the answer for everyone. It would help if you still watch your portions – as small as half a chicken breast – that your body gets enough of each nutrient.

Downsides of Carnivore Diet

The limited amount of food is not the most appealing aspect of this diet since it means that you will eat less of the good stuff (e.g., fruits) and more of the bad stuff (e.g., meats). Meat is an excellent source of nutrients and protein but a nutrient-poor source of fat. You can’t make gains in weight and body mass index (BMI) without eating fruits and vegetables.

Inflammatory Properties

Sometimes carnivore diet side effects result in inflammation as the foods on the carnivore diet have much greater omega-6 fatty acids, which are inflammatory agents and have been implicated in a wide range of diseases.

Lower Level of Neurotransmitters

A carnivorous diet may sometimes leave a person lacking in nutrients for brain function and LDL cholesterol (the bad) and HDL cholesterol (the good). For example, people with red meat diets may have lower brain-related neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and cognitive performance on learning tests.

Summing Up

One would think, then, that an omnivorous diet would be pretty great for health. But this is another myth that needs busting. Humans have been eating meat on a purely carnivorous basis for about -200,000 years! So, it all depends on what your body needs the most.