If the idea of having steak for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert appeals to you, you may want to look into the carnivore diet, also known as the “zero-carb” diet. There are many benefits of the carnivore diet, especially if you are trying to address a problem, such as weight loss or have an autoimmune or an inflammatory condition and you’ve already tried other diets to no avail. The carnivore diet goes one step further than a low-carb diet, going from low-carbs to ingesting no carbs, and with this diet, there’s no calorie counting, food timing, or portion control.
The carnivore diet is what it sounds like, one who subsists on animal products, the complete opposite of veganism. Those on the carnivore diet avoid plant foods and instead ingest foods of animal origin. However, the carnivore diet does offer a bit more variety, as it also includes other meat-adjacent proteins such as eggs and butter.
Benefits of the Carnivore Diet
Currently, there haven’t been any studies or long-term data regarding the effects of eating an all-meat diet. All there is so far are anecdotal evidence reports from people who have tried the carnivore diet. Some of the reported benefits of the carnivore diet include:
• Weight loss
• Pain reduction
• Reduction of inflammation
• Reduction of bloating
• Reduction in unwanted digestive symptoms
• The remission or mitigation of autoimmune conditions
• Increased energy
• Better sleep
• Enhanced cognition
• Increased testosterone
What You Can Eat on the Carnivore Diet
• Organ meats
• Lamb
• Beef
• Pork
• Poultry
• Bone Broth
• Bone marrow
• Fish
• Eggs
• Butter
• Lard
• Salt
• Pepper
• Water
What You Can’t Eat on the Carnivore Diet
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Pasta
• Grains
• Bread
Just like other diets, there are a few gray areas. Some people follow a slightly less strict version of the diet, allowing for foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and even spices/condiments. Also, while coffee and tea are considered to be plant-based, some keep these in their diet.
Who Should and Shouldn’t Try the Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet is considered to be the ultimate elimination diet, especially when you are trying to remove ‘trigger’ foods from your diet. While restrictive, following the carnivore diet will help reduce the majority of food allergens from your diet, so it may help someone dealing with health issues that they have not yet found a solution too, such as inflammation, chronic pain, and autoimmune issues. Most elimination diet protocols are intimidating and confusing, as there are multiple things you need to steer clear of. While the carnivore diet is restrictive, it’s relatively simple in the sense you are only eating foods of animal origin. Even though people can have allergies or intolerances to animal foods if an irritant is suspected, finding the culprit is much simpler. Maybe they need to rid their diet of eggs, dairy, or even high-histamine meats. Making the carnivore diet easily customizable and allowing a person to systematically reintroduce plant-based foods one at a time to see how they react.
If you are interested in trying the carnivore diet, make sure you only use wild-caught seafood and grass-fed, organic meat. If you are considering giving the carnivore diet a try, consult with your doctor or dietitian first to help determine if this diet is safe for you. Especially if you have a chronic condition such as heart disease or diabetes. It is crucial that you get blood work done before you start the diet, and again after you’ve been on the carnivore diet for some time. If you decide to stay on the diet, getting your blood and gut function monitored every few months is necessary to ensure that the diet is not creating any health risks. If you know that you don’t do well with a high-fat or high-protein diet due to genetic testing, have kidney or liver disease, or high iron levels do not follow the carnivore diet.
Are you looking for a delicious carnivore diet recipe to try? Click here to try out this delightful seasoned salmon recipe!
